By TODD REED
News Leader Sports Editor
The Lady Lions brought home the first-place trophy from the Stark County Track and Field Championships.
Minerva won the Division II-III title with 132 points. They were followed by Northwest with 87, Canton Central with 76, St. Thomas with 65, East Canton with 64.5, Fairless with 63, Tuslaw with 62, Sandy Valley with 57 and Canton South with 44.5.
Brittney Yost recorded a first in the high jump as she cleared 4'10; was second in the long jump with a leap of 16'4.75; was a member of of the first-place 4x200 (1:50.6) along with Aliysha Stermer, Angela Grindstaff and Melissa Evanich; and was a member of the second-place 4x100 (54.06) along with Emily Barrick, Stermer and Hannah Riley.
Kassidy Hardgrove had another solid meet with a first, two seconds and a fourth.
The freshman speedster won the 200 in 27.1, finished second in the 100 in 12.9 and in the 400 in 1:01.75, and was a member of the 4x400, which placed fourth in 4:35.19. Also on the relay squad are Grindstaff, Addie Riley and Evanich.
Ashley Evanich had Minerva's only other first, claiming the discus title with a throw of 118'3.
Emily DePalmo was second in the 3200 (12:21.9), fourth in the 1600 (5:47.8) and was a member of the third-place 4x800 (10:23.37) along with Emily Mapes, Grindstaff and Erica Toussant.
Stermer was third in the 100 (13.67), Mapes was third in the 800 (2:37.25), Kathy Slack was third in the high jump (4'6), Heather Evanich was fourth in the discus (102'8), M. Evanich was fourth in the 200 (28.03) and seventh in the 400 (1:05.4), Nicole Christner was sixth in the 100 hurdles (18.09), A. Riley was seventh in the 300 hurdles (52.5) and Toussant was eighth in the 1600 (5:56.11).
Earlier in the week, the girls tied West Branch in a league dual. Both teams scored 64 points.
Placing first were DePalmo in the 3200 (12:35); Yost in the long jump (16'7) and high jump (4'10); H. Evanich in the shot (31'8); A. Evanich in the discus (113'); the 4x200 (1:51.3) consisting of Stermer, Yost, Grindstaff and M. Evanich; and the 4x100 (52.72) consisting of Barrick, Stermer, Yost and H. Riley.
Seconds went to Christner in the 100 hurdles (17.35), Hardgrove in the 100 (13.43) and 400 (1:00.68), DePalmo in the 1600 (5:43.77), Mapes in the 800 (2:32.86), M. Evanich in the 200 (27.31) and Toussant in the 3200 (12:55.09).
Finishing third were Hillary Carle in the 100 hurdles (17.57), Stermer in the 100 (13.56), Toussant in the 1600 (5:49.51), M. Evanich in the 400 (1:02.5), Christner in the 300 hurdles (51.38) and long jump (13'8), Hardgrove in the 200 (27.35) and H. Evanich in the discus (101'4).
Boys Track and Field
The Minerva boys remained unbeaten in league play with a 73-55 win over West Branch. With the victory, the Lions improved to 4-0 in the NBC.
Getting wins were Clint Ford in the 100 (11.8), 400 (52.4) and long jump (18'11); Aaron Roberts in the 1600 (4:48); Jordan Cox in the 300 hurdles (41.7); Spencer Mapes in the 800 (2:11.3); Ryan Kohler in the 200 (23.65); Nathan Cold-snow in the high jump (6'2); and the 4x200 (1:35.2) consisting of Joey Wimsatt, Jake Brown, Taylor Moore and Kohler.
Seconds went to Cox in the 110 hurdles (15.81), Kohler in the 100 (11.84), Coldsnow in the 300 hurdles (42.95), J.D. King in the 800 (2:11.8), Roberts in the 3200 (11:08.45) and Josh Hiles in the shot (42'5) and discus (115'7.5).
Placing third were Coldsnow in the 110 hurdles (16.06), Wimsatt in the 100 (11.85) and 200 (24.09), Riley Jobes in the 1600 (5:00) and 3200 (11:16.43), James Hiles in the 300 hurdles (43.08) and Roberts in the high jump (5'6).
Minerva had a strong showing at the Stark County Championships, finishing third in Division II-III.
Marlington won the small-school title with 131 points. They were followed by St. Thomas with 126, Minerva with 112.5, East Canton with 85, Canton South with 53, Sandy Valley with 42, Canton Central with 39, Fairless with 38.5 and Tuslaw with 30.
Kohler had a spectacular meet, accounting for four firsts.
Kohler won the 100 in 11.58 and the 200 in 23.12; and was a member of the first-place 4x100 (45.57) along with Wimsatt, Brown and Moore; and the winning 4x200 (1:33.75) along with Wimsatt, Brown and Moore.
Ford was second in the 400 (52.59) and third in the 100 (11.75), 200 (23.7) and long jump (18'10.5).
Coldsnow won the high jump with a leap of 6'2, was sixth in the 110 hurdles (16.4) and seventh in the 300 hurdles (44.55).
Cox was fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.94) and 300 hurdles (42.6); Roberts was fifth in the 1600 (4:48.1) and seventh in the 3200 (10:39.03); the 4x800 (8:40.28) consisting of Roberts, Cory Allen, Mapes and King were fifth; the 4x400 (3:50.97) consisting of Brown, Cox, Ja. Hiles and King were sixth; Brown was sixth in the 400 (54.41); Mapes was sixth in the 800 (2:08.41); Jobes was seventh in the 1600 (4:57.52); and Evan Nickell was eighth in the shot (39'10.5).
Both teams were to face Marlington on April 29, before competing in the Marlington Relays this Friday, May 2. Minerva will host Carrollton on Tuesday, May 6.
treed@alliancelink.com