Medina girls win state championship

COLUMBUS — Rachel Smith and Jenna Razavi will continue their running careers in college. Mia Heine still has two years of high school remaining. But for Kayla Kutcel, the state girls track meet marked the final time she would compete in the sport, and she went out on the highest note possible. The Medina 4x800-meter relay claimed the Division I championship Friday at Jesse Owens Stadium, beating top-seeded Hilliard Davidson to the finish line by 3.6 seconds. It was the school's first state crown since 2012, when it won the same race at the same site. "This feels even better than I ever imagined it would," Kutcel said, clutching her gold medal. "Each week, I've been more impressed with how we've ran, so I knew we had a chance. But it still feels unbelievable standing here as the state champions. I couldn't ask for anything more in my last race." Seniors Razavi, Smith and Kutcel ran the first three legs, in order, before handing the baton to sophomore Heine in second place. At that point, everyone cheering for the Bees — on the infield and in the stands — knew they were in perfect position to capture the title. Most important, so did the girl on the track, who overtook Davidson anchor runner Dillon Sweetman early in her half-mile leg and never looked back. "I was very positive that I could get her," Heine said. "And hearing all the girls and the people in the crowd cheering really motivated me. The end of the race was unreal. It still doesn't seem real." The Bees ended a four-year championship drought for Medina County's girls at state. They also completed a perfect postseason for the quartet, which finished first at the Brunswick District and Findlay Regional over the previous two weeks. Reigning Gazette MVP Smith, who signed a national letter of intent with the Miami of Ohio women's track team in November, was a state-placing sprinter last season. She was stunned when the coaching staff initially asked her to join the distance relay, but took a leap of faith. Smith now is one of two girls in county history to medal in the 4x100 and 4x800 in their career, along with Wadsworth's Brittani Peltz. "If you had said I would be part of the state champions in the 4x8 three months ago, I would have laughed at you," Smith said. "But I knew the coaches needed me, and I will do anything for the girls on this team." Razavi, who has signed with the Ohio University cross country and track teams, is the Gazette MVP in the former sport. Coach Scott VanFleet and assistant Phil Brewer trusted her with the responsibility of leading off for the group, which won the indoor state title in the 4x400 exactly three months ago. Drawing upon her experience of being boxed in at the Findlay Regional, Razavi went out fast in Columbus to make sure she controlled her leg and briefly moved Medina into the lead before handing off in the top six. "I got it in my head that I had to put myself in position early, so I did," she said. "Once I was done running, I was just cherishing the moment, watching Rachel, Kayla and Mia. It was something that I'll never forget. None of us will." Contact Brian Dulik at brisports@hotmail.com. Follow him @BrianDulik on Twitter.