Lakeview’s Brett Davenport leaps to Columbus

Poland’s 4x800 relay also has qualified for state.

By MARK W. MILLER

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

RAVENNA — One relay team and four individuals will represent the area at the Division II state track and field meet next week in Columbus.

Brett Davenport of Lakeview High took first place in the long jump as he leaped 22 feet, 11⁄2 inches Thursday in the regional meet at Ravenna High’s sports complex.

University School, after four events were completed, leads the boys standings with 16 points. Lakeview was second with 13 and Perry third with 12.

Crestwood leads the girls standings with 14 points after three events while Lake Catholic and West Geauga are tied for second with 10.

The top four individuals and relay teams advance to state.

“Davenport finished seventh at regional last year, so he’s excited about going to state for the first time,” said Mark Swinning, Lakeview’s jumps and hurdles coach.

“He’s one of those kids who really works hard on his technique from board to pit and its starting to pay off for him,” Swinning said.

Poland relay advances

Chris Hanna, Sean Murphy, Jimmy Ramson and Tim Sutcliffe of Poland placed third in the 4x800-meter relay in 8 minutes, 4 seconds — their best effort of the season. Woodridge won the event in 7:51.84.

Murphy is a freshman, while the other three are seniors. Poland’s distance runners coach, Don Smaltz, said they are a good group to work with.

“We have kids that are coachable, are self-motivated and they know what they have to do to get the job done,” Smaltz said.

Hanna said, “Our goal next week is to better the school record [7:57] set by the 2000 state championship relay team.”

Sutcliffe said, “Except for a strong Woodridge team, it should be a wide open race at state and our goal is to finish at least third.”

Galbraith is third

Ashley Galbraith of Struthers finished third in the high jump (5-5). Katelyn Williams of Chesterland West Geagua set a meet record (5-101⁄2) in winning the event.

Galbraith, a junior, was second at the state meet last year.

“There are girls coming to state this year that have done at least 5-8,” she said.

Salem’s Jon Lee finished third in the long jump (21-31⁄4) and the Quakers’ Sarah Brobeck was third in the shot put (38-8).

“Brobeck is a fierce competitor who works hard in the weight room and is peaking at the right time,” said Salem’s weight coach, Julie Moore.

Robert Rasnick of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy won the pole vault (14-0) and Cleveland Benedictine’s Najee Good was first in the discus (161).

Crestwood placed first in the girls 4x800 relay (9:33.7) and Lake Catholic’s Korrey Willis won the shot (39-111⁄4).

The rest of the field events and races are scheduled Saturday at Ravenna starting at 11:30 a.m.

miller@vindy.com