Big Red boys runner-up at regionals

Steubenville, Buckeye Local athletes qualify for state championships

NEW CONCORD -- The Big Red boys track and field team came one point shy of a regional team title, compiling 55 points in the Division II, Region 7 track and field championships after Saturday's finals at Muskingum University's McConagha Stadium.

Steubenville's mark was just one point behind regional champ St. Clairsville's 56.

On the girls side, two local teams finished inside the top 10 in Big Red (fifth) and Buckeye Local (eighth). Host John Glenn won the girls title.

Both Big Red and Buckeye Local will be sending contingents to the Division II OHSAA State Track and Field Championships as the top four individuals/relay teams in each regional event qualified, as well as the next two top times from around the state as at-large bids.

The state meet takes place Friday and Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of the Ohio State University.

BOYS

After being the top qualifier in the hurdles events during Thursday's prelims, Big Red's Micah Mitchell bettered his time in the boys 110 hurdles and claimed the regional title in 14.11 and made it two golds with a 38.67 to top the 300 hurdles. Mitchell was also on the 4×200 relay team with Savior Faulks, Jalen Minniefield and Josh Schoonover that placed third to advance in 1:29.81.

Buckeye Local's Cai McKeever improved on his top qualifying time in the 400 and won the regional title with a 49.69, placing just ahead of Faulks who ran second in 50.35 and also moves on.

Big Red's 4×400 relay unit of Faulks, Mitchell, Josiah Rea and Schoonover topped the event in 3:25.19, running more than a second quicker than their prelim mark.

GIRLS

Big Red's Nyah McShan bettered her prelim time by more than half a second to earn an automatic bid in the girls 100 hurdles, placing fourth in 15.90. McShan also anchored the 4×200 relay unit that topped the event for Steubenville in a time of 1:47.79. Mya Stackhouse, Sarah Allen and Madalyn Criss joined her on the winning unit.

Stackhouse, Criss, Cianna Scurry and Aniyah Warner took the regional title for Big Red in the 4×100 with a 50.44, more than a second better than their prelim time.

Buckeye Local's Brynn McKeever knocked off two tenths from her prelim run in the girls 100 dash, placing second in the final in 12.34. She picked up even more -- more than a second -- in the 400 dash to earn a state bid by placing fourth in 59.40. She also qualified for state in the 200 dash, placing fourth in 25.85 to put her in three events at the state meet.

Big Red's Sabria Jones won the regional title in the long jump with a 17-03.5.

The Panthers' Pam Kandrach advanced to the state meet on Thursday with a 37-03 to place fourth in the shot put final.