OHSAA State Track Meet 2023 | Follow Day 1 results from inside Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium

COLUMBUS — In the hottest temperatures of the year, Greater Akron athletes are competing in the Ohio High School Athletic Association state track and field meet.

A number of Akron-area athletes headed to the meet Friday and Saturday with state championship aspirations. Competition began Friday morning in Division III and continues throughout in divisions I and II.

Return here throughout Friday for updates. Here's a look at the latest results from Day 1 at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on Ohio State's campus:

Tradition continues: Woodridge 3,200-meter relays earn top-four finishes at OHSAA state meet

Woodridge's standard for distance running is sky high.

The fact there were a few grumbles in the Bulldogs' camp after the 3,200-meter relays at the Division II state meet Friday tells the story.

The Woodridge girls 3,200 relay recorded a season-best time of 9:21.88. The team of Marissa Boone, Joy McFarland, Eloise Willett and Reese Reaman finished third, getting nipped at the line by Huron. Waynesville won in 9:17.62.

Boone got off to a huge start for Woodridge, leading by 10 meters at the first exchange.

"That's just how I run out. I like to get to the front and give my team the lead," she said.

After that, the field caught up with the Bulldogs until Reaman took the baton toward the middle of the pack. Reaman ran down numerous runners and was in second down the home stretch before running out of gas at the line.

"My legs were getting tired," she said. "I just wanted to go out there and run down as many girls as I could."

St. Vincent-St. Mary also earned All-Ohio honors in the girls 3,200 relay, placing seventh in 9:25.47. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy was 11th in 9:41.7.

Woodridge hoped the boys 3,200 relay would be a rematch with Marlington after the Dukes and Bulldogs went down to the wire at regional. However, traffic jams in in exchange zone had the Bulldogs hanging around in eighth when anchor Seth Singer got the baton.

Singer ran a big leg to get the Bulldogs into fourth place in 7:58.78, while Marlington cruised to its second straight state title in 7:50.98.

"We were having high expectations, wanting to play with Marlington from the start," Singer said. "I didn't really get the baton where I wanted it in the fourth leg. I had to run a lot of guys down. Overall, we're just a bit disappointed in the outcome."

CVCA just missed an All-Ohio spot, as the Royals finished ninth in 8:10.10.

Meanwhile, the Division I girls 3,200 proved to be grinder for both Stow-Munroe Falls and Hudson, as both teams were unable to beat their seed times.

Despite a huge anchor leg by junior Jayla Atkinson, Stow had too much ground to make up to reach the podium, and Atkinson, Deena Ingrassia, Danzi Jones and Sydney Pitcovich combined to finish 10th in 9:29.42.

Hudson was in an All-Ohio position over the first two legs, but faded back to 15th place. The team of Ruby Jacops, Katie Will, Abby Henderson and Jillian Paolucci finished in 9:38:07.

'The Mo Show': Norton's Morgan Hallett sets OHSAA discus state record

Norton junior Morgan Hallett came in as the defending Division II state champion in the discus and had a seed throw 30 feet ahead of her nearest competitor.

The only question was whether Hallett would break the state record in the event. She broke two and tied a third.

With a heave of 170 feet, 8 inches on her fifth throw, Hallett hit the record book. She shattered the state meet and Owens Stadium records and tied the Division II overall record, set by Teresa Sherman of South Point in 1989.

"I had already had a good throw in the first flight," Hallett said. "At that point, I said it was time to go after it. I applied more pressure, applied more speed and tried to get my technique right. In the fifth throw, I just let it fly."

Any of Hallett's five recorded throws would have won the title, as Hebron Lakewood's Landry Driskel finished second with a toss of 134-1.

"She started the season out strong, She threw a 171-5 in a meet, but it was dual meet," said father and coach Brian Hallett. "She's been chasing that big throw in a meet that counts. I'm glad to see she could calm down, use her technique and put it out there."

On her final throw, Hallett nearly broke the record again, but fell just short at 166 feet.

"My dad and I call it 'The Mo Show' because what else can I do?" she said. "I just have to go after it."

Hallett claimed her fourth state title and will look for No. 5 Saturday when she goes after her third consecutive state title in the shot put.