Track & Field | Marlington, West Branch advance to regional championships

SALEM — Marlington and West Branch had solid performances during Saturday’s Division II district track finals held during hot and sweltering weather conditions at Salem’s Bob Sebo Stadium.

Both the Duke and Warrior boys and girls teams advanced many individuals to the regional slated Thursday and Saturday at Austintown Fitch’s Greenwood Falcon Stadium.

Host Salem won the girls team title with 110.50 points, while Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary was second with 96 points. West Branch was fourth with 73.50 points and Marlington was fifth with 70 points.

“I’m very happy how things worked out today,” said Marlington girls coach Molly Middleton. “We got as many people out of this tough district as we possibly could. I was hoping to get more out but overall it was a good day.”

In the boys race, Salem topped SVSM for the title with 112.50 points, while the Irish finished with 84. teams Marlington and West Branch were fourth and fifth, respectively, with 62 and 53 points.

Marlington distance standout Bella Graham was a double winner Saturday, winning the 1600 meters in a time of 5 minutes, 10.20 seconds, and the 3200 meters in 11:27.24.

“It’s hot, obviously,” said Graham of the 86-degree heat after running in cold weather much of the spring. “The sun was out and it was really windy but I just focus on splits because that’s one thing that’s always concrete, no matter if it’s snowing or sunny, it’s always 400 meters [at a time].”

Also capturing a district crown was the Dukes’ long jump standout Ariana Painter (17-0.50), who was a state qualifier last season.

The Dukes’ Lauren Keathley is also regional bound after finishing third in the discus in a personal-best distance of 114 feet, 1 inch.

The Dukes’ Elizabeth Mason burned her fastest time ever in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.81 to grab third place and a trip to the regional meet.

“That was my personal best by like half a second, almost,” said Mason. “I knew when I was with the girl from Field [Hannah Siudiak who finished second] I knew I was going to run fast because I know she’s pretty fast.”

West Branch advanced all four of its relays to the regional. The 4x200 relay of Kennedy Berger, Lauren Gossett, Sophia Gregory and Anna Lippiatt finished third to advance in a time of 1:45.01.

“We actually made it to state in this relay last year,” said Lippiatt who was pleased with her anchor leg in the 4x2. "Now that we’re in the tournaments we just want to keep PR-ing and moving on.”

Meanwhile, the Warriors’ 4x100 contingent of Gossett, Berger, Lippiatt and Zoe Sanders was also third in 50.89.

“I think we PR’d today,” said Gossett. “We definitely want to get sub-50’s for sure [at the regional]. That’s one of our biggest goals.”

The Warriors’ 4x400 unit of Lauren Gossett, Emily Sprowl, Kaylee Burcaw and Sophia Gregory was also third in 4:09.15.

Individually, the Warriors were led by Sophia Gregory who was second in the 400 meters in 57.54.

“For this year, that [57.54] was a PR,” said Gregory. “I do so much better when I have somebody in front of me.”

West Branch’s Clarice Martin grabbed the fourth and final qualifying spot in the 3200 meters in 5:46.46 and teammate Kaylee Burcaw was fourth in the 800 meters in 2:25.23.

“It’s all about moving on to next week and we did that today,” said West Branch girls coach Mike Falasca. “[Gregory] ran well and it was nice to see her being pushed a little bit and the relays did what they had to do.”

In the boys championships, Marlington's Noah Graham dominated to win the 3200 meters in 9:44.97.

“This is what we train for all year,” said Graham. “We train outside all year and our motto is whatever the weather is, we’re going to show up and race.”

Graham’s teammate, Nash Minor also advanced to the regional in the 3200 meters, finishing second in 9:49.51.

“Things have gone in the direction we hoped it would go,” said Marlington boys coach Bob Dagenhardt. “Our distance runners were very strong and I have a lot of faith in them doing the job they set out to do. It was pretty much mission accomplished. We have a nice contingent going to the regional meet.”

Marlington went 1-2 in the 1600 meters as Liam Blake won it in 4:22.98 and Colin Cernansky was second in 4:23.27.

“I knew me and Colin were leading it,” said Blake. “We knew what we wanted to do — to come out here and take 1-2. It didn’t matter who won, we just wanted to take 1-2.”

“I want to be a regional champ next weekend, maybe set a PR,” added Cernansky. “Me and Liam both want to qualify for the state meet.”

The Dukes also had a regional qualifier in the 800 meters as Cernansky was fourth in 1:57.42.

West Branch’s Ryan Irwin earned a second straight trip to the regional after finishing third in the 110 hurdles in 15.51.

“It was not my best time, I’ve run better but it was a good race, a clean race and that’s all that matters,” said Irwin.

West Branch’s Dru DeShields qualified to the regional after finishing fourth in the 400 meters in 51.21.

“That was a PR by .2,” said DeShields. “It [running in the heat] is a little harder but it helps the times a lot."

Warrior Josiah Hicks advanced with a third-place finish in the 1600 meters in 4:23.38 and later advanced in a second race after finishing fourth in the 3200 meters in 9:54.52.

“That’s a whole eight-second PR,” said Hicks of his time in the 1600 meters. [Next week] I want to get out of the regional and get to state and try to get a 4:20.”

“The most important thing for us is our guys are PR-ing at the right time,” said West Branch boys Tim Cooper. “We’re peaking at the right time and it’s all about self-improvement and a lot of our guys did that today.”

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Marlington and West Branch competed in the Div. II district track meet