OHSAA track and field | Hudson boys win first regional title at Austintown

Hudson tied North Canton Hoover with 54 points each to share the Division I Austintown regional boys title. Things came down to the wire, as a fifth-place finish by Hoover in the 1,600-meter relay clinched the tie.

"After the two mile results, we knew we were going to be no worse than second," said Hudson coach Mark McConnell. "I had a feeling Hoover was going to win because they had someone in the [1,600 relay] and we didn't. It ended up going our way almost. Regional champs is regional champs, and I'm proud of the boys today."

Hudson's 3,200 meters results proved pivotal. Ryder Kessick finished second in 9:14.11, and Bradley Schuster was fifth in a personal-best 9:27.92. The 12 points from the race vaulted Hudson into the team lead.

"I saw we were in second, so I knew we had a chance at the regional title," Kessick said. "I just came out here and ran my hardest. I just gave it my all."

Hudson won two individual events May 30, beginning with Drake Vander Cica in the shot put. His fifth toss of 57 feet, 1¾ inches was enough to win by more than two feet.

Hudson’s Drake Vander Cica competes in the shot put at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

"It's a great feeling to be regional champion," Vander Cica said. "I thought I could do it this year and I really tried to push myself for it. The footing was slippery at times, but I just had to get good footing and put a good one out there."

Hudson's Crew McDaniel then won the 1,600 in dramatic fashion. McDaniel ran down Hoover's Zavier Medina at the wire, winning by just .07 seconds in 4:15.81.

"My hope coming into it was just to get out," McDaniel said. "The last lap I was feeling that I could do it. Zavier took off, and every step I was feeling a tiny bit closer. When I finished,I went to the ground and I just felt I had it."

Hudson earned another state berth from Parker Maniar, who finished third in the 110 hurdles in 14.24 seconds.

"I was definitely hoping to compete with [Solon champion] Eric [Del Torto] today," Maniar said. "I'm proud to get out, but I feel like I have more to give next week."

In fact, both Maniar siblings advanced to state for the first time. Alyssa Maniar was fourth in the long jump with a leap of 17-¼.

"The competition was definitely fierce. It was kind of in the back of my mind, but I just wanted to try to do my best," she said.

Hudson’s Ellie Miele heads to the finish line in the 400 meters at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

Hudson's Ellie Miele also completed her comeback from a hamstring injury. She advanced in the 400 with a fourth-place finish in a personal-best 56.72.

"It was really hard," Miele said. "I've never had an injury like that before. Just not being able to race and watching everyone else get better and better was really tough. I hopefully want to PR again."

Twinsburg's Nicole Smith, two Sams win at Austintown track regional meet

Twinsburg’s Nicole Smith clears the final hurdle in the 300-meter hurdles at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

In the girls team race at Austintown, Twinsburg was best among Greater Akron teams, finishing seventh with 24 points.

Twinsburg may have a new star on its hands, as sophomore Nicole Smith won the 300 hurdles in a school-record time of 44.10.

"That was my goal all season was to win regional and set a new school record," she said. "I want to break 43 and continue to break the school record [at state]."

Smith also ran lead leg on Twinsburg's 1,600 relay, which was fourth in 3:55.83. She was joined by Autumn Besett, Brooke Jones and Teighlor Humbert in the relay.

Twinsburg’s Nicole Smith hugs anchor runner Teighlor Humbert after crossing the finish line in the 1,600-meter relay at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

Besett also qualified for state in the 800, finishing fourth in 2:15.95.

Sam Taneja and Sam Hopp were joined Steffon Mosley and Isaiah Calloway in winning the 1,600 relay in 3:19.08. Hopp stormed to the front in the final leg to win it for the Tigers.

"Heading into that final, I just knew I had to go," Hopp said. "Looking at Wednesday, I didn't get out fast enough. Everyone is quick here. I just knew I had to gut it out."

Twinsburg anchor runner Sam Hopp shouts in celebration after crossing the finish line in first place in the 1,600-meter relay at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

Hopp admitted he was upset with himself after his performance in the 800, although he did qualify with a fourth-place finish in 1:53.39.

"I had a little bit of anger to take out of that race and use it on this one," he said.

By contrast, Taneja was all smiles after his performance in the 400, finishing runner-up in 49.36.

"This was something different. Every guy was moving faster than I've seen all year," Taneja said. "I just knew I had to go with the pack and then hit it as hard as I can. Next week, it's the same goal: Just win."

4 Greater Akron athletes finish runner-up at Austintown regional

Along with Taneja and Kessick, four other local athletes snagged a runner-up finish at Austintown.

Firestone's Jaymion Jones earned his second consecutive state berth in the high jump, fighting through slick conditions to finish second at 6-4.

"It was a mental battle, because of how my approach comes, I usually slip a lot," Jones said. "It was wet today, so I was slipping. I was trying not to get hurt. I wasn't really going all out. God let me make it through."

The wet conditions also caused Nordonia's Sarah Marchant to muddle through in the pole vault. She got through as runner-up with a height of 11-8.

"There were things I wanted to do like get back to my seven-step [approach] and get on bigger poles," she said. "With how warm-ups went, it was pouring, so I just said, 'We're going to have to make due with what we got.'"

Nordonia’s Joseph Filisky clears the last hurdle in the 300-meter hurdles at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

Marchant's teammate Joseph Filisky broke through in 300 hurdles after a couple of near misses earlier in the day. Filisky finished runner-up in a personal-record 38.21.

"I knew what I was getting into," he said. "Still didn't get [under] 38, but I got a PR today, so I'm getting closer. I am shooting for the podium [at state], so we will see what happens."

In the 800, Tallmadge's Allison Hay imitated the recent Preakness Stakes. She split two foes down the stretch to finish runner-up in a school-record time of 2:15.65.

"It was tough. I was doubting it for a second," Hay said. "I just had to trust myself. I knew I had a good kick. I was afraid I was going to get boxed in again."

Stow’s Cammie Densevich winds up to throw in the discus at the Division I regional track meet May 30, 2025, at Austintown Fitch High School.

Stow's Cammie Densevich also earned a return to state in the discus. She finished third with a personal-best throw of 128-7.

"I practiced in the rain and I've thrown my best in the rain, so I was pretty ready for today," Densevich said. "I was really happy with. This is the first time I've PRed all year, and 128 is awesome."