Photo/KRISTIN MAZGAJ ST. CLAIRSVILLE freshman Lydia Wees sprints toward a berth in the OVAC Championship meet during qualifying Tuesday afternoon's meet at Red Devil Stadium.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — Not even a brief weather delay could slow down the 4A and 5A schools Tuesday.

The meet’s field events were hampered by a passing thunderstorm, but the running events went off on time at Red Devil Stadium and the bigger schools joined the smaller ones in Saturday’s OVAC Cal Giffin Track and Field Championship meet.

Now all focus can be shifted to competing for an OVAC Championship — both individually and collectively. The championship meet will be held back at Red Devil Stadium on Saturday.

In Class 4A, host St. Clairsville and Oak Glen both enjoyed strong days of qualifying in the boys and girls meet.

Those qualifying rounds set the stage for what could be an entertaining 18 events for the conference title.

The Red Devils’ girls pace six events, while the Golden Bears are the top seed in five.

Senior sprinter Emily Baire paced the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Rachel Sorge was the top 4A finisher in the 800 and Emily Thompson soared over 10-foot-6 to lead the pole vault.

The Red Devils’ 4×8 and 4×1 teams were also tops in the field, but Oak Glen followed close behind.

The Golden Bears were led by Maggie Kovalcik in the long jump and Abigail Myers in the 400.

Oak Glen’s 4×2, 4×4 and shuttle team also paced the class.

Edison’s girls pace two events and senior thrower Faith Hoobler is responsible for both. She paced the discus and shot put as she has much of the season.

Harrison Central’s Jasmine Arnold broke the tape first in the 3200 meter run in her class.

The St. Clairsville boys, who are seeking their fourth consecutive title put themselves in a solid position via their qualifying. However, Oak Glen also was solid.

Tony Ciroli’s Red Devil squad received a double jumping performance from Justin Heatherington to fuel the attack. He paced the high and long jump.

Senior David Mellema was the the top high and intermediate hurdler in the field.

The Red Devils also boast the top time in four of the five relays. The lone relay in which they didn’t pace was the 4×8 and they were third.

Oak Glen, meanwhile, was fueled by a double field-event effort of its own. Senior Kellen Tropeck was the top shot putter and discus thrower in the field.

On the track, speedster Tristan Lawson was the top finisher in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. Konnor Allison was the premier 3200 meter runner in the class.

The Golden Bears were also the top 4×8 squad.

Harrison Central paced a pair of distance events. Eric Leech was the top 1600 meter runner, while Sam McClelland, despite running with a cast on his arm that stretched to above his elbow, circled the track twicei n 2:02.54 to pace the 800.

Buckeye Local’s Jacob Pielech continued his fine campaign in the 400, posting a 51.52.

Edison’s Bryce McAfoose was the top pole vaulter in the class.

The 5A boys title seems to be fairly wide open with a host of schools enjoying solid qualifying rounds. Warren, a relative newcomer to the OVAC, owns the top seed in eight of the 18 events.

Weir — thanks to its strength in the sprints — was next in line with five top seeds. Junior speedster Sebastian Spencer set a pair of OVAC Class 5A records when he paced the 100 (10.56) and 200 (21.93).

Spencer’s most impressive race may have came in the 4×1 when his anchor leg lifted the Red Riders to the top seed in 43.77. Weir also paced the 4×2 and in the field, Jake McCoy was the top high jumper.

Wheeling Park, which qualified in 13 events, led two of those. Jermain Snodgrass was the top shot putter in the field and the Patriots’ shuttle team, which has been tops in the area all spring, turned in a 62-flat to lead the way.

Steubenville’s Jorian Jones (long jump) and Anthony Rice (high hurdles) turned in the top mark in their respective specialties.

John Marshall’s Anthony Siler was the top 3200 meter runner.

Wheeling Park has claimed 13 OVAC girls’ track titles and the Patriots appear to be on the brink of their 14th by virtue of an impressive evening of qualifying.

All told, the Patriots’ girls advanced to Saturday in 15 of the 18 events. Taking that a step farther, they qualified as the top seed in seven events, including every relay except the 4×8.

Individually, Aubrey Wiethe led the hurdle brigade, posting the top time in the highs and lows.

Aaliyah Speights led the long jump.

Steubenville’s T’Kayla Kelley posted the top time in the 100 and 200 meter dashes and freshman teammate Amaya Livingston led the shot put.

John Marshall had a pair of top seeds thanks to Camryn Mowder in the high jump and Zara Zervos in the 400.