State track: Buckeye's Dion Sams Jr. is fast learning, gets podium spot for long jump

COLUMBUS — Buckeye senior Dion Sams Jr. is a very fast learner and a terrific athlete. His rapid improvement earned him a spot on the awards podium at the Division I state boys track and field meet Saturday. Sams, who joined the team for the first time last season, finished fifth in the long jump with a top effort of 22 feet, 9.25 inches at Jesse Owens Stadium. He also soared 22-8.5 earlier in the afternoon, initially moving into the fifth spot that he never relinquished. The 6-foot-3 Sams is the first Medina County medalist in the event since Highland's Nate Chronister in 2011 and the first from Buckeye since Jake Boettner in 2010. "Being just my second year running, it feels great to place at state," the soft-spoken standout said. "I know that I could have done better, but I'm proud to have represented Buckeye at such an important meet. "Thank you to my coaches and parents and all my teammates for supporting me. I wouldn't be here without them." The last local long jumper to finish fifth at state was Tyler Chronister of Highland in 2004. Sams matched the highest placement since Buckeye's Jason Gagliardo was second in D-II, all the way back in 1996 on the since-demolished track at Ohio Stadium. "The importance of this meet made me more nervous than usual," Sams said. "So did the setting with fans sitting right next to the pit. It was very different, but in a good way." Bucks jumps coach Harley Steppenbacker helped Sams remain as calm as possible in the uniquely-positioned bullpen that was separated from the outside lane on the track by less than a foot. So did his remarkably supportive opponents and their coaches. "I'm very proud of Dion and very happy for him," Steppenbacker said. Sams laid the foundation for his success during the indoor season, when he captured the Ohio Association of Track and Cross Country Coaches D-II title in the triple jump and was the runner-up in the long jump. A three-event qualifier to the Austintown Fitch Regional, he bettered his long jump by exactly 3 inches in his state debut. Sams finished first in the 300 hurdles and 4x400 relay at the Bedford District two weeks ago. "The indoor season set me up for this because I knew what I could do," he said. It also piqued the interest of the Ashland University coaching staff, who aggressively recruited Sams to continue his multi-event career at the NCAA D-II level in the fall. After visiting the Eagles' sparkling indoor practice facility and discovering "how much the coaches were willing to help me get better," he accepted their offer. "I'm looking forward to getting started and I want to keep improving," Sams said. Medina senior Dylan Forster relied on his steel-tough recovery skills to advance to his first state meet, placing 13th in the shot put at 52-6.75. He reached the distance on his third and final throw in the loaded D-I competition. Remarkably, Forster was just six weeks removed from his first spinning practice since 2024 after undergoing left shoulder surgery for a full labrum repair. He suffered the injury while playing for the football team in the fall. "It was a good run and, honestly, I'm surprised that I made it here because the (Greater Cleveland Conference Meet) was my first week of spinning," he said. "It was really great competing against everyone at this level." Both throwing events were held across the street, still on Fred Taylor Avenue, and feature an amphitheater-like seating setup that amplified the noise, both from the demonstrative throwers and their supporters atop the hill. "Pressure is good, but it just crushed me today," Forster said. "I do love throwing because it really is anyone's game. "With running, there is only so much that you can cut your times from meet to meet. But we could have one good week and one throw, and you can hit major numbers. I enjoyed everything about it." Three local girls also competed in field events, which were held concurrently with the smaller-school running finals in the morning and early afternoon.Brunswick junior Kya Swann finished 11th in the D-I shot put, heaving 39-5.25 on her first of three attempts in the preliminary round. It was the second-best throw of the season in the county, behind Swann's 40-6.25 at the Port Clinton Regional. Buckeye sophomore Ellen Steppenbacker and Cloverleaf junior Payten Shetterly each cleared 10 feet in the D-II pole vault. Steppenbacker made her first attempt and tied for 11th place, while Shetterly cleared the bar on her second try and tied for 13th. Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow @BrianDulik on X.