High school track: Cloverleaf's Alyssa Stoner makes big return in home relay event

WESTFIELD TWP. — Alyssa Stoner had been waiting six long months for Saturday, and the Cloverleaf senior distance runner wasted little time getting back to the front of the pack. A hip stress fracture sustained during the early part of the cross country season sidelined Stoner for months, but she was motivated in her return and led Cloverleaf to wins in the 4x800- and 4x1,600-meter relays to open the outdoor season at the Cloverleaf Early Bird Relays. "I'm really excited," Stoner said. "I was injured during cross country and took the indoor season off, but it's definitely a confidence booster to be back running, especially with my teammates." Madison Snyder, Allison Yagersz and Emma Hibler joined Stoner on both relays to help the Colts (70) finish second to Shelby (72). Cloverleaf was without reigning Gazette MVP Riley Evans, who was attending to a soccer commitment. Buckeye took fourth out of eight teams behind a first-place finish in the shot put relay and a runner-up finish in the discus. Alyssa Benough, who fought windy conditions to win the discus with 103 feet, 4 inches, Taylor Radon and Autumn Springston were the members of both. "We're feeling pretty good to get first place in the shot in our first invitational," Radon said. "I'm feeling pretty good about our team and think we can do better than what we are, but we hope to get far this year." The Cloverleaf boys tied North Ridgeville for third out of eight teams with 53 points behind Shelby (78) and Keystone (61) after getting wins from the shot put relay (121-7 1/4) — Clay Combs had a 42-8 1/4 — and 4x110 shuttle hurdles. The Bucks boys took seventh, with their lone win coming from the pole vault relay of Alec Fike and Joe Petruna. Despite clear skies to begin the day, the meet had to be called with three events left due to a storm that brought thunder, lightning, hail and rain. That led to patches of standing water on the track after winds were a challenge all day. "I think it helps practicing for meets like today," Stoner said. "Sometimes the weather is hit or miss during track season. We've had some workouts in really bad wind and downpour rain. I think that helps add to it." Stoner's stress fracture required surgery, plenty of recuperation and physical therapy. With the setback in the past, she is confident and prepared to attack her final high school track season. Stoner ran the opening leg of both relays and had the Colts (11:03.28) out in front in the 4x8 on the way to edging Fairview (11:14.25). "I feel really good," Stoner said. "My teammates and coaches have been really encouraging. I've had no pain and been doing good so far. That has me excited for the season." In the 4x16, Snyder Cloverleaf from fourth to first during the second leg. She took the lead on her first lap and increased it to an insurmountable amount by the time she handed the baton to Yagersz. "The first lap you just are using the other people from the other teams to push you forward, and then the race just takes you," Snyder said. "It can be a little intimidating to see people in front of you, but once you see them and can work with them, it gives you a little boost." All-Gazette cross country runner Audrey Graham had Buckeye ahead