Norwayne's Dillon Morlock enters the postseason as the state's leader in both the shot put and discus.
And if last weekend's performance at the Wayne County Athletic League Championships is any indication, he has no plans on giving it up.
Morlock improved upon both of those state-best marks with area-record throws in both the shot put (71-feet-1) and discus (203-9) to remain the pace-setter in all three divisions.
WCAL Track:Morlock leads Norwayne to win despite tough conditions
Morlock will start his journey to repeat as Division II state champ in the both events this weekend at the Orrville District.
“It never gets old,” the senior said, of resetting each of his records this past week. “That's something you can chase for a lifetime and it can eat at you if you don't get in a while, you get really mad at yourself. You just have stay calm, stay focused and stay with your technique.”
And while he comes in as the overwhelming favorite to win the shot and discus, it's more about getting to that last weekend of May that is driving the Michigan State recruit.
“It's so tough to stay disciplined and not think about a mark,” Morlock said. “Even at practice you see it land out there and you're like, 'Oh, that isn't that far or that is far' That has a psychological effect on you sometimes ... you just have to stay focused and stay disciplined.”
He won't be alone in the field, however, as the shot also includes two other throwers that find themselves on the state leaderboard for D-III.
Fellow Bobcat thrower Brandt Morlock comes in with the second-best mark in both the shot (62-10½) and discus (170-4), while Orrville's Talon Beichler is right behind with distances of 58-11 and 166-11.
Beichler did something that hasn't been done at Orrville in nearly a decade last weekend in winning the Principals Athletic Conference title. The junior's shot put mark broke the school record of 58-6¾ that was set by James Miller in 2015.
Here's a look at the district meets involving area teams:
DIVISION I
North Canton District
WHEN: Wednesday, 3:45 p.m. (field), 4:15 p.m. (4x8 final/prelims); Friday, 3:45 p.m. (field), 6 p.m. (running finals)
WHERE: North Canton Memorial Stadium (525 7th Street NE, North Canton)
AREA TEAM: Wooster. OTHERS: Akron Garfield, Akron Hoban, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, Barberton, Canton McKinley, Dover, GlenOak, Green, Hoover, Jackson, Lake, Louisville, Massillon, New Philadelphia, Norton, Perry.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Owen DiMarzio (Louisville, so., sprints), Carson Basham (Perry, sr., sprints), Jayden Wilson (Perry, so., sprints), Preston Rieger (New Phila, sr., mid-distance), Eli Ilg (Jackson, jr., distance), Skylan King (GlenOak, jr., hurdles/long jump), Daylen Clark (Dover, jr., hurdles), Marquise Smith (Garfield, sr., high jump), Caden McClure (Green, sr., pole vault), Lisbon James (GlenOak, jr., throws), Obed West (Hoban, sr., throws).
PREVIEW: In a district loaded with talented distance runners, Wooster is hoping to break through. The Generals' 4x8 relay team comes in with the sixth-fastest time in the field and will most likely need another season-best mark to lock-up a regional berth as three teams in the field have broken eight minutes this spring, led by Jackson (7:51.14). Junior Owen Buchholz, a member of that 4x8 unit, will look to advance individually as well as he has been oh-so-close to breaking the two-minute mark in the open 800.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams in each event advance to next week's Austintown Regional, May 22 and 24.
DIVISON II
Orrville District
WHEN: Thursday, 3 p.m. (field), 4:30 p.m. (4x8 final/prelims); Saturday, 9:30 a.m. (field), 11:30 a.m. (running finals)
WHERE: Red Rider Stadium (841 N. Ella Street, Orrville)
AREA TEAMS: Chippewa, Norwayne, Orrville, Smithville, Triway. OTHERS: Bay, Brooklyn, Brookside, Clearview, Elyria Catholic, Fairview, Firelands, Holy Name, Keystone, Lutheran West, Northwest.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Liam O'Leary (Bay, sr., sprints), Connor Petrus (Elyria Catholic, jr., sprints/long jump), William Dunstan (Bay, sr., mid-distance), Connor Spellman (Bay, jr., distance), Michael Hanselman (Bay, jr., distance), Logan Allman (Northwest, so., hurdles), Anthony Robinson (Brookside, jr., high jump), Caden Race (Orrville, so., pole vault), Jon Graham (Norwayne, jr., pole vault), Dillon Morlock (Norwayne, sr., throws), Brandt Morlock (Norwayne, so., throws), Talon Beichler (Orrville, jr., throws).
