By TODD REED

News Leader Sports Editor

The Minerva boys track team finished second at the Northeastern Buckeye Conference Track and Field Championships thanks to the speed of Ryan Kohler and Clint Ford and the combined speed/jumping abilities of Jordan Cox and Nathan Coldsnow.

The foursome combined to score 63 of Minerva's 96 points.

"We knew Marlington would be tough to beat, because they have more depth than we do," stated Head Coach Tom Stafford. "But we had a lot of good showings. We placed in every event but two. We are proud of how they performed and proud to be in second place. It was a pretty good night for the boys."

Cox was the lone Minerva champion, capturing the 300 hurdles in 41.2. The junior also finished second in the 110 hurdles (15.5) and was a member of the third-place 4x400 relay team (3:33.6) along with Jake Brown, Joey Wimsatt and J.D. King.

Cox finished with a team high 19.5 points.

Coldsnow placed in four individual events, tallying 19 points.

The senior was second in the high jump (6'), fourth in the 300 hurdles (42.8), sixth in the 110 hurdles (16.2) and sixth in the long jump (17'10.25).

Kohler was third in the 200 (23.4), fourth in the 100 (11.4) and was a member of the second-place 4x100 relay team (44.76) along with Wimsatt, Brown and Taylor Moore.

The 4x100 rebroke the school record it set just three days earlier.

Ford finished second in the 400 (51.9) and fifth in the 100 (11.5).

Spencer Mapes was third in the 800 (2:03.7), Aaron Roberts tied for fourth in the high jump (5'6), and the 4x800 of Roberts, Cory Allen, Mapes and King placed fifth in 8:40.6.

Finishing seventh were Roberts in the 3200 (10:05), James Hiles in the long jump (17'6) and Josh Hiles in the shot (41'2.75).

Placing eighth were Brown in the 400 (53.7) and Evan Nickell in the shot (41'1).

The 4x200 easily won its event, only to be disqualified for a exchange lane violation.

"We have video proof the 4x200 was in the zone and should not have been disqualified," noted Coach Stafford. "It is disappointing to have them win a race and make first team and to have it stolen away by a bad call. Their goal was to win and we feel bad for the 4x200."

Marlington won the team title with 132 points. They were followed by Minerva with 96, Canton South with 82, Alliance with 75.5, West Branch with 66, Louisvlle with 65.5, Northwest with 65 and Carrollton with 38.

Earlier in the week, the boys closed out their league schedule at 6-1 with an 88-40 win over visiting Canton South.

Getting wins for the Lions were the 4x800 (8:51.1) consisting of Roberts, Allen, Mapes and King; Cox in the 110 hurdles (15.6) and 300 hurdles (40.9); the 4x200 (1:34.5) consisting of Wimsatt, Brown, Moore and Kohler; Roberts in the 1600 (4:57.4) and 3200 (11:40.8); the 4x100 (44.8) consisting of Wimsatt, Brown, Moore and Kohler; Ford in the 400 (52.4); Mapes in the 800 (2:07.3); and the 4x400 (3:41.9) consisting of Brown, Cox, King and Ford.

Seconds went to Coldsnow in the 110 hurdles (15.83) and high jump (6'2), Kohler in the 100 (11.53) and 200 (23.0), Brown in the 400 (56.4), King in the 800 (2:10.93), Riley Jobes in the 3200 (11:52.83) and Josh Hiles in the shot (41'7).

Finishing third were Ford in the 100 (11.6), Jobes in the 1600 (5:05), Mike Authenreith in the 400 (58.4), Coldsnow in the 300 hurdles (42.0), Allen in the 800 (2:14.3), Moore in the 200 (24.5), Caleb Hudson in the 3200 (12:06), Roberts in the high jump (5'4) and Nickell in the shot (39'.5).

The boys will compete in the Division II districts at Salem's Reilly Stadium this Thursday and Saturday, May 22 and 24.

Teams competing include Canton Central, Cardinal Mooney, Field, Marlington, Niles McKinley, Newton Falls, Poland Seminary, Salem, Southeast, Struthers, United Local and West Branch.

The top four in each event will move on to the Ravenna regionals.

