Division I Preview

Girls
Beaumont will win the team title. The real fight is for second, where Bowsher, Collinwood, Walsh Jesuit and Shaker Heights are all basically even.

Individual picks:

Discus throw. Monica Howard, Wilmington.
High jump. Georgette Asfoura, Walsh Jesuit.
4x800 relay. Twinsburg.
Long jump. In a tossup between Audra Frimpong (Canfield) and Mikeal Roberts (Princeton), I’ll go with Frimpong.
Shot put. Johnna Zacari, Walsh Jesuit.
Pole vault. The obvious choice might be Courtney Siebenaller (Whitmer), who tied the state indoor record of 12’ while winning the state indoor championship. However, she just hasn’t been up to that standard since then, and I’m going with Kelsey Ahbe (Green).
100m hurdles. Kaylon Eppinger, Warrensville Heights.
100 meters. This should be a close race between Meshawn Graham (Bowsher), Aareon Payne (Beaumont), and Erika Schmidt (Anthony Wayne). I’m picking Graham, as she has the best top-end speed and is the least likely to run tight in a high-pressure situation.
4x200 relay. Collinwood.
1600 meters. Emily Infeld (Beaumont). She’s about 10 seconds better than anyone else in the race.
4x100. Withrow.
400 meters. This is the deepest race in the meet, but Jessica Beard (Euclid) is head and shoulders above the rest; she’s the best teenage quarter-miler in the western hemisphere.
300m hurdles. Hauna Dawkins, Franklin Heights.
800 meters. Again, Emily Infeld.
200 meters. The same cast as the 100 meters, but Graham will be a clear winner.
3200 meters. There’s no clear favorite here; Brooklyne Ridder (Oak Hills) ran a sparkling 10:34 at her district meet and then finished third in her region. I’m going with Claire Durkin (Kilbourne).
4x400 relay. This figures to be a three-way race between Walnut Hills, Westerville Central, and Shaker Heights. Shaker has a superior anchor leg in Shaniqua McGinnis, so they’re my pick.

Boys

The first time I added up points I got Glenville first, Cleveland Heights second. The second time I did it I got Cleveland Heights first, Glenville second. It will be close and no other team has a chance.

Shot put. Jimmie Pacifico (Vandalia-Butler) is #1 in the nation and should win by about 10 feet. I would be very surprised if he does not break the meet record.
Long jump. Jordan McPherson (Huber Heights Wayne) has been head and shoulders above the rest of the state all season long.
Pole vault. Mike Uhle, Olentangy Liberty.
4x800 relay. Cleveland Heights is the #1 team in the country.
Discus throw. Again, Jimmie Pacifico; his best this year is 195’ 1”.
High jump. Erik Kynard (Rogers) jumped 7’ in early January and has slowly but consistently gone downhill ever since. He was solidly beaten by Ronsae Harrison (Winton Woods) at the Roosevelt Relays. This is a four-way battle between those two, McPherson, and David Serrano (Pickerington Central). I’m going to pick Serrano in an upset.
110m hurdles. Ricardo Ross, Independence.
100 meters. The casual observer will see that Aeric Clay (Bowsher) was second in both of the last two years and had the fastest regional time, and pick him to win. But that would ignore the fact that Clay hasn’t been running all that well this year, and also the effect of wind on 100 meter times. Use this cool widget, and you’ll see the fastest from the regionals is actually Jordan McPherson.
4x200 relay. Glenville vs. Middletown; I’ll take Glenville.
1600 meters. Chris Lemon (St. John’s Jesuit) has run some great races over the last few weeks and he’s tough as nails. The one thing he doesn’t have is great finishing speed, which Jake Edwards (Delaware Hayes) does. Edwards in a thriller.
4x100 relay. Huber Heights Wayne vs. Middletown; their anchors will likely stage a rematch of the 100 meter final. Middletown won’t lose two sprint relays; take the Middies!
400 meters. Another very deep field in the 400 meters. I’m going to pick Kendall Gregory (Strongsville) in an upset.
300m hurdles. Sam Hogue (Toledo Central Catholic) has run sub-38 in each of his last six races; no one else in the state has done it even once. A no-brainer.
800 meters. Jake Edwards’ legs will be stuffed after the mile, so he won’t win. Daniel White (Brunswick) is the favorite, but if Jared Hall wins this he just might seal the team title for Cleveland Heights.
200 meters. Stuart Smith (Westerville Central), and it will not be close.
3200 meters. Emil Heineking (Chardon) is the obvious choice, but watch Bo Waggoner (Maumee) to give him a run at it.
4x400 relay. This should be the race of the day; four teams ran 3:16 or better at their regional meets and the overall team title will be up for grabs. Cleveland Heights will win.