McDonald’s Mosley, Maplewood’s Moxley win Div. 3 titles

By Joe Scalzo

NAVARRE — McDonald junior Joh’Vonnie Mosley left last year’s Division III regional track and field meet with some unfinished business. Maplewood sophomore Jordan Moxley left this year’s meet with unfinished business, but not for reasons you might think.

The important thing is, both are headed to next weekend’s state meet as regional champions.

“I’m just relieved that I made it,” said Mosley.

Mosley won the shot put one year after placing a disappointing seventh in the event. (She rebounded to place third in the discus.)

Last year’s finish was due in no small part to a hamstring injury she suffered while running the 4x100-meter dash in the league meet.

“I wanted to redeem myself,” said Mosley, who considers the shot her favorite and best event. “I came out with first place and I’m very proud and happy.”

South Range’s Jaclyn Weaver also advanced, placing third in the shot put on Wednesday at Fairless High School.

The top four in each final qualify for next weekend’s state meet at Ohio State.

Moxley, meanwhile, won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 1 inch. Like all jumpers, she was hoping to go higher. Unlike them, she never got the chance.

Moxley briefly left the high jumping pit to run in the 100 hurdles and when she came back, the event was over.

All four qualifiers cleared 5-1, but since Moxley was ahead on jumps (meaning the others had missed more attempts), she was declared the winner.

“I came back and I saw the tarp over it, so I thought, ‘Oh, they must have just covered it up for rain,’” she said. “Then I said, ‘Oh, I guess I’m done.’ I wanted to go more, but I guess that’s just how it goes sometimes.”

Moxley, who won an indoor state title in the event in March, wasn’t satisfied with a regional title.

“This isn’t what I want to win,” she said, looking ahead to next week. “I can’t get excited about it.”

The other three qualifiers all came from the area — Western Reserve’s Victoria Brown, Springfield’s Andria Lyons and Mineral Ridge’s Taylor Shiley finished 2-3-4.

“Mahoning County and Trumbull County have a lot of really good high jumpers this year,” said Moxley, who is also an All-Ohio swimmer. “That competition in the state right now is amazing.

“It’s gonna be tough.”

Columbiana’s 4x800 relay placed second to emerge as the area’s only other qualifiers in Wednesday’s three girl events.

McDonald and Maplewood were tied for second in the team standings.

On the boys side, McDonald sophomore Matthias Tayala threw a personal-best 162-10 in the discus to qualify for state one year after fouling on all three throws at the regional.

“I felt good in warm-ups and after that, I just went after it and tried to throw as well as I could,” said Tayala. “It feels really good. I’m just happy for myself. I couldn’t have done it without my dad and my coaches.

“Now I’ll see how I can compete with those guys down there.”

Mineral Ridge’s Dan Skiba placed third in the long jump and Maplewood’s 4x800 relay placed fourth to earn state berths.

McDonald was the highest area team in the boys standings after four events, placing eighth with eight points.

The meet continues Friday, with field events beginning at 4 p.m. and running finals at 5.