Ward meet moved to Springfield

The track at East Palestine is being replaced so Saturday's meet was moved.
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Because the East Palestine High School stadium is torn up and a new one being built to replace it, the 38th Ward Invitational Track and Field Meet for boys will be Saturday at 9 a.m. at Springfield High.
Massillon Perry and Canton GlenOak, which finished first and second last year, won't be back, but Warren Harding, which was third, and Salem, fourth, are returning in a field of 23 teams for the season's first big meet.
Lape's return
Boardman's Rick and Jake Lape, Seth Westfall, Matt Moore and Mike Lisko will be competing in the middle distance and distance runs.
The Spartans also have Evan Ward (15.6 seconds) in the high hurdles and Steve Kendray (41.3) in the intermediate hurdles.
Other Boardman contenders are: Evan Klepec, discus, who has thrown 163 feet; Alex Lipinsky, shot put, 48 feet, 61/2 Inches; and Caleb Mathews, long jump (20-53/4) and high jumped (6-0).
Fitch's Ross Lenehan and Brent Ruby will run in the distance race, while Dan Hammond and Jim Verdream will compete in the pole vault.
Other area schools entered are Rayen, Wilson, Canfield, East Palestine, East Liverpool, Howland, Lakeview, Lisbon, Mooney, Niles, Poland and Springfield.
Western Reserve
BERLIN CENTER -- In the Division III boys and girls track and field meet Saturday at Western Reserve High School, 18 teams will be competing at 10 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 1 p.m.
South Range, McDonald and Western Reserve were the top three boys teams a year ago.
Western Reserve will count on 4x100 and 4x200 relay squads that include brothers Nick and Nate Lude and cousins Brad and Jason Lude.
Warren JFK and Mineral Ridge were the top two girls teams a year ago.
Alex Rathburn, a senior for Western Reserve, will be the athlete to beat in the shot put and discus while Lainey Kekic is the defending champ in the 400.
Girls in Salem
SALEM -- The F.E. Cope (girls) Invitational Track and Field meet will be today at Reilly Stadium.
The event gets under way at 4:30 p.m. with the finals set at 6 p.m.
Lauren Shivers of the Quakers will compete in the 1600, Liz Shivers in the 3200 and Dana Ackerman in the 400.