Girls Track and Field

The Lady Lions placed third at the league championships with 101.5 points. Louisville won the title with 139.5 and West Branch was second with 121. Northwest finished fourth with 74, followed by Canton South with 70, Marlington with 58, Carrollton with 31 and Alliance with 23.

"The girls got off to a slow start but picked it up," noted Coach Stafford. "We knew it would be tough to beat Louisville and West Branch. But we hung in there and gave them a run for it. We had a couple of weak events that hurt us and we couldn't make up ground.

"We went into the meet in third place and are excited to finish third. We have a large core of the team coming back next year."

Minerva had three champions on the day - Kassidy Hardgrove, Ashley Evanich and the 4x100.

Hardgrove continued her sensational season by leading the Lady Lions with 20 points.

The freshman won the 100 in 13.1, finished fourth in the 400 (1:02.4), placed sixth in the 200 (27.6) and was a member of the second-place 4x200 (1:49.3) along with Aliysha Stermer, Angela Grindstaff and Melissa Evanich.

Evanich captured the discus with a throw of 122' and placed fifth in the shot (32'3.5).

Minerva's 4x100 had the best time on the day, setting a school record with a time of 51.67. Members are Emily Barrick, Stermer, Brittney Yost and Hannah Riley.

Along with her second-place showing in the 4x200, M. Evanich placed third in the 200 (27.6), fifth in the 400 (1:02.6) and was a member of the fourth-place 4x400 (4:23.4) along with Grindstaff, Amanda Brown and Taylor Maurer.

The 4x800 team of Emily Mapes, Grindstaff, Erica Toussant and Emily DePalmo placed third with a time of 10:20.2.

Heather Evanich was third in the discus (108'10) and eighth in the shot (30'6.5), Yost was fourth in the long jump (14'7.5) and tied for seventh in the high jump (4'6), DePalmo was fourth in the 3200 (12:16.3) and eighth in the 1600 (5:45.3), Toussant was sixth in the 3200 (12:24.6) and seventh in the 1600 (5:42.5), Mapes was fifth in the 800 (2:31.3) and Nicole Christner was seventh in the 100 hurdles (17.0).

Minerva completed its dual season at 5-1-1 with a 92-36 win over the Lady Wildcats of Canton South.

Firsts went to Yost in the high jump (4'8) and long jump (17'1.25); the 4x800 (10:43) consisting of Mapes, Grindstaff, Toussant and DePalmo; Hardgrove in the 100 (13.0) and 400 (1:01.4); the 4x200 (1:50.3) consisting of Hardgrove, Stermer, Grindstaff and M. Evanich; Toussant in the 1600 (5:50); the 4x100 (52.0) consisting of Barrick, Stermer, Yost and Riley; M. Evanich in the 200 (27.6); DePalmo in the 3200 (13:47); and the 4x400 (4:32) consisting of Grindstaff, Brown, Maurer and M. Evanich.

Finishing second were DePalmo in the 1600 (5:51.1), M. Evanich in the 400 (1:05.4), Christner in the 300 hurdles (51.92) and high jump (4'8), Mapes in the 800 (2:32.69), Hardgrove in the 200 (28.24), Sally Schmachtenberger in the 3200 (14:21), H. Evanich in the shot (31'1) and A. Evanich in the discus (118'5).

Thirds went to Christner in the 100 hurdles (17.3), Riley in the 100 (13.32), Schmachtenberger in the 1600 (5:53), Amanda Brown in the 400 (1:06), Addie Riley in the 300 hurdles (52.2), Barrick in the 200 (29.65), Katelyn Myers in the 3200 (14:42), Stermer in the long jump (13'7.5), Kathy Slack in the high jump (4'8) and H. Evanich in the discus (106'8).

The Lady Lions will compete in the Division II districts at Salem's Reilly Stadium this Thursday and Saturday, May 22 & 24.

Teams competing include Canton Central, Cardinal Mooney, East Palestine, Field, Newton Falls, Poland Seminary, Ravenna, Rootstown, Salem, Southeast, Struthers, Tallmadge, United Local and West Branch.

The top four in each event will move on to the Ravenna regionals.

treed@alliancelink.com