after the first leg of the 4x16 with a personal record by 11 seconds, but Buckeye was unable to sustain momentum and wound up fourth. "I was really excited for today and its relays, so I feel like it's more fun and there's less pressure," Graham said. "I was the lead off runner, so I knew I could treat it as my own race. It's pretty nice weather except the wind." Karoline Kreider led the Colts with an 86-8 in the discus and combined with Jayce Kreider and Pressly McConnell to grab the title with a 246-4. The long jump relay of Emma Malikowski, Kierston Campbell and Reese Barnett won with a balanced approach that led to a 42-9 3/4. Benough, Springston and Radon finished second to Cloverleaf in the discus (239-4) before taking the shot put with 84-8½. "We're going to have to work a lot harder and throw farther than what we are right now," Radon said. "I want to be at 32 feet or higher by the end of the year. Hopefully, all three of us girls can hit that mark." Sara Rak won the pole vault title for Buckeye with an effort of 8-6, while honorable mention All-Gazette pick Isyss Ellis helped the Bucks take third in the 4x1. "I'm very excited for this season," Ellis said. "We have a lot of fresh legs, a lot of freshmen, running in our relays, and I'm excited to see what they are going to do this year." For the Colts boys, the shuttle hurdle relay of Chase Young, Isaac Baltic, Gage Hankins and Collin Saksa edged Shelby 1:15.53-1:15.85 for the title. "The race went pretty much as planned," Young said. "We talked about how we wanted to run before the race. Everyone did their part, so it went really good." Baltic also had the best individual effort in the pole vault, which was still going on when the meet was called, clearing 12-0, but Buckeye won the championship after Alec Fike and Joe Petruna each cleared 11-0 to edge Cloverleaf by one inch. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results Girls Standings: 1. Shelby 72, 2. Cloverleaf 70, 3. North Ridgeville 64, 4. Buckeye 53, 5. Fairview 47, 6. Smithville 45, 7. Firelands 44, 8. Keystone 21. Discus — 1. Cloverleaf (Karoline Kreider, Jayce Kreider, Presly McConnell) 246-4, 2. Buckeye (Alyssa Benough, Autumn Springston, Taylor Radon) 239-4. Long jump — 1. Cloverleaf (Emma Malikowski, Kierston Campbell, Reese Barnett) 42-9 3/4, 6. Buckeye (Nico Anzevino, Kaylee Limbert) 21-8 3/4 (No team score). Pole vault — 1. Shelby (Eve Schwemley, Rees Lewis) 13-6, 2. Buckeye (Sara Rak) 8-6. Shot put — 1. Buckeye (Autumn Springston, Taylor Radon, Alyssa Benough) 84-8 1/2, 3. Cloverleaf (Presly McConnell, Karoline Kreider, Jayce Kreider) 81-3.5. High jump — 1. North Ridgeville (Reilly Elbert, Elizabeth Schiffbauer, Yamila Scott) 14-6, 3. Cloverleaf (Emma Malikowski, Grace Goldsberry, Payten Shetterly) 8-6, 5. Buckeye (Emma Bostic, Isyss Ellis) 9-0 (No team score). 4x1,600 — 1. Cloverleaf (Alyssa Stoner, Madison Snyder, Allison Yagersz, Emma Hibler) 24:01.98, 4. Buckeye (Audrey Graham, Al Schell, Shelby Skilskyj, Sophia Regiec) 26:38.96. 4x100 shuttle hurdles — 1. North Ridgeville (Alyssa Hlavacs, Claire Wolanski, Natalia Garcia, Margaret Calabrise) 1:14.77, 2. Cloverleaf (Kierston Campbell, Grace Friedhoff, Grace Goldsberry, Hailey Strasser) 1:15.36. 