Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State’s men’s and women’s track and field teams pose with their respective Horizon League trophies following conference title wins during the three-day meet on Sunday.

YOUNGSTOWN — From start to finish, the Youngstown State men and women’s track and field teams seemed destined for yet another Horizon League coronation.

As the meet’s hosts, the Penguins sat atop the team standings at the end of the first and second days. Then, both the men and women ran away with the team titles in dominant fashion on Sunday to sweep the Horizon League Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Farmers National Bank Field in downtown Youngstown.

With 190.5 points, the YSU women topped runner-up Milwaukee, which finished with 148 points. But the YSU men won by a whopping 140-point margin, beating runner-up Milwaukee 281-141.

“This group of seniors have broken the glass ceiling for us,” head coach Brian Gorby said. “Before, maybe we would win the Horizon League, but now we’re winning the Horizon League with four of the top five (in some events). They’re also setting conference records that have never been broken. About 10 to 20 of these folks are basically (competing) at a national level, getting to national championship (meets). I’m amazed where these kids have taken us.”

For YSU, winning a conference championship has become the expectation, as Gorby has built a track and field dynasty during his more than 30 years in Youngstown.

“Of course, it’s something we aspire to every year,” Gorby said. “But it’s never easy, and it’s a credit to our coaches and these kids.”

Since YSU joined the Horizon League, the men captured six straight outdoor titles and nine total, while the women have had an even longer run of success — winning their 11th outdoor title in the last 14 years and their 16th all-time after getting runner-up last year.

With the title, the men also completed the impressive “triple crown,” winning the Horizon League cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field championships in the same 2024-25 academic year, something they’ve now done for three straight years. Meanwhile, the women swept both the indoor and outdoor team titles this year.

Gorby credits the infrastructure and culture around the program for how the Penguins have maintained a consistent and prolonged level of success, which includes an elite coaching staff, some of whom have been around for many years, as well as top-flight facilities.

“We operate at a Power Four level — we’ve got the coaches, and then of course, the athletes that will run through walls for those coaches and run through walls for each other,” Gorby said. “That’s the standard, and nobody wants to let that standard down. … It’s pretty cool to win the ‘triple crown’ three times. Those are all things we want to continue to build on, and one day, hopefully, be able to win a national championship.”

LOCAL FLAVOR

On the men’s roster, 15 of the team’s athletes call the Mahoning Valley home, while 15 members of the women’s team are also from the area. Many of them saw themselves climb the podium throughout the weekend.

Salem alum and senior Hunter Christopher won the 10,000-meter title with a time of 29:27, while Howland product and sophomore Connor Durig won the high jump title with a mark of 2.05 meters.

Also, during the first day on Friday, senior thrower Coleson Kertesz (Springfield) placed second in the men’s discus with a mark of 49.0 meters, senior thrower Krista Perry (Crestview) placed second in the women’s discus at 41.0 and freshman distance runner Caleigh Richards (Maplewood) ran third in the women’s 10,000 with a time of 35:50.

On the second day on Saturday, Kertesz also got third in the men’s shot put with a throw of 15.66 and senior jumper Andrew Frank (Hubbard) was third in the men’s long jump with a 7.13 mark.

Finally, on the last day, junior Clancy Chrystal (Ursuline) placed second in the men’s 110 hurdles with a time of 14.46, and freshman Michael Ballone (Lowellville) placed third in the men’s 110 hurdles with a 14.47 time and second in the men’s 400 hurdles with a 52.70 time.

“They all take a lot of pride and they know they’re not going to come here just to run some local races,” Gorby said. “Our staff, I feel like we go above and beyond to give them opportunities of a lifetime. … We’re taking them to new levels coaching wise … and we appreciate what the kids do for us. We all know you’re coming here to graduate and to win a championship.”

OTHER TOP FINISHERS

Other Penguins top-three finishers include: Senior Luke Laubacher, second in men’s long jump with a best of 7.21 and first in the men’s 110 hurdles with a time of 13.48. … Senior Emily Bee, second in women’s heptathon with 5,205 points. … Junior India Bailey, third in women’s javelin at 41.30 meters. … Sophomore McKinley Fielding, second in women’s 10,000 with a time of 35:42. … Senior Ryan Meadows, third in men’s 10,000 with a time of 29:36. … Sophomore Daisha Decree, third in women’s long jump with a mark of 5.72. … Ainsley Hamsher, Melana Schumaker and Kaitlyn Eger swept the top-three spots in the women’s pole vault. … Jaden Kirkwood, second in men’s shot put at 16.05. … Jenna Razavi, second in women’s 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 10:48.57. … Kenzy Beckett, third in women’s 3,0000 steeplechase with a time of 10:49.43. … Sophomore Sage Vavro won the men’s 3,000 steeplechase with a time of 8:51.26, while sophomore Owen Brady was second with a time of 9:01.27. … Freshman Aaron Beredinelli was second in men’s triple jump at 13.73. … Senior Molly Radcliffe was third in the women’s hammer at 52.36. … Senior Nia Williams-Matthews won the women’s triple jump with a mark of 12.25. … Senior Zachary Webb was third in the men’s high jump at 2.02. … The men’s 4×100 relay team (Joseph Owusu-Ansah, Luke Laubacher, Jake Mcentryre, Garrett Tiller) took first with a time of 40.80. … Sophomore McKinley Fielding was third in the women’s 1,500 with a 4:27.41 time. … Senior Emily Bee finished second in the women’s 100 hurdles in 13.52. … Sophomore Melody Harloff was second in the women’s 400 at 55.41. … Sophomore Lukas Lang won the men’s pole vault with a 4.91-meter mark. … Freshman Mariah Day won the women’s 100 with an 11.71 time. … Sophomore Trenton Shutters won the men’s 800 with a time of 1:50.08. … Sophomore Micah Mitchell was third in the men’s 400 hurdles with a 52.76 time. … Junior Jake Mcentyre was second in the men’s 200 with a 20.93 time and freshman Garrett Tiller was third with a 21.18 time. … Sophomore Owen Brady won the men’s 5,000 with a 14:32 time. … The men’s 4×400 relay team (Mcentrye, Micah Mitchell, Ballone and Shutters) was second with a time of 3:14.21.