Huron's Schaefer scorches SBC Bay field in sprints

HURON — Huron's Joe Schaeffer continues to impress. The senior for the Tigers took home the victory in the Bay Division's 100-meter dash and 400 dash Friday at the Sandusky Bay Conference meet at Huron Memorial Stadium. Schaeffer's 10.93 seconds in the 100 edged Margaretta's Zack Bouy (11.02) and Vermilion's Brady Parker (11.15) for the win. "The biggest thing is getting out of the blocks as fast as I can," Schaeffer said. "I know others are going to have better starts than me. The Margaretta kid put up a great race today. I have to trust my top-end speed and get out faster." He won the 400 in 49.86 seconds. "Today I didn't do it as much, but I always try to get out hard in the first 100," Schaeffer said. "I try to carry that through the 200 and when I get around the curve, give whatever I have left and pull away." Schaeffer also anchored Huron's 4x200 quartet that included Caleb Staley, Ayden Miller and Peter Cencer that were victorious. They crossed the finish line in 1:29.90, outdistancing Vermilion's Aiden Kyser, Micah Smith, Chase Jackson and Carter Boley's time of 1:32.75. "It was a big momentum win for us," Schaeffer said. "We've had some injuries here and there, but we've been working to get to get under 1:30, which we did today. To build that confidence as we move toward the postseason is beneficial to us." Cencer took down the 110 hurdles in a time of 15.32. He finished ahead of classmate Hayden Wilson (15.91) and Margaretta's Perry McGraw (15.91). Cencer also won the 300 hurdles in 39.81. "My biggest push in that has been my teammate, Hayden Wilson," said Cencer of the 110 hurdles. "He has been doing it longer than I have. Watching and learning from him has been amazing. Being able to take the win was huge for the team." Vermilion's Brooke Whisenant won the 100 (12.60) and 400 (58.40). "Every race you try to come out hard," said Whisenant of the 400. "I've been working hard on my first 200 because I know that's where the race is won and lost. This season overall I've been in a plateau. I know it's going to break, so I'm excited for what's to come." Elsewhere in the Bay, Margaretta's Jake Bouy won the high jump with a top mark of 6 foot, 3 inches while Jace Berg was victorious in the discus with a throw of 163-03. Also for the Polar Bears, Lillian Belak won the 100 hurdles in 16.01 and 300 hurdles in 47.92 and Cole Zang won the 1600 in a time of 4:22.85. Huron also had winners in the girls pole vault (Hadley Barkema, 10-06.50) and 1600 (Rylie Towns, 5:01.43). The quartet of Ava Manner, Olivia Kohlmann, Sasha Fry and Kate Ryan won the 4x200 in 1:47.27. Port Clinton's Michaela Stork took down the discus (136-03). Willard's Cora Clark was victorious in the high jump (5-00).Bellevue's Amerie Wagner won the Lake's 100 in 12.60, finishing just ahead of Clyde's Gabby Griffin (12.97) and Bellevue's Payton Taylor (13.30). "My biggest thing is getting out of the blocks, 100 percent," Wagner said. "I have to get out and stay tall and keep my stride short." She also was victorious in the 400 in a time of 58.35. "I'm just trying to break the school record," Wagner said. "It's 57.8, so I've been trying to get toward that. I have to come out strong, hold my form and give whatever I have left in the tank at the end. Also for the Lady Red, the quartet of Bella Slater, Lilly Sosa, Natalie Littlejohn and Hallie McCarthy won the 4x200 in 1:48.03. Sandusky swept the short hurdles events as Taliyah Farris took down 100 (15.98) while Keylan Howell won the 110 (15.54). "I feel like recently I've been thinking about my breathing," said Farris of the 100 hurdles. "I don't breathe when I run, so when I let it out, I'm gassed. My coaches have been telling me to focus on breathing in through my nose and out of my mouth." Farris was victorious in the 300 hurdles, as well, finishing in a time of 47.98. She said she was a little more motivated as the second-best time after prelims earlier this week. "In prelims, I was seeded second, so I was focusing on a PR because the girl that beat me ran a good time," Farris said. "I felt like going into it, I would stay with her. I feel like that race went pretty well. I hope I keep improving over the last few weeks we have." Perkins' Joel Smelcer won the 1600 in 4:27.93 while the quartet of Kannon Harris, Cayden Adcock-Greenman, Paul Keys and Levi Groot won in 1:30.85. Clyde's Dekin Crockett won the 100 in 10.97 and the 300 hurdles in 39.03. "I felt good," said Crockett of the 300 hurdles. "For me, I'm a big overthinker. If I'm in the right headspace and mentality, that's bigger than me running it. If I have the right headspace, anything is possible." In the 100, he slipped past Sandusky's Daviyon Jackson, who was second in 11.01. "Daviyon is always in front of me, but we're always battling," Crockett said. "My start was a little poor, but I'm a top-end guy. After I got out there in the zone, I knew it was going to be mine. I went and got it." Norwalk's Xavia Immel claimed the girls 1600 in 5:19.92. The only local River Division winner by press time was St. Mary Central Catholic's Nicolette Hile. She won the girls 1600 in 5:23.89.