Hoover long jumper Isaiah Barker, Jackson boys 3,200 relay win regional championships

AUSTINTOWN — Wednesday could not have went any better for Isaiah Barker.

The Hoover High School junior qualified for this year's state track and field meet alongside a friend. He also heads to Dayton next week on the strength of back-to-back postseason wins.

Barker won a Division I regional title in the long jump at Austintown Fitch. He cleared 22 feet 7 inches to beat GlenOak's Skylan King by 2.5 inches.

HIGH SCHOOL TRACK AND FIELD: OHSAA high school track and field | Divisions I and III regional results Wednesday

Barker also edged King for first place at the Federal League and district meets. The two will be top contenders to win at state.

They bring out the best in each other, especially in recent weeks.

"We're both friends and just support each other," Barker said. "We're trying to do the best we can, so we push each other."

Barker's best jump came in the prelims. King hit 22-4.5 on his first attempt in the finals. After jumping 22-2.25 on his first try in the finals, Barker passed on his last two attempts. His lead held up.

"We were just waiting to see what Skylan jumped," Barker said. "If he jumped better than me, I was going to jump again. He didn't end up doing it, so I just scratched my last two jumps."

King still owns the state's best jump in Division I at 23-11.75. Barker is not too far behind at 23-10.25.

"We're both juniors, so next year we're going to get way better than we are now and just improve the most we can," Barker said.

Jackson boys 3,200 relay shaves off more time

For Jackson's boys 3,200 relay, it was another week, another record and another win.

Elliot Zuckett, Sean McNulty, Cael Ball and Will Prato ran a school-record 7:44.96 to win the first boys track final of the meet. The Polar Bears bettered their previous record of 7:45.75 set at districts.

"The time we're shaving off gradually is really good to see," McNulty said. "I think that's a clear sign of the momentum we have.

"Again, head down, goal stays the same. We see a lot of guys putting up some really strong times in Columbus. Next week, we know we just have to be there, be present and show them what we can do. We still have more to do."

Ball ran on the relay for the first time in the postseason. He was Jackson's No. 4 runner on last fall's state champion cross country team.

"We have eight guys who could take one of those spots any day," McNulty said. "It's a blessing to have a team like this."

Louisville's Sloane Sypolt looks to double state meet fun

Sloane Sypolt already has punched her ticket back to the state meet.

The Louisville senior hopes she will be a little busier this time.

Sypolt will compete in the shot put after finishing as regional runner-up. On Friday the University of Akron signee will try to advance in the discus, an event she competed in at state a year ago.

A throw of 38-9 in the shot finals was enough to push Sypolt into new territory.

"I didn't even make the top eight and districts last year," Sypolt said. "This is super exciting for me."

Sypolt initially didn't know if her best semifinal throw of 36-2.75 would be enough for her to advance. One of Perry's coaches assured her she was in fourth going into the finals.

Her best mark came on her second attempt in the finals.

"I was like 'Alright, just let it rip,'" Sypolt said. "And I let it rip."

Hoover pole vaulter Joey Smart survives in challenging field

There was familiar competition around Hoover pole vaulter Joey Smart at his first regional meet.

Favorite Caden McClure of Green was there. So was Perry's Liston Seibert. It always seems like a reunion for Federal League pole vaulters at regionals.

"We have really good Federal League pole vaulters," Smart said. "It really helps push my limits to get better and be the best I can."

Smart was at his best at Fitch. The sophomore cleared a personal-best 13-8 on his third attempt to earn the fourth and final state berth. McClure won the regional title at 15-0.

It took Smart a second or two to realize he actually jumped a personal best.

"I didn't even think I was jumping 13-8," Smart said. "I though I was jumping 13-6. Once my coach told me I PRd, I was like 'What?'

"I'm pretty excited. I'm just having a good time."

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This article originally appeared on The Repository: Hoover long jumper Isaiah Barker, Jackson boys 3,200 relay win regional championships