Optimist meet has top field Saturday

Last year the meet had 142 competitors go on to qualify for the state meet.
AUSTINTOWN -- Meet director Ken Jakubec said the Optimist track and field meet Saturday at Fitch High Falcon Stadium is the top invitational in northern Ohio.
"Last year we had 142 boys and girls who ran in the Optimist go on and qualify for the state meet in Columbus," said Jakubec.
"Seventy-eight finished in the top eight and 20 relay teams and individuals won state titles in three divisions.
Preliminaries will start at 9:15 a.m. Saturday and following the semifinals, the finals will get underway at 12:30 p.m.
Athletes from 47 boys and 39 girls schools, which includes Canton GlenOak last week's Poland Invitational, are entered.
Area teams entered
Area boys and girls from Badger, Boardman, Campbell, Canfield, Chaney, Fitch, Girard, Howland, Jackson-Milton, Liberty, Lordstown, Maplewood, Mineral Ridge, Mooney, Newton Falls, Poland, Salem, South Range, Ursuline and Western Reserve will compete.
Fitch's Adam Kagarise (49.6 seconds), fifth at 2005 state in Div. I, Frank Ocasio (49.7) of Boardman, Chris Pettore (50.0) of Lakewood St. Edward and Ernest Kerr (50.05) of Cleveland Collinwood will be featured in the event.
The 1600 should be challenging with Maplewood's Andy Morgan (4:21), Tallmadge's Chris Labosky (4:16), Field's Chris Shnick (4:16), the 2005 Div. II state champ and Fairless' Aaron Milhorn (4:16) in a strong field of runners.
Sam Cassano of Fitch (175-4) is the athlete to beat in the discus with John Humphrey (162-2) of Liberty, Peter Psaras (157) of Campbell and Matt Pfleger (155-10) of Garfield contending.
Top high jumpers
Georgette Asfoura of Walsh Jesuit brings to the meet one of the girls best effort in the state in the high jump (5-7) with Ashley Galbraith (5-6) of Struthers, Jacquline Cohol (5-2) of Fitch and Corey Carter (5-2) of Boardman entered.
The 300 hurdles will feature Abby Kiger (46.1) of Mineral Ridge, Jamese Spikes (46.3) of Painesville Harvey, Amber Ferraro (46.9) of Poland, Bonita Pace (47.8) of Cleveland Rhodes and Genna Higbee (49.4) of Boardman.
Chaney's Latalia Jones, one of the top sprinters in the state, will compete in the 100 (11.82), the 200 (24.5) and the 400 (60.1).