4x100 — 1. Shelby (Peyton Putnam, Princess Timko, Jaleeza Zehner, Olivia Bernard) 52.69, 2. Cloverleaf (Sarah Kelly, Brooklyn Cavey, Kierston Campbell, Julia Armogida) 53.19, 3. Buckeye (Nico Anzevino, Julia King, Emma Bostic, Isyss Ellis) 54.25. 4x800 — 1. Cloverleaf (Alyssa Stoner, Madison Snyder, Allison Yagersz, Emma Hibler) 11:03.28, 3. Buckeye (Audrey Graham, Al Schell, Maddy Kost, Sandra Dolata) 12:07.15. 4x200 — 1. Shelby (Madison Henkel, Sophia Long, Jaleeza Zehner, Alainah Carmel) 1:53.09, 6. Buckeye (Nico Anzevino, Julia King, Emma Bostic, Isyss Ellis) 1:56.91, 8. Cloverleaf (Sarah Kelly, Gabriella Petrocci, Addison Evans, Grace Friedhoff) 2:03.31. Distance Medley Relay — 1. Smithville (Hailey Thut, Cadence Amstutz, Adeline Thorn, Kaitlyn Carr) 14:37.17, 4. Cloverleaf (Brooke Gucker, Gabriella Izzo, Olivia Spencer, Vanessa Monhemius) 15:52.53, 7. Buckeye (Melina Ventouris, Paige Pedmo, Emily Goelz, Lorelei Williston) 18:47.60. Boys Standings: 1. Shelby 78, 2. Keystone 61, 3. North Ridgeville 53, 3. Cloverleaf 53, 5. Smithville 51, 6. Firelands 46, 7. Buckeye 43, 8. Fairview 38 Shot put — 1. Cloverleaf (Clay Combs, Will Rogalski, Royce Zierkle) 121-7 1/4, 6. Buckeye (Troy McCann, Edwin Ortiz, Nick Kutz) 103-6. High jump — 1. Shelby (Casey Iantz, Blake Nixon, Max Hess) 16-10, 5. Buckeye (Dalen Martin, Cooper Varga, Blake Zacharias) 10-6, 7. Cloverleaf (Emmanuel Medina, Will Jerome, Austin McNeal) 0-0. Long Jump — 1. Keystone (Ryne Shackelford, Zach Shackelford, Alex Nagle) 57-7 3/4, 7. Cloverleaf (Oakley Kemp, Robert Brode, David Hunter) 46-9, 8. Buckeye (Joe Petruna, Dalen Martin) 32-1 (no team score). Discus — Smithville (Luke Hershey, Quinn Maibach, Tyler Sustar) 328-3, 5. Buckeye (Edwin Ortiz, Nick Kutz, Jacob Bally-Freiberg) 274-0, 8. Cloverleaf (Clay Combs, Anthony Artwell, Will Rogalski) 200-1. Pole vault — 1. Buckeye (Alec Fike, Joe Petruna) 22-0, 2. Cloverleaf (Isaac Baltic, Jace Peacock) 21. 4x1600 — 1. Shelby (Huck Finnegan, Luke Lesseuer, Indy Mayer, Sean Finnegan) 20:03.94, 2. Cloverleaf (Brett Gucker, Vova Herdman, Gavin Forbes, Hunter Stallings) 20:14.12, 8. Buckeye (Nate Rieth, Aydan Regiec, Tyler Skilskyj, Jack Swank) 23:21.07. 4x110 shuttle hurdles — 1. Cloverleaf (Chase Young, Isaac Baltic, Gage Hankins, Collin Saksa) 1:15.53, 4. Buckeye (Shane Burlison, Joe Petruna, Anthony Bohannon, Cooper Varga) 1:16.97. 4x100 — 1. Keystone (Kadin Stivason, Logan Nagle, Alex Nagle, Ryne Shackelford) 45.32, 3. Buckeye (Justin Schnepp, Logan Schrock, Grant Conn, Troy McCann) 46.80, 4. Cloverleaf (Yuri Himes, Emmanuel Medina, Ethan Gray, Oakley Kemp) 46.93. 4x800 — 1. Fairview (Ben Myers, Owen Darnell, Ryan Hinojosa, Tyson Crandall) 8:38.20, 3. Cloverleaf (Hunter Stallings, Brett Gucker, Ben Myers, Vova Herdman) 9:01.76, 7. Buckeye (Nate Rieth, Tyler Skilskyj, Joshua Stahl, Kamdon Czerwony) 9:46.58. 4x200 — 1. North Ridgeville (Travis Good, Connor Costin, Alexander Reese, Mark Pierce) 1:31.88, 3. Buckeye (Cooper Varga, Logan Schrock, Alec Fike, Grant Conn) 1:39.97, 8. Cloverleaf (Austin Brooks, Nathan Tomes, Alex Randall, Braylon Young) 1:53.83. Distance Medley Relay — 1. Shelby (Indy Mayer, Marshall Moore, Ian Finnegan, Huck Finnegan) 11:41.54, 7. Cloverleaf (Caleb Neville, Landon Southern, Elias Rivera, Ethan Vaughn) 13:03.45, 8. Buckeye (Aydan Regiec, Kamdon Czerwony, Denny Kabat, Luke Abbott) 14:07.29.