Hoover 1-2 punch: Blaze Fichter wins regional title in mile, Noah Johnson finishes second

Mike Popovich, The Repository
·2 min read
Hoover's Blaze Fichter finishes with a time of 4:17.10 to win the boys 1,600 meters during the Division I regional track and field meet at Fitch High School on Friday.
Hoover's Blaze Fichter finishes with a time of 4:17.10 to win the boys 1,600 meters during the Division I regional track and field meet at Fitch High School on Friday.

AUSTINTOWN — It was mission accomplished for Blaze Fichter.

The Hoover distance runner successfully defended his boys 1,600 meters title at Friday's Division I regional track and field meet. Personally, he could not have scripted a final journey to the state meet any better.

Then Fichter turned around and saw who was finishing right behind him.

It was teammate Noah Johnson.

"The Hoover one-two punch," Fichter said. "We came here and that's what we planned to do.

"That was just a spectacular feeling. Having your best friend right behind you, it's just magical. You couldn't ask for something better."

Blaze Fichter, 12, and Noah Johnson, 8, both of Hoover finished first and second in the boys 1600 meter run during the DI district track and field meet at Hoover on Friday, May 20, 2022.
Blaze Fichter, 12, and Noah Johnson, 8, both of Hoover finished first and second in the boys 1600 meter run during the DI district track and field meet at Hoover on Friday, May 20, 2022.

Fichter and Johnson are accustomed to finishing one-two in races. It also happened in last week's district meet at Hoover.

It has not happened this deep in the postseason. Johnson came in fourth last year when Fichter won his regional title.

"This is what we have been working for all year," Johnson said. "We knew we were the top two guys in the region coming back. We definitely wanted to go one-two here. It feels great."

Fichter turned in a winning time of 4:17.10. Johnson finished in 4:18.94.

As he does so often, Fichter rallied on the final lap. He was in third place with 400 meters to go.

"That's how I wanted the race to set up," Fichter said. "I didn't have to run some outstanding PR to win. I want to save that for state.

"It was more of setting myself up for a good position the first three laps. I didn't want to get boxed in. I wanted to stay wide. I knew I could use my kick to my advantage to try to win."

Fichter and Johnson hope to improve on their 2021 state meet performances next week. Fichter finished 11th in the 1,600. Johnson was 13th.

After coming in seventh at the Federal League meet, Fichter has responded with district and regional titles.

"I needed to get back on my feet," Fichter said. "I needed a little bit of a confidence booster going into state."

Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hoover's Blaze Fichter, Noah Johnson finish 1-2 in mile at regional