The All-Ohio Track and Field Championships could be compared to a reunion. A lot of the combatants know each other very well. They first competed against each other in high school and then comes this annual showdown in the Buckeye State.
Reunions often end up covering familiar conversations. There's something familiar about the All-Ohio Meet and Ashland University, too. Just about every year the Eagles make their presence felt in a field led by Division I entrants.
This year's meet ended on Saturday (Apr. 21) and the AU men were fourth. Ohio State won the team title with 160.83 points and Akron (148.33) was second. Host Miami (113.33) was third followed by Ashland (88). The field included 13 teams.
AU senior Tyler Kreim (Shelby, Ohio/Buckeye Central) won gold in the javelin with a dominating performance. Kreim's winning throw measured 221-05. Second place went to Brian Zimmerman of Cincinnati at 207-03.
Junior Garrett Grey (Grahamsville, N.Y./Tri-Valley Central) was second in the hammer (212-11). Only Derrick Vicars of Findlay finished ahead of Grey. Vickers won with a throw of 216-8.
Senior Cory Meuleman (Columbus Grove, Ohio) was third in the discus (170-06) and fourth in the hammer (202-10). Kyle Steinhauser (Sandusky, Ohio/Perkins), sophomore, was fourth in the discus (170-2).
On the track, junior DeAndre Davis (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley) was second in the 100 (10.96) and third in the 200 (21.85). He was part of the 4X100 relay that was second in 41.91. Only Ohio State (41.11) bettered that mark. Davis was joined in the race by junior Jordan Hoppel (Olmsted Falls, Ohio), sophomore Keith Cleveland (Cleveland, Ohio/Shaker Heights) and rookie Brian Pongallo (Olmsted Falls, Ohio).
Cleveland was fourth in the 400 (48.49) and was part of the 4X4 relay that won the bronze medal in 3:13.27. He joined forces in that race with freshman Damian Winner (North Versailles, Ohio), senior Tom Scott (Lima, Ohio/Shawnee) and freshman Drew Windle (New Albany, Ohio).
Hoppel was fourth in the 100 (10.98) and freshman Brian Baum (Marlington, Ohio) was fourth in the 1500 (3:53.46).
The Ashland women finished eighth out of 14 teams with 42.5 points. The team title went to Cincinnati (191) and Miami (151.50) was second.
Jennifer Foster (Lodi, Ohio/Cloverleaf), a freshman, finished first in the high jump (5.75). In the triple jump, freshman Shaunisha Winters (Heath, Ohio) was fourth (36-1.50).
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