Girls regional track: Brunswick's Zaria Roberts qualifies to state in four events

NORTH ROYALTON — Brunswick senior Zaria Roberts was the definition of clutch Saturday at the North Royalton Division I Regional. Roberts ran the anchor leg on the Blue Devils' 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays, broke her Medina County record in the long jump and ran the fastest 400 of her career, becoming the only local girl at the meet to advance to state in the maximum four events. Mackenzie Soeder, Marissa Miller and Hailey Zielaskiewicz were the first three runners in both relays, in order, as Brunswick finished third in the 4x400 and fourth in the 4x200. The fop four in each event qualified for this weekend's competition at Jesse Owens Stadium in Columbus. "We were all hugging, cheering and celebrating together because we knew how much time and effort we had put in," said Roberts, now a three-year state qualifier. "It was really special to share that moment with my teammates and see how proud everyone was of what we achieved together." She will join D-II standouts Brooke Haude, Hailey Otradovec and Jessica Stoops of Wadsworth in participating in four events June 6-7 on the campus of Ohio State. Roberts, however, is the only county athlete to qualify in a relay, individual running event and field event. The latter two berths were both dramatic and remarkable in the way they were earned, forcing her to quickly take all three jumps in succession before rushing to the start line for the 400. Roberts was fifth going into her last attempt of the afternoon, and the clock was ticking for her to get to the bullpen. She took a deep breath and leaped 18 feet, 5.5 inches — to claim second place — and knock Shaker Heights' Maja Tadic out of a top-four spot. Just two weeks earlier at the Greater Cleveland Converence Meet, she flew 18-4.5 to eclipse the 26-year-old county mark of 18-4 by Medina's Beth McHugh. "I was super nervous because I didn't have much time before the 400, and I wanted to get my jumps in before that," Roberts said. "I knew I needed something big to place me higher, so I went out and did it." The Miami (Ohio) signee did it again minutes later, finishing third in the 400 with the 28th-fastest time in Ohio of 56.52. The only other Brunswick girls to move past regionals in more than two events this decade were Gazette MVP and current Youngstown State runner Olivia Komperda and Roberts in 2025. "I worked hard throughout the offseason, so qualifying for state felt like a reward for my dedication," she said. "And bringing home state berths in both relays was an amazing feeling." Medina junior Mariana Cunningham is state-bound in two events, placing third in the 200 in a career-best 24.81 and with the third-place 4x100 of Ruby Lloyd, Michaela Gwinn and Brooke Diello. Gwinn, Cunningham and Diello ran the second, third and fourth legs on the 4x2 at the 2025 state meet. "I am super grateful to have our relay advance to state and to have the opportunity to go in an individual event," Cunningham said. "I feel blessed that all my hard work and the hard work of my teammates is paying off. "I can't wait to create more greatness with my fellow athletes at state." Diello and Brunswick senior Kya Swann received good news on Sunday evening when the OHSAA announced they had been awarded at-large berths, based on having one of the two-best times/distances among non-automatic qualifiers. After posting fifth-place finishes at regionals, Diello is moving on in the 200 and shot put-qualifier Swann will take part in the discus. Contact Brian Dulik at sports@medina-gazette.com. Follow @BrianDulik on X. Results (top four to state meet) Standings (top 10): 1. Avon 133, 2. Solo 103, 3. Massillon Jackson 52, 4. Brunswick 50, 5. Strongsville 47, 6. Hoover 41, 7. Shaker Heights 29, 8. Medina 27, 8. Valley Forge 27, 10. GlenOak 25. 100 hurdles — 1. Jennifer Rawls (Shaker Heights) 13.92, 6. Natalie Verlinden (Brunswick) 15.78. 300 hurdles — 1. Rawls (Shaker Heights) 43.29. 100 — 1. Alyse Brediger (Avon) 11.84, 6. Brooke Diello (Medina) 12.34, 7. Mariana Cunningham (Medina) 12.38. 200 — 1. Brediger (Avon) 24.11, 3. Cunningham (Medina) 24.81, 5. Diello (Medina) 25.14. 400 — 1. Brediger (Avon) 55.74, 3. Zaria Roberts (Brunswick) 56.52. 800 — 1. Hannah Jicha (Strongsville) 2:12.28. 1,600 — 1. Jicha (Strongsville) 4:51.11, 5. Alexis Warnement (Medina) 5:14.30.3,200 — 1. Kaitlyn Reese (Avon) 10:47.44, 6. Reese Nolan (Brunswick) 11:36.84. 4x100 — 1. Solon 48.26, 3. Medina (Ruby Lloyd, Michaela Gwinn, Cunningham, Diello) 48.62. 4x200 — 1. Avon 1:39.59, 4. Brunswick (Mackenzie Soeder, Marissa Miller, Hailey Zielaskiewicz, Zaria Roberts) 1:43.46. 4x400 — 1. Solon 3:57.42, 3. Brunswick (Soeder, Miller, Zielaskiewicz, Roberts) 4:02.07. 4x800 — 1. Avon 9:16.28, 8. Medina (Warnement, Alanya Yanmaz, Julia Dietrich, Zulay Rebollar) 9:46.91. High jump — 1. Gabby Whalen (Massillon Jackson) 5-3, 4. Natalie Tracy (Brunswick) 5-2. Long jump — 1. Nevaeh Hall (Valley Forge) 18-8.25, 2. Roberts (Brunswick) 18-5.5. Pole vault — 1. Gabby Whalen (Jackson) 12-0, 7. Elli Rahas (Brunswick) 10-4, 8. Kendall Perfect (Medina) 10-0. Shot put — 1. Myla Gallagher (Solon) 40-5.75, 2. Kya Swann (Brunswick) 40-1. Discus — 1. Kenzie Kiesel (Avon) 125-11, 5. Swann (Brunswick) 119-6.