Big schools off and running

• St. C. boys, Barnesville girls pace 3-A field

By SETH STASKEY, Times Leader Sports Editor


The annual Cal Giffin OVAC Track and Field Championship has reached its halfway point as the large schools — classes 3-A and 4-A — got into the act Thursday evening at Bellaire’s Nelson Field.

A few familiar faces grabbed the top spots after the opening day of action, which included finals in only a handful of events.

The Barnesville girls — the defending 2-A champion — snared the top spot in the 3-A girls race, accumulating 29 points. Meadowbrook and Oak Glen are second and third, respectively with 22 and 17 points, respectively.

The St. Clairsville boys got off to a strong start to take the lead in the 3-A meet, scoring 27 points. Defending champion Meadowbrook scored 20, while both Wheeling Central and Barnesville tallied 19 during the first day of action.

Cambridge’s girls got out of the gates quickly en route to 25 points, which is four more than defending co-champion Wheeling Park. Zanesville and John Marshall finished with 16 points.

The Wheeling Park boys — displaying both depth and talent — surged to the early lead with 49 points. That total is 29 better than John Marshall and 30 better than third-place Weir.

IN CLASS 3-A, the Lady Shamrocks — who expect to score well on the track on Saturday — got off to a strong start with a victory in the first event of the meet. Sophomore Mariah Miller cleared 8-ft-6 for the pole vault crown.

Defending champion St. Clairsville — which qualified in the short sprints and hurdles well during Thursday’s action — picked up an unexpected victory in the high jump. Freshman dandy Ashley Gordon posted a career-best 5-ft-3 to claim the gold medal. She won by three inches.

Oak Glen — which also qualified well on the track — got a victory in the 4x800 relay when the team of Haley Baird, Alexandra Hauser, Kristen Ayers and Annah Cashdollar teamed for a 10:18.20 and the title.

Bellaire’s Megan Green successfully defended her shot put crown when she launched the iron ball to a mark of 39-ft-11, which was some six better than her nearest competitor.

The Red Devil boys got a strong showing in the 3200 meter run thanks to junior Jonathan Ebbert who put forth a season-best effort of 9:59.70 to claim the two-mile title. Sophomore teammate Alex Thornburg finished right behind him, giving the Saints an early 18 points.

Meadowbrook’s lone victory came in the pole vault. Colts’ junior Shawn Light soared over 12-ft-6 for the gold.

Oak Glen — which had a solid day of qualifying — was led by junior Matt Ritchie who marked the sand at 20-ft-7 1/2 to win the long jump title.

Magnolia had a winner during the opening day. Blue Eagle Kile Hale twirled the platter to a mark of 144-ft-1 to win the discus.

IN CLASS 4-A, the Wheeling Park Patriots flexed their muscle early and often en route to a commanding lead.

The Patriots — of head coach Chris Daugherty — claimed victories in three of the five events contest.

Senior distance dandy Ryan Beabout — who has signed with the University of Tennessee — repeated in the 3200 meter run, circling the Nelson Field oval in 9:27.66 for the gold.

The Patriots got additional distance points when the foursome of Kyle Gramlich, Kevin Busick, Logan Wojick and Travis Biehl put forth a 8:26.96 clocking to win the 4x800.

Senior Seth Myers got the Pats going in the field when he won the discus with a toss of 138-ft-2, which was nearly three feet further than anyone else in the field.

Zanesville — which qualified well in the speed events — got 10 points from junior vaulter Jordan Minnick who established a new meet record, clearing 14-ft-1 1/2, which broke the old mark, which had stood since 1992. Earlier this week, Minnick established a new all-time Ohio Valley record when he cleared 15-ft-3.

Indian Creek claimed the other victory in the 4-A meet. Senior standout Mike Smith — who also posted the top qualifying time in the 300 intermediate hurdles — soared to a mark of 20-ft-10 for the long jump gold.

The Cambridge girls took the lead on the opening day, but did so without the luxury of a victory.

Wheeling Park — which figures to score well on Saturday on the track — got off to a good start thanks to a record-setting performance from junior Courtney Yaeger who ran a 11:17.20 for the gold. In the process she established a new meet record, breaking the old mark of 11:18.38, which had stood for 13 years.

John Marshall’s ace vaulter Jami Fonner was once again victorious, clearing 9-ft-6 for the pole vault crown.

Steubenville’s Catherine Pendergrast laid claim to the high jump title, soaring over 5-ft-2 for the title.

Zanesville junior Katie Umstott was the winner in the shot put, posting a throw of 37-feet to win by nearly two feet.

Action resumes Saturday with remaining field events at 10 a.m. and the running finals at 11 a.m.

The Cal Giffin Track and Field Championship passes out its first hardware of the weekend this evening at Shadyside’s Fleming Field when the small schools put the finishing touches on the conference championship.

Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com