Stow runners, throwers come up big at Austintown track and field regional meet

AUSTINTOWN — Stow's Jayla Atkinson has claimed a lot of accolades in her career, highlighted by winning a state title in the 800 meters last spring.

What has defined Atkinson's time at Stow, however, is her bond with her teammates, especially fellow senior Deena Ingrassia.

That's why Atkinson could not get the smile off her face Wednesday at the Division I regional meet at Austintown.

Stow won the 3,200-meter relay in a season-best time of 9:21.21. Ava Perrotta and Danzi Jones joined Ingrassia and Atkinson in the win.

Stow was in a dogfight with GlenOak most of the race until Atkinson turned on the jets in the final lap.

"I feel like each of us did our part in our legs," Atkinson said. "We each went out strong and executed it very well despite the wind. I think this was our best race."

"That's our fastest so far this year, but we're trying to get it down to our school record, which I believe is 9:16," Ingrassia said. "I'm really hoping we can win it. That would be an incredible accomplishment for Jayla and I, because we've been working at the 4x8 the last four years."

Revere will join Stow in the girls 3,200 relay at state. The Minutemen placed third to advance in 9:37.48, thanks to the efforts of Caroline Wilson, Keira Lang, Ellie Meech and Aleni Bender.

While Stow's victory was expected, Tallmadge's Jared Newenhisen admitted the Blue Devils "didn't have high hopes" in the boys 3,200 relay.

However, Newenhisen, Colin Adams, Joey Naiman and Cohen Parsons pulled out fourth in 7:54.9, just missing the school record, to advance.

Hudson's Shabino and Stow's Desmond Boyd renew rivalry in the discus

For Hudson's Ben Shabino and Stow's Desmond Boyd Jr. , the friendly rivalry continues.

For the third straight week, Shabino and Boyd went toe-to-toe in the discus, as both earned state berths.

Boyd took the lead with his third throw of 166 feet, 11 inches, only to see Shabino beat that on his next throw. Shabino's fourth throw won him the regional title at 170-10.

"I was just trying to go for a PR," Shabino said. "I didn't hit it, but I still went over 170, so I'm happy about that."

"Today was just about qualifying for states," Boyd said. "I was relaxed the whole throwing series today. On that 166, I just put it all together. That was just an ounce of my power. I'm really looking forward to state."

Before the state meet, Boyd and Shabino will battle again Friday in the shot put — after both graduate on Thursday.

Summit County nearly had three automatic qualifiers in the discus, as Copley's Trevin Jordan's final throw of 156-8 earned him fifth place. Although Jordan missed an automatic spot, his distance might earn him an at-large bid.

Copley will have an automatic qualifier in the girls shot put, as Jameah Little was fourth with a throw of 37-10¾.

"I'm feeling so excited. I'm very grateful to be here," she said. "I worked hard because I got here last year, but I did not make it to state. I did talk to [Jordan] during practice and he told me, 'You just got to do you.'"

In the boys pole vault, Green's Caden McClure was kept a bit down by the wind, but his vault of 15 feet was plenty to win the regional title.

"I'm very happy with what I did today," he said. "I won the meet and jumped 15 feet, which is pretty good. I didn't have the poles that I needed today."

McClure said he wants to not only win a state title, but to challenge the Division I state record of 17-3, which was set by brother Conner McClure in 2021.

Stow almost qualified to state in a third event, as Gino Hinton was among the favorites in the boys long jump. However, he was unable to improve upon his first jump of 20-11¼ and settled for fifth.

In the girls high jump, Revere's Lauren DiSalvo finished sixth with a leap of 5-2.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stow runners, throwers come up big at Austintown track and field regional meet