OHSAA track and field: A first look at some of the top Stark County state title contenders

The high school track and field postseason is here.

Stark County athletes have brought home many state championships in recent years. A few more could win titles this season.

The first steps on the road to Dayton will be taken at this week's district meets. Here is look at some area athletes who could advance even further and contend for state titles in the coming weeks.

Boys

Marlington's Colin Cernansky looks to three-peat as OHSAA state champion

It's the last run for one of Marlington's most decorated athletes. Colin Cernansky will see if he can author the perfect ending to a storybook high school career.

Cernansky will aim for a third straight Division II state title in the 1,600 meters . He also was the 1,600 indoor state champion as a junior.

No one would be surprised if Cernansky wins another individual event at state. He enters the postseason ranked No. 1 in the 800 and 3,200 and is entered to run the 3,200 at this week's district meet in Salem. His season-best 3,200 time of 8:58.96 at the Wayne Invitational is an all-time county record.

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Marlington Dukes 3,200-meter relay also seeks third straight championship

Cernansky will also have his sights on winning a third straight state title as a member of Marlington's 3,200 relay team.

Logan Citino and Luke Ryan join Cernansky as returning members of the relay. Michael Nicholls ran with them at last week's Eastern Buckeye Conference Championships.

The Dukes' top time this season is 8:07.09. Woodridge is ranked No. 1 in the state at 7:53.84.

GlenOak's Skylan King, Hoover's Isaiah Barker among best long jumpers

The Federal League alone features two of the state's top Division I boys long jumpers.

GlenOak's Skylan King ranks No. 1 overall with a season-best jump 23 feet, 11.75 inches last month. Hoover's Isaiah Barker beat King at last week's league championships when he jumped a meet-record 23-10.25.

King and Barker are expected to battle one another ... and others ... during the next few weeks.

Girls

Will Hoover's Amahrie Harsh sprint her way to state multiple times?

It was one and done for Amahrie Harsh at the 2023 state meet.

After running the 400 prelims a year ago, the Hoover sprinter has bigger goals this season.

Harsh could become a four-time state qualifier and contend for multiple titles this season. She swept the 100, 200 and 400 sprints and ran on Hoover's winning 800 relay at last week's Federal League Championships .

Harsh ranks No. 1 in the county in all four events. Her 100 time of 11.89 at the league championships was a meet record and marked the first time she ever broke 12 seconds.

Sandy Valley's Lexi Tucci looking strong at end of comeback season

No matter what happens the next few weeks, it has been a successful senior year for Sandy Valley's Lexi Tucci. She set multiple jumping records after recovering from a torn ACL that cost her the 2023 season .

That said, Tucci isn't planning to ease into life as a former high school athlete. She has a shot to return to the Division III state meet for the first time since her freshman year.

Tucci owns season-best marks of 5-5 in the high jump and 18-1 in the long jump. Both jumps rank No. 1 in the county this season.

GlenOak's Elena Knowles and Jackson's Abigail LaPole seek seated titles

The county already has multiple seated athletes who have won seated state titles.

GlenOak's Elena Knowles and Jackson's Abigail LaPole should be among the top contenders in the girls shot put this season.

Knowles is already on the county's list of champions. She won a state title as a freshman in 2022 and was runner-up last year. She enters postseason ranked No. 1 in the state with a top mark of 19-1, which also throw is an all-time county record.

LaPole finished third at the 2023 state meet as a freshman. Her top throw this year is 18-11.

Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com

On X: @mpopovichREP

This article originally appeared on The Repository: OHSAA track and field: A first look at some of the top Stark County state title contenders