PREVIEW: A trio of locals that have cleared 13 feet or better come in as the favorites in the pole vault. Norwayne's Jon Graham and Orrville's Caden Race have both been above the mark this spring, while Chippewa's Alex Rodriguez has cleared 13 feet exactly. Look for Smithville's Trei Durstine to also compete one of those regional berths up for grabs. In the mid-distance events. Daniel Comito of Orrville has the second-fastest time in the 800, but Tripp Wingate of Norwayne is right behind after clocking a personal record this past weekend. Orrville's Owen Lacy should also be in the mix in the distance events, while the Red Riders' 4x4 team has the second-fastest time with a 3:31.71 -- just off the pace of Bay (3:30.15). Trent Roe is one of two athletes to clear 20-10 this season in the long jump, good for the second-best mark in the field, while guys like Jake Hershey (Smithville) and Jack Maibach (Norwayne) will also be in the hunt in both the hurdles and high jump.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams in each event advance to next week's Austintown Regional, May 23 and 25.
DIVISION III
Norwayne District
WHEN: Wednesday, 2 p.m. (field), 4 p.m. (4x8 final/prelims); Friday, 4 p.m. (field), 5:30 p.m. (running finals)
WHERE: Norwayne Community Stadium (350 S Main Street, Creston)
AREA TEAMS: Dalton, Hillsdale, Loudonville, Northwestern, Rittman, Tuslaw, Waynedale. OTHERS: Black River, Canton Central Catholic, East Canton, Lake Center Christian, Mapleton, Mogadore, Rootstown, Southeast, St. Thomas Aquinas, Windham.
ATHLETES TO WATCH: Carter Steigerwalt (Mapleton, so., sprints), Stephan Kozopas (Black River, sr., sprints), Manny Strong (Tuslaw, jr., sprints), Luke Buxton (East Canton, sr., mid-distance), Luke Snyder (Rittman, so., distance), Jackson Varner (Waynedale, so., distance), Braylon O'Neal (Black River, sr., hurdles), Jeremy Reber (Waynedale, sr., hurdles), Evan Rastorfer (Rittman, sr., jumps), Carson Steiner (Dalton, sr., pole vault), Braden Carr (Loudonville, so., pole vault), Loudonville, Jonathan Stangl (Canton C.C., jr., throws), Ian Sarver (Waynedale, jr., throws), Gaitlin Herman (Waynedale, fr., throws), Collin Jones (Dalton, sr., throws).
PREVIEW: Luke Snyder has been chasing personal records all season long. The Rittman sophomore is hoping that the conditions and competition will be just right this weekend for him to hit those career marks. The All-Ohioan comes in with the fastest times in both the 1,600 and 3,200 by over 10 seconds. He also is among the top marks in the 800 with him and fellow local Nick St. John of Waynedale just off the pace of East Canton's Luke Buxton. Tuslaw's Manny Strong has the best time in the 400 entering the opening-day prelims, while both Dalton's Sammy Tomlinson and Colin Pearson are among the top sprinters -- and have both the Bulldogs' 4x1 and 4x2 teams poised for regional berths. Waynedale's 4x8, coming off of its program-record 8:15 earlier this month, also is leading its respective event. The Golden Bears' Jeremy Reber is looking to bounce back from injury to make a run in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. Evan Rastorfer of Rittman leads the log jump field -- one of three competitors over 20-feet along with Dalton's Jace Eberly and Hillsdale's Hayden McFadden -- and is one of four guys to clear 6-2 in the high jump. A handful of area throwers should also advance to regionals as Waynedale's Ian Sarver and Gaitlin Herman lead the field, while Rittman's Hugo Hawkins and Dalton's Collin Jones are also in the mix in the throws. Carson Steiner (Dalton) and Braden Carr (Loudonville) each have been over 12-feet this season in the pole vault and are expected to advance.
AT STAKE: Top four individuals and relay teams in each event advance to next week's Norwayne Regional, May 22 and 24.
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