Cachet Murray and Amber Bland lead area sprinters for this season

Cachet Murray and Amber Bland top a list of strong state candidates.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
Girard High sophomore Cachet Murray, last year's Division II state champion in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and Boardman junior Amber Bland, are among several girls who could dash their way into the state tournament.
Both ran an area-best 12.1 seconds in the 100 last season.
Other sprinters back are Liberty's Jessica White and Jasmine Smith (12.2), Chaney's Jonise Hartsfield (12.3), Girard's Stephanie Scarnecchia (12.6), Fitch's Sarah Tate (12.7), Rayen School's Ashley Myers (12.7), Lakeview's Katie Betts (12.8) and Wilson's Carla Venable (12.9).
Bland, who jumped an area-best 5 feet, 10 inches, in the high jump, also had one of the better times in the 200 (25.1).
Murray ran an area best 24.3 in the 200, while White (25.2) was close behind. Other impressive marks include Hartsfield (26.2), Canfield's Emily Wollet (26.3), Betts (26.3), Southeast's Raina Keppler (26.7) and Mooney's Ann Novosel (26.9).
Rayen senior Erica Wilson recorded season-bests of 16-111/2 in the long jump and 5-4 in the high jump last season.
Veterans at West Branch
West Branch, a Division II school, returns veteran distance runner Lisa Davies in the 1600 (5:23) and 3200 (11:18.3); Jen Hively in the 100 hurdles (15.1), Jen Weingart in the 400 (59.7), Amanda Scott in the 300 hurdles (48.2) and Lydia Bardo in the shot put (35-81/2).
Beaver Local junior Paula Perry is one of the area's best in the long jump, with a best of 17-5 last year.
Champion's Marlena Wolfe should be one of the top returning distance runners. She had the area's best time in the 1600 (5:08.7) and did well in the 800, running 2:28.4.
Maplewood sophomore Jen Grayson had a strong season last year, earning good times in the 100 hurdles (15.8), 3200 hurdles (48.0), high jump (5-4) and long jump (16-11/2).
Western Reserve senior Anna Marie Ricciardi had marks of 16.2 in the 100 hurdles, 47.9 in the 300 hurdles, 5-61/4 in the high jump and 16-111/2 in the long jump.
She won the Div. III state title in the high jump.