Locals take home hardware at NCAA Conferences

Volume 4 Issue 12

Northwest Ohio has been a hotbed of track and field talent for generations. This season, many locals have taken home conference hardware at the Division I level and qualified for the National Championships at the Division II and III level. Here is a rundown of everything you need to know.

Division I

Joseph Taylor (Toledo St. John’s) has a had a tremendous freshman year at Duke. He took 2nd at the ACC Championships in the 400m in a time of 44.98 to set a new school record and also took 3rd in the 200m. Taylor also ran the 4x100m and 4x400m at the ACC meet and helped Duke captured their first ever title. He is ranked in the top 10 in the NCAA in the 400m. Noah Koch (Genoa) took second for Louisville in the shot put.

Ayden Bath (Vermilion) defended his MAC title in the decathlon for Kent State. He also took 1st in the 110m hurdles. He followed by freshman teammate Beau Harkelroad (Huron) who took 2nd in the 110m hurdles and also 2nd in the 400m hurdles. The winner of the 400m hurdles was Gabriel Singh (Sylvania Northview) of Eastern Michigan in a time of 51.18. Fellow EMU Eagle Solomon King (Toledo Central Catholic) was on the winning 4x100m relay. Division III transfer Keegan Digby (Otsego) took 3rd in the shot put for Akron.

On the women’s side in the MAC, Division II transfer Trista Fintel (Patrick Henry) took first in the shot put and hammer throw for BGSU. Another Division II transfer, Brook Boes (Tiffin Columbian), took third in the discus for Akron. Ella Rigel (Leipsic) took 2nd in the hammer throw for Miami OH.

In the Horizon League, Greyson Pollock (Toledo St. Francis) took 3rd in the javelin for Wright State. Ethan Cope (Toledo St. Francis) was on Youngstown State’s 3rd place Distance Medley Relay.

Brady Yingst (Lima Perry) took first in the steeplchase for Lipscomb at the Atlantic Sun championships. Alexa Fortman (Ottawa-Glandorf) runs today for Belmont at the Missouri Valley championships.

Division II

Caden Morris (Marion Harding) has qualified for the national championship meet in both the long jump and the 4x100m. He currently is ranked second in DII in the long jump. For the Ashland women, Lily Dowdell (Norwalk St. Paul) qualified in 5000m, Leslie Pollock (Antwerp) qualified in the hammer throw, Olivia Saylor (Margaretta) qualified in the 4x400m relay, Hope Sievert (Oak Harbor) in the 800m and Molly Winner (Marion Local) in the shot put and hammer throw.

For Findlay, Nate Buschur (Marion Local) qualified in the pole vault and Eyan Wilson (Toledo St. Francis) qualified in the shot put. Leah Smith (Tiffin Calvert) has qualified for four events at the national championship meet, 4x100m, 4x400m, 100m and 200m.

Kevin Hornbeak (Whitmer) qualified for the national meet in the shot put for Tiffin.

Micah Gremling (Findlay) qualified in the 100m dash for Walsh.

Division III

For Ohio Northern, Claire Schweller (Paulding) qualified in the pole vault, Izzy Burman (Liberty-Benton) in the shot put and hammer throw and Hannah Friend (Eastwood) in the shot put and discus.

For Baldwin Wallace Kaeden Faggs (Marion Harding) qualified in the long jump.

For Trine, Zion Jackson (Lima Senior) qualified in the 110m hurdles.