Shared Joy: Tallmadge and Copley share American Conference track title in dramatic fashion

TALLMADGE — The American Conference boys track and field meet Wednesday produced one of the best finishes in Suburban League history.

Rarely has a tie produced so much joy.

Tallmadge and Copley tied with 115 points to share the crown at the American Conference meet at Tallmadge. Aurora was in the mix to the end, finishing third with 110 points.

"I'm truly happy with everybody," said Copley coach Eric Driscoll. "I'm proud of these guys. They deserve it. The sky is the limit."

"We talked about it as the meet went along. The coaching staff knew it was going to be really close," said Tallmadge coach Mike Srodawa. "As a team, the boys set this as goal back in August. I can't be more proud."

The girls meet was more straightforward, as Highland got contributions from all over to win with 150.5 points. Aurora was second with 135.

"One of the things we try to build every year is to build that depth," said Highland coach Paul Lushes. "We were fortunate enough to have the girls this year to do it."

Tallmadge and Copley battle to wire for American Conference boys track title

The final two events provided the drama in the boys race.

In the 3,200 meters, Copley's Dylan Wood finally broke through to win after some bad luck in recent years. Wood timed his move to perfection, winning in a meet-record time of 9:29.39 and distancing himself from runner-up Joey Naiman of Tallmadge (9:37.06).

"I just didn't want Tallmadge to get the sweep in the distance events," Wood said. "I made sure to go a little earlier. I went with about 1,200 to go. I just went and held it."

Wood had to be make sure of his move because Naiman had stunned him earlier in the 1,600. Naiman passed Wood in the final 50 meters to win in 4:18.69, breaking the meet record set by his bother Tommy in 2021.

"Dylan was the one to be able to take it out, which I was grateful for," Naiman said. "I was able to progress through the race. In the last 150, I knew I could I get them. I may be bragging a bit for taking Tommy's record. Dylan is insane in the the 3,200. Realistically, I knew he was going to win it."

Wood's win gave Copley a 113-105 lead heading in the 1,600 relay. Top-seeded Tallmadge needed to win and hope Copley finished last to pass them.

Tallmadge did its part, as anchor Jared Newenhisen led the Blue Devils to victory in a meet-record time of 3:24.12.

The drama came at the other end of the race, where Copley anchor Shane Arp edged Cuyahoga Falls at the line, giving Copley seventh-place (3:38.64) and tying the final score.

Newenhisen, who also won the 800 in 1:55.88, couldn't get the smile off his face.

"I had a pep talk with my team that our only option was to win this," he said. "We got in there and got the job that done. I'm just absolutely astounded to be part of this team."

Copley started well in the field events. Trevin Jordan completed the "throwing double," as he won the shot put by breaking his own meet record with a toss of 60 feet, 1 inch. Caleb Wisniewski won the high jump for Copley with a leap of 6-1.

Kent Roosevelt's Micah Sheller won the "hurdles double," taking the 110 high hurdles in 15.76 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 40.92.

Highland girls track gets contributions from whole team to win American Conference

Highland couldn't have started better in the field events, as Sierra Podolan and Jordan Miller went one-two in the discus.

After winning the shot put Monday, Podolan completed the throwing double with a toss of 133-7, just an inch short of her meet record.

Highland's MVP was freshman Katie Schuler, who won both distance races. Schuler edged Revere's Keira Lang in the 1,600 (5:18.29) and then ran away the with the 3,200 (11:31.77).

"The strategy was just to try and stick with the first-place runner until I thought I had enough to take the lead," Schuler said. "We try to stay optimistic, but we don't want to be too cocky about it."

Highland had another freshman champion in the 300 hurdles, as Celia Pylypiak won in 47.69.

The sprints turned into a battle between Roosevelt's Kaiden Harris and Aurora's Isabella Cicero.

Despite rushing between the track to the long jump pit, Harris repeated as champion in the long jump (17-4) and the 100 (12.51).

In the 200, however, Cicero beat Harris with a meet-record time of 25.56.

Cicero was part of three meet records, as she also won the 400 in 57.9 and anchored Aurora's winning 1,600 relay (4:01.46).

Tallmadge's Kate Archer shatters pole vault record

The performance of the day, however, was turned in by the pole vaulter with the pink sunglasses.

Tallmadge's Kate Archer put on a show, shattering her own meet record by seven inches. Archer cleared 12-6 on her final attempt to the delight of the home crowd.

"It definitely helped that there were some girls who were around my starting bar," she said. "That kind of got my adrenaline pumping a bit, but the community and everyone who was here … their support was huge."

Archer has her eyes on a state title in the pole vault after placing sixth last year.

"I'm just trying to do my best and do what I can do," she said.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Dramatic finish leads Tallmadge, Copley to share league track title