AMHERST, Ohio (May 26, 2023) -- Rocky River has qualified athletes into two boys events and three girls events for the June 2-3 Ohio Track and Field Championships. [
Region 2 results]
Senior Majid Abuaun and sophomore Grace Lavelle highlighted Rocky River's performances at the DI Region 2 qualifying meet at Amherst Steele High School Wednesday and Friday. Abuaun logged Buckeye State qualifying performances in the 800-meter run and as a member of River's 4x800-meter relay squad. Lavelle advanced in the same events on the girls' side. In the 800, she crossed the wire in 2:15.25 to earn a Region 2 title.
Abuaun and his 4x8 mates (Guillaume Carroll, Henry Lange, Grant Preto), Lavelle and company from the 4x8 (Katie Stirm, Clare Duffy, Brianna Chaves), and Mary Sollars (100-meter hurdles) are now Columbus-bound. They will compete at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of Ohio State University.
Rocky River, which placed 34th on the girls' side in last year's state meet, competed with 59 other schools at the Amherst regional. The Pirates earned 20 points to place 10th in the boys' competition. The River girls garnered 21 points in placing 14th.
Abuaun took silver in the 800, clocking in with a time of 1:53.42. Carroll narrowly missed qualifying with a strong that had him finish less-than-two seconds back. The boys' 3200-meter relay foursome also took second place; it posted a 7:50.87.
The girls 4x8 took fifth. Sollars qualified through prelims and then took fourth in the 100 hurdles.
Carroll (fifth-boys 800) and Ellie Harkins (seventh-girls 300 hurdles) were scorers just missing out on an advance to Columbus.
For the boys 4x800-meter relay, the Amherst performance continued what has been a big month. The state-qualifier quartet won Bell Invitational (May 5), Great Lakes Conference (May 11), and DI Amherst District (May 18) titles on the road to the state meet.
For that bunch -- and the rest of a Maroon & White contingent still alive and kicking -- faster, fiercer competition awaits.
The same can be said of the foes lining up to test themselves against this particular horde of Pirates.by Skip Snow