Consecutive streaks the main topic of discussion at the FC athletics competition

ASHLAND − The South Central girls and Crestview boys won the team titles at Friday’s Firelands Conference track and field meet, but the main storyline centered on several consecutive streaks in extended individual events by a few athletes seniors.

The South Central girls won the Firelands Conference team title Friday at Crestview High School.

New London’s Reese Landis did some serious damage in the 3,200 meters (11:26.97) on Friday, as she distanced herself from her opponents and ran away with her fourth straight Firelands Conference title in the eight-round event.

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“It’s been a goal of mine since I won it my freshman year,” said Landis, who was just five seconds off his own conference record of 11:21.47. ‘she had set in her second season in 2022. “Once you win it in your first year, you want to keep that standard for yourself. I just need to win it every year and it means a lot that you have worked every year. I have to finish my last year by winning four years. I am a little disappointed that I was not able to lower any of my records while I did in the other years.

Reese Landis of New London won the 3,200 and 1,600 events for the second year in a row at this year's Firelands Conference track and field meet.

To go along with his four Firelands Conference titles in the 3200, Landis won back-to-back titles in the 1600, which was his first race of the day. She almost clinched the trifecta of long distance events by winning the 800m, but finished third. Landis has been so good in the 3200 and 1600 that she incorporated the 800 to see if she can be pushed to the level she’s looking for. For a distance runner, competing in all three individual distance events at one track and field meet is pretty strange, but Landis knows she’s more than capable of doing it.

“Yeah, I know physically that I’m ready even when I’m not at my best and that’s OK,” Landis said. “The mile (1600), I made sure I had enough ground to stay first. It felt good. On the 800, the idea was to push but my legs weren’t working. I ran even split times in this race and at least I got third place.”

Let’s jump right in to South Central’s Angela Williams, who topped the field in all four individual events she competed in. Not only did Williams sweep the 100 (12.81), 200 (27.16) and 400 (59.83) meters for the second year in a row at the Firelands Conference, she finished four times in the 200 and won the 100 for the third time in four years (2nd in 2022).

For this performance, she was named the competition’s Most Valuable Runner.

“After the 400, my legs were pretty tired,” said Williams, who set a personal best in the 400 of 59.83. “I just prayed to God to give me strength and he did. Being here again is a great opportunity with my team, my coaches and God. It’s really special to come compete and do our best.”

Taking four in a row in the 200 and three out of four in the 100 seems like a lot, right? No. There is more. Williams also won the long jump for the third time in four years (2nd in 2023) with a PR jump of 18 feet, 2 inches. She was all smiles.

“I was a little nervous and excited today,” Williams said. “My first jump wasn’t the best. My coaches always remind me to extend my feet. I jumped and it was my first jump from 18 feet.”

Williams’ teammate Grace Lamoreaux had her own streak to extend and she did just that in her victory in the 100 hurdles (15.30), which was her fourth consecutive title in the event.

“It’s been a great four years,” said Lamoreaux, who finished second in the 300 hurdles, an event she has also won twice (2022, 2023) previously. “From freshman year to senior year, it was fun growing every year. The coaches really helped me. I was a lot stronger in the 100. I also did PR.”

You can also add Mapleton’s Isaik Schoch to the list of runners who have won back-to-back event titles. That would be the 1600 (4:33.65), in which Schoch repeated.

“I ran the way I wanted to,” said Schoch, who attempted to repeat the 3,200 but finished second. “I tried not to get too exhausted because I got the 3200 very quickly.”

The runner who denied Schoch from winning the 3200 for a second straight year didn’t have a streak to continue, but he had his mind set on jumping fast and it was New London’s Jalen Randleman, who won the event for the first time. time.

“I know Isaik is a great runner, so the goal was to start fast and that’s what I did,” said Randleman, who ran 10:04.45 compared to 10:18.59. for Schoch. “I felt that in the middle of the race I had created some distance and in the last 2-3 laps I pulled away.”

Other Firelands Conference winners and Ashland County standouts:

Cardey Cook, South Centralfirst over 110 and 300 hurdles

Logan Friges, Crestviewfirst in 400

Madison Smith, New Londonfirst over 300 hurdles

Cooper Brockway, Crestviewfirst in 800

Kelsey Pauley, New Londonfirst in discus and shot put

Wade Bolin, Crestviewfirst in discus and shot put

Scotty Hickey, Mapletonfirst in high jump

Falynn Schumacher, South Centralfirst in pole vault

Liam Kuhn, Crestviewfirst in pole vault