By Robert Hayes

CORRESPONDENT

AUSTINTOWN — On what could only be described as a “picturesque” evening at Greenwood Chevrolet Falcon Stadium, the search for tickets to Columbus continued on with the opening night of the Division II Region 5 meet. Eight area athletes earned automatic bids to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in three events.

ON THE TRACK

The first of the “finals” in running events yielded the first automatic qualifiers on the track for Division II, with the Salem girl’s 4x800m squad taking third place, clocking a time of 9:43.77.

It’s a group that’s familiar with competition this time of the year, with seniors Maggie Hopple, Maggie Hall and sophomore Abby Knickerbocker competing for the Quakers at Welcome Stadium in Dayton last June, adding in senior Jill Pieren who’ll be making her state track debut next weekend.

That being said, finding a top four spot wasn’t easy, with a Woodridge team that earned first by more than seven seconds, and less than a second between the second and fourth place finishers.

Hall was the anchor of the race, trying to build off what her three teammates established.

“We always know coming into this race and this meet that the competition is going to be great, so we go out there knowing what we’re capable of and just seeing where it matches up with the other competition,” Hall said. “Being the anchor, not just knowing that the competition is great, but knowing that the anchor legs are going to be giving everything they have because they know what’s on the line.

“I think it’s more so, knowing that I’m running for these three girls too, that makes it a little bit more comforting, it was definitely a hard last lap.”

Hopple, the first leg, added “It’s always important to give it your all and go out as hard as you can and do what you can do for the team. It’s definitely challenging and motivating too as well. You want to make it to state so bad, so there’s a lot of good competition, and there’s a little bit of nerves but that’s what fuels you to do your best.”

Knickerbocker is the youngest of the senior-lead group, but ran for Salem in the 4x200m last spring at state. That prior experience is going to come in handy in Columbus.

“I was just trying to keep our lead for our girls, I was watching myself on the video board to see if I was ahead and stuff,” Knickerbocker said. “I look up to them, they’ve been to state, it’s exciting.

“(Last year) helped a lot with my nerves, since I’ve been there before I know what to expect and everything.”

Pieren has competed at state in cross country before, but the new challenge is one she’s ready for.

“I’m just going to take it all in, take the experience in before I’m a senior, so this is the last race, just take in the experience,” she said.

SCHOOL RECORD TYING MARK

Over at the girl’s high jump, a duo of Quakers punched their tickets to Columbus, in the form of sophomores Madolyn Gorby and Peyton Colbert, who took second and third respectively.

Gorby’s mark of 5-4 feet tied the Salem school record, while Colbert cleared a bar of 5-2 feet. It’ll be Colbert’s state debut, while Gorby previously qualified in the high jump last season.

“I just like to win, I just get that adrenaline and I go,” Gorby said. “Honestly, it’s pretty tricky, with my mindset I feel like I can do pretty good. I’m very excited, I’m kind of disappointed because I did want to break (the record), but it’s okay, next year or at state.”

“Peyton is my best friend and she really pushes me, we have competitions, really have fun at practice, and I’m going to feel so good this year going to state with her.”

Colbert added “I’m so excited, I was so nervous at first but I just knew I could do it. I was aiming for 5-2, and I succeeded. I just prayed and trusted in God to get me through all of this, after 4-10 I knew I could get top four.”

“(Gorby) and I push each other, I’m always so happy for her. I’m just happy, I just want to experience it and just know that I made it to state as a sophomore.”

LEAPING TO COLUMBUS

Over on the boy’s long jump pit, another duo of Mahoning Valley athletes earned themselves a spot within the prestigious top four. Liberty junior Enrico Jnpierre-Greene marked 22-2.50 feet to earn third, along with Salem junior Lucas Adams whose leap of 21-7 feet was good enough for fourth place.

Jnpierre-Greene is the Leopards first state qualifier for the state meet and is excited at the prospect of making his state debut.

“Jumping, it was kind of hard, I knew I had to execute and make it to Columbus,” Jnpierre-Greene said “The competition pushes me a lot, most people break under pressure, but I came to handle business and that’s what I did. It wasn’t the best jumps I had, but I made it work and came through.”

“You can’t let your emotions get the best of you because you might fail the jump, but it’s exciting. It’s very nerve wracking, but once you have a cool composer you can get it done.”

Adams began competing in track as a way to condition for football, but has found a new appreciation for the sport as the year has gone on.

“Coming into this, I knew it was going to be a dog fight, I knew I had to come in here, do what I know how to do, I came and delivered,” Adams said. “I don’t even know how to explain my feelings right now, I’m just so excited and happy to compete in Columbus.”

“To be a part of this, it’s just amazing. Our coaching staff is amazing, we have amazing runners and amazing jumpers.”

ALSO COMPETING IN FINALS ON THURSDAY

Elliott Jones (Pymatuning Valley, senior) 10th place, 11-0 feet, boy’s pole vault…Nah’Zyia Moses (Ursuline, junior) 7th place, 5-0 feet, girl’s high jump…Marquaias Patterson (Ursuline, senior) 14th place, 18-11 feet, boy’s long jump….Brooklyn Woods (Ursuline, senior) 5th place, 39-1.50 feet, Maddy Andres (Salem, junior) 9th place, 35-0.25 feet, girl’s shot put…Gaven Hanson (Girard, senior) 136-1 feet, Connor Crilley (Ursuline, freshmen), foul, boy’s discus…..Lakeview girl’s 4x800m, 13th place, 10:23:00 (Jalyn DeLeon, Claire Remmick, Kendall DeLeon, Annalise Lowe)….Lakeview boy’s 4x800m, 5th place, 8:05.28 (Jake Langmeyer, Anthony Marble-Salem, Trent Miller, Luke Whitmore)….

MOVING ON TO SATURDAY’S FINALS

Xavier Starghill (Ursuline, junior), 14.55s, boys 110mH….Jessica Hansen (Girard, junior) 12.70s, girl’s 100m dash…Josiah Hunter (Girard, senior) 10.80s, boy’s 100m dash….Salem boy’s 4x200m, 1:30.75 (Will Harmon, Marcus Phillips, Ben Severe, Josh Mayhew)….Girard girl’s 4x100m, 50.42s (Jessica Hansen, Alexis Pieton, Khloe Pieton, Laiyah Pappa)…Ursuline boy’s 4×100, 43.40s (Tairan Davis, Amire Brown, Devonte Taylor, Jy’Quise Liason), Girard, 43.55s (Mykell Collier-Dixon, Josiah Hunter, Nick Rafferty, Allen Hess Cordona), Salem, 43.59s (Will Harmon, Ben Severe, Josh Mayhew, Marcus Phillips)….Michael Charles (Ursuline, senior) 50.35s, boy’s 400m….Xavier Starghill (Ursuline, junior), 40.52s, William Baugher (Pymatuning Valley, sophomore), 40.76s, boy’s 300mH….Salem girls 4x400m, 4:05.24 (Abby Knickerbocker, Maggie Hopple, Karlie Sampson, Maggie Hall)…