Girls Track: Smithville, Waynedale, Rittman hope to challenge Norwayne for WCAL title

It’s been over a decade since a team other than Norwayne won the girls team title at the Wayne County Athletic League Championships.

And while the Bobcats have another strong group eager to keep their streak — which stands at eight titles in a row — alive, Smithville is nipping at their heels.

Those two balanced teams, along with Waynedale and Rittman, are expected to make an interesting chase for the team championships this weekend at Dalton’s McFarren Field — one that may come down to the final event.

Norwayne, which has won every team title since 2015, has used its strength in the field to be in position to keep one of the area’s longstanding streaks going, thanks to athletes like thrower Haley Bittinger and long jumper Reece Urban, and also has one of the county’s top hurdlers in Kaylee Graham. Urban is also one of the team’s top sprinters.

The Smithies, however, have dominated the sprints — led by All-Ohioan Maddy Lengacher and Claire Haas — along with the 1-2 punch of Kaitlyn Carr and Maryn Erdman in the distance races and balance across all of the relay events, something they will look to use as they hope to become the first non-Norwayne team since Rittman in 2014 to take the WCAL trophy.

Here’s a look at the conference girls meets involving area schools:

Inter-Valley Conference

WHEN: Thursday, 4 p.m.

WHERE: Lee Stadium (1 Woody Hayes Drive, Newcomerstown)

WHAT TO WATCH: Rayauna Lies of Hiland continues to shave seconds off of her times in the 400 and 800 as the senior looks to get back to her career-best marks from a season ago. Lies comes in with the fifth-fastest time in the 400 (1:03.62) and in the 800 — she fourth in the IVC in 2023 — the veteran is seventh (2:29.37). Sophomore Myla Troyer also is expected to place for the Hawks as she is tied for third-best mark in the high jump at 4-10. Both Sandy Valley’s Lexi Tucci and Tusky Valley’s Sally Ray have broken 5-0.

Principals Athletic Conference

WHEN: Thursday, 4:30 p.m. (field), 5 p.m. (4x8 finals), 6 p.m. (running finals)

WHERE: Triway Stadium (3205 Shreve Road, Wooster)

WHAT TO WATCH: Triway’s sprinters have been the story this season as, with veterans that have state experience along with some newcomers, the Titans have leaned on that strength all spring. Cierra Kemery and Ava Gaffey have the third-fastest 100 and 200 times, respectively, while teammates Addison Hudson (100) and Zoey Baker (400) are also among speedsters to watch. The 4x1 and 4x2 teams come in with legitimate shots at PAC titles, with the Lexi Coolbaugh leading the way in the throws with the top shot-put mark of 33-1. Tuslaw’s Paige Marthey is second overall in the 300 hurdles, while the Mustangs are expected to be in the mix in just about every relay event. Look for Hauley Wood (200) and Ashley Eberhardt (400) to also be threats on the track. The tandem of Catrina Race and Chloe Albrecht should pace the pole vault competition.

Ohio Cardinal Conference

WHEN: Friday, 3 p.m.

WHERE: Jack Miller Stadium (401 College Ave., Ashland)

WHAT TO WATCH: Wooster seniors Grace Kostohryz and Mattie Dunlap have led the way in the field and on the track, respectively, and each will look to help the Generals compete in a strong OCC field. Kostohryz has the top mark in the shot put, thanks to a throw of 38-9, and is fourth in the discus, while Dunlap’s 800 time is second-fastest (2:26.42), trailing just Lexington’s Elyana Weaver (2:23.04). Abi Strand-Fox also has the third-best 400 time as both Weaver and Madison’s Cyrus Callie have broken the one-minute mark this spring. West Holmes should pick up its share of points in the distance races with Katherine Kaster and Noelle Smith in the 1,600 and Smith and Lexi Starner in the 3,200 each having season-best times in the top-four. Teammate Zaylie Shultz comes in second overall in the shot and discus, while Casey Ogi is one of two individuals to clear 10 feet this spring.

Wayne County Athletic League

WHEN: Friday, 4:30 p.m. (field), 5:30 (4x8 final; running prelims); Saturday, 9:30 a.m. (field), 10:30 (running finals).

WHERE: McFarren Field (177 N Mill Street, Dalton)

WHAT TO WATCH: The sprint relay team of Skye Morris, Nayeli Cruz, Anna Pittman, and Callie Wolfe come into the meet off of an historic weekend. The quartet set both the 4x1 and 4x2 school records in wins at last week's Bob Valentine Invitational — the 4x1 running a 50.60 and the 4x2 clocking a 1:46.90 — demolishing a 41-year-old record of 1:48.20. Both Smithville's 4x4 and Rittman's 4x8 also come into the weekend off of impressive victories and have the fastest times in their respective heats. The sprints should have some exciting races as Smithville's Maddy Lengacher has the fastest time in the 100 by 0.5 seconds over Cruz and Cruz is the event leader coming in for the 200. Teammates Lengacher and Claire Haas are expected to battle it out in the 400. Speaking of the Smithies, Maryn Erdman has been on a quite a tear in the 800 and could see a battle from Waynedale’s Clara Sundberg, while Kaitlyn Carr has the top mark in the 1,600 — a race that could be very interesting with Rittman freshman Annabelle Snyder — and 3,200. Morris and Norwayne’s Kaylee Graham lead the 100 and 300 hurdles fields, respectively. Before action starts on the track, a battle between Emily Thompson of Northwestern and Haley Bittinger of Norwayne should be entertaining in the throws, while Jule Stoller (Northwestern, high jump), Wolfe (Waynedale, long jump) and Pittman (Waynedale, pole vault) all lead their respective events.

Mid-Buckeye Conference

WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m.

WHERE: Redbird Stadium (421 Campus Ave., Loudonville)

WHAT TO WATCH: The host Redbirds are poised to repeat at league champs as they have a host of talented individuals leading the way. While it’s unclear which individual events she will focus on this weekend, junior Tess Shultz has the fastest time in every event from the 400 to the 3,200 run. It is expected that she might focus in on the 1,600 (5:07.03) and 3,200 (11:24.98), where she has the fourth- and 10th-best times in D-III. Freshman Mya Vermilya has also been a huge points earner for Loudonville. She has the second-fastest time in the 300 hurdles with a 52.10, behind Danville’s Kelsey Hackman (50.98), while she is third overall for the 100 hurdles and third in the long jump (14-3½). Sophie Shultz is tied for the top high jump mark and is a strong mid-distance runner, while Chloe Ganson is among the top throwers in the meet.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Girls Track: Norwayne looks to add ninth straight WCAL title