(Dillon Morlock earlier this season at the SPIRE Showcase)
Photo Credit: Christian Lisle - MileSplit
A pair of massive personal bests were tossed by Norwayne senior Dillon Morlock at Tiffin.
As we've mentioned in previous editions of the State-Side Scoop, the superlatives are difficult to even articulate for the Michigan State signee.
His most recent work saw him throw 67-11 for the shot and 74-4 for the weight, usurping his own previous state leads and positioning him at No. 1 (shot) and No. 3 (weight) within the national ranks.
Featured earlier this season for his exceptional triple jumping, Elijah Harris focused on the high jump event at Otterbein No. 3 and cleared a state-leading bar of 6-9.
The familiar confines of Otterbein treated him well, as he also earned meet titles at series installments No. 1 and No. 2.
The sophomore from Westerville Central has won four of the five high jump competitions he's entering during the 2024 season and resides in a tie for No. 9 nationally.
It was a busy week for Brayden Richards, as he competed at SPIRE on a pair of occasions during NEOITC White Division and the HS Indoor Games. At the former, the senior from Perry, produced a winning vault of 16-0.
The clearance represents a personal best, Ohio No. 2 and US tie for No. 18 effort. Trailing only Eric Pugh (Wayne) on the state leaderboard at 16-8, Richards is now the second state-side vaulter to hit 16-feet this season.
The team from Chardon went US No. 7 at SPIRE during the NEOITC Series White Division finale with their 7:54.01 showing.
This puts them in the top spot Ohio-wide as they overtake fellow sub 8-minute teams Toledo St. Francis (7:58.90) and Dublin Jerome (7:59.21) from Wittenberg Meet No. 2.
The Hilltoppers were represented by Karl Dietz, Jacob Nieset, Thomas Nelson and Matthew Sopchak.
Ty Sgambati (Medina Highland) has contested the 800 a pair of times this season and has produced sub-2:00 efforts on both occasions.
His latest performance being a personal best (inside) of 1:55.87 to win at the SPIRE HS Indoor Games, a mark which stations him at No. 2 on Ohio's 2024 overall leaderboard.
He was 7th at outdoor state in 2023 and 12th at indoor state last winter. Sgambati owns an all-time best outside time of 1:53.28.
In one of the top meets taking last weekend country-wide, Ty Jackson (Mayfield) won the 60m hurdles in an Ohio No. 2 time of 7.92 at Eastern Indoors. That's a PR in the event for the 2023 OATCCC Division I State Championships 4th place performer.
The senior has raced sparingly this season, but appears to be peaking as the state meet looms.
We saw some outstanding marks during our back-to-back live stream productions at Youngstown State on Saturday and then at Tiffin a day later.
At YSU, Sam Ricchiuti took second place in the 1600 with an indoor PR of 4:18.56. The senior from Dublin Jerome took it to the line with 1st place finisher Caleb Prettyman (Franklin Area, PA), who went 4:18.45 in one of the meet's most exciting finishes.
In 60m action at the Heminger Center, Caleb Kelly recorded an Ohio tie for No. 3 mark of 6.87 to secure the victory.
The junior from Toledo St. John's Jesuit also earned the top preliminary round time of 7-flat and won the 200m timed finals in 22.38, another personal best performance.