21 hours Ago By Joe Magill
Athletes to watchEbrahim Alzraqat, North Ridgeville: One of the top 800 runners in the area last year with a school record time of 1:56.85, the senior has the added burden of fasting during the month of Ramadan, which comes in the middle of the track and field season.Nathan Bright, North Ridgeville: This recognition is not based on what the senior did last year, but instead on what he did last weekend, when he cleared 6-foot-6 in the high jump, which is the top jump in the state thus far according to the website MileSplit Ohio.
Michael Hanselman, Bay: The Kent State signee is one of the top distance runners in Ohio in Division II, having placed fourth in the 3,200 run in last year’s state meet with a time of 9:23.14.Jackson Hughes, Avon: Barely an above average high jumper last year, the junior blossomed into an indoor state champion this year, taking the Division II title in early March with a clearance of 6-foot-5.
Cole Kepner, Avon: The Eagles have had great success in the sprint relays in recent years and the senior is a big reason why. Last year, he helped Avon place third in the state in the 4×200 relay and he also was a non-placing qualifier in the 100 and 200.Harry Lange, Rocky River: One of the top middle distance runners in the area, last year the senior was leaned out of a spot in the Division I state meet in the 800, placing fifth at regionals in 1:55.
48.Jayden Perrine, Bay: Only Perrine remains from Bay’s sprint relays that placed second (4×200) and sixth (4×100) in Division II last year. But he’s also one of the area’s best in the 100, 200 and long jump.
Connor Petrus, Elyria Catholic: After a disappointing end to his season last year, Petrus, headed to Ashland next year for football and track, came back strong this year, winning the Division III state indoor title in the long jump and taking second in the triple jump.Max Riley, Avon Lake: A standout offensive lineman who recently committed to Ohio State, the junior placed eighth in the state last year in the Division I shot put and is an excellent discus thrower as well.Kieran Ripley, Bay: The junior had a breakout season this past fall in cross country, winning the individual regional title and helping the Rockets place 8th in the state as a team.
His overland All-Ohio talent should translate well onto the track.Connor Spellman, Bay: Signed to continue his running career at Pomona College in California, the senior was a non-placing state qualifier last year in the Division II 3,200 run and he earned All-Ohio honors this past fall by placing 12th at the state meet.Ben Thompson, Amherst: A great indoor season bodes well for the junior, as he placed third in the Division II 400 in 49.
07. He also anchored the Comets’ 4×200 relay to second place in 1:30.86.
Jakob Weatherspoon, Avon: An OSU commit in football, the junior is one of the top long sprinters in the state, as proven by his fourth-place finish last year in the Division I 400 with an excellent time of 47.31. He also anchored the Eagles to third place in the 4×200 relay.
Grady Whitacre, Keystone: A Division II state qualifier in two events last year, the senior didn’t place in either the high hurdles or the 4×400 relay, but optimism is high, as the entire relay team returns.Andrew Young, Lake Ridge: The senior came up big in the Division III state meet last year, placing eighth in the 800 run in 1:56.51, as the top eight all finished within less than 2 seconds of each other.
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