GIRLS: Clyde relay 'does it for Brenna'; Saylor sisters take home wins

PERKINS TWP. — Before any Clyde runners took the track Friday night, they watched standout senior Brenna Caudill go down with a knee injury while competing in the long jump. She had to be taken away in an ambulance. Caudill was supposed to lead off the 4x200-meter relay in a stacked field. Freshman Amiya Paul, not slated to run Friday at all, took that spot. And then the Fliers, in a dramatic photo finish from senior Cora Liskai, won the relay anyway, in a meet record time. "We knew we weren't seeded to win," Liskai said, "but we just wanted to give it everything we have." That was just one of many highlights in the girls competitions on a cold, windy Friday night at the Pirate Invitational. In the early going, it was as big a confidence boost as Clyde could've gotten. Paul, sophomore Gabby Griffin, freshman Bree Caudill and Liskai (1:47.99) laid down an early marker that they'll be one of the standout groups in a relay distance that features a number of strong area teams. "That was awesome," Liskai said. "With Brenna earlier in the week, we looked at the meet records and thought this race winner would get the meet record. We wanted that to be us." The Fliers that went on to win the relay spent most of the preceding time hoping for updates on the senior Caudill. By the time Clyde returned to the track later for the 4x100, she was back with crutches to cheer them on. "We were asking the whole time," Liskai said. "I was out in the middle of the field, wishing I brought my phone out, we would've Facetimed her. I heard she's doing well." Liskai helped her three underclass relaymates take the track with the right mindset. With Paul slotting into the leadoff spot, there was very little to lose. Clyde had positioned itself for early-season success by competing during indoor meets that aren't yet a standard across the board in Ohio. The planned 4x2 group competed, and ran well, at the indoor state meet. "We can compete with anyone in our league," Liskai said. "Last year, we were right there, too, and then Gabby got hurt… We knew that we were ready." And so on Friday, despite the unplanned-for adversity, Clyde flew around the track. Paul set up Griffin, who set up Brenna's younger sister Bree, who gave the baton to Liskai with a chance. Liskai, who also made her mark on the volleyball and basketball court in her Fliers tenure, came around the bend and didn't relent. "She was in sight, and it was just, go go go," Liskai said. "I think I'm pretty good at finishing. If I could just get off that curve good, I thought I'd be fine." Just 10 meters from the line, the Upper Arlington runner in front of Liskai stumbled just a tad. That's all the three-sport athlete needed to win. Combined with an earlier win in the open 100-meter dash by Bree Caudill, the Fliers had certainly done what they could to put on an impressive showing for their teammate. "We just wanted to do it for Brenna," Liskai said. Saylor sisters each win Olivia Saylor won the 400-meter dash, walked over to complete the long jump competition and heard her little sister Kenadie's name announced over the loudspeaker as a winner, too. On this night, the Margaretta senior and sophomore each went home a winner. Kenadie took the very first spot in the long jump line, leaped 14 feet, 6 inches on her first attempt and was never passed in all the jumps that followed. "I'm so proud of her," Olivia said. "She has worked so hard this entire season. She wasn't even gonna do track, and she's winning so much. It's just exciting to be able to hear her name over the announcements." Olivia set a new meet record in 59.56 seconds for the 400. She credits Margaretta's new coach, Bill Minshall IV, with her strong senior start. "He's given me a lot of confidence," Olivia said. "He has so much confidence in me that it gave me more for myself. He has a lot of drive and motivation for our whole entire time. He's always right, and it makes me kind of mad sometimes. I have a lot of respect for him." The Ashland-bound standout has a whole new approach to her race. In the past, she was known for her strong kicks. Now, she's using all the talent she's got right from the start. "I changed the way I race," Olivia said. "I start faster for the first 200. I'm trying to drop time. The first 200 I want to go all out and see how far I can carry it. That's changed my thought process on how I run it." Towns cruises in mile Huron senior Jadyn Towns won the mile by about 100 meters, running a 5:14 for an easy victory. That broke her own meet record, set last year, by five seconds. "She wanted to do the 800, too, because she knew the meet record was within her reach," Huron coach Mike Lemponen said. "Anytime there's a record available to her, she wants to break it. She'd do five events if she could. It's great to have that on the team." PC's girls 4x1, Michaela Stork get wins The Port Clinton girls 4x100-meter relay, seeded sixth entering the night, came in first. Camille Robbins, Jade Mitchell, Shianne Lieske and Alexis Shelton took the top spot. Robbins, the newest member of PC's sprint relays, ran a quick first leg to allow the established stalwarts a chance. Shelton got the baton with the lead, and in that spot, the junior rarely loses. Port Clinton's girls also picked up a discus win from Michaela Stork, who threw 117 feet. Mason sets shot record Perkins senior Olivia Mason set a new meet record in the girls shot put. She became the first competitor in the meet's history to clear 40 feet on a throw. Mason came into the day sick but still dominated the competition. The meet did not conclude by press time, meaning team scores had not yet been compiled.