Friday, June 10, 2011
A.J. Hicks hits the heights after an early low at state track and field championships
The moment A.J. Hicks had worked for his entire high school career had just vanished. One of the favorites to win the Division I state shot put title, Hicks had fouled on his first two throws and then failed to place in the event. But there was one more moment to come. And it would provide Hicks and those assembled in Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium a memory for a lifetime. After assuring himself of the state title in the discus, Hicks let loose with a throw that carried through the late spring sky in Columbus. After the discus had landed, he heard an official saying the number 200. As in 200 feet, seven inches. The third-best throw in the 104-year history of the meet and a new stadium record. What a difference three hours made. "It was a …
Monday, June 6, 2011
Solon girls earn All-Ohio honors at state meet in Columbus
Frustration turned to elation for Solon senior A.J. Hicks at Sunday's Division I state track and field meet in Columbus. Hicks, holder of the school record in the shot put, failed to score a point in that event during competition at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina recruit was hoping to battle a strong state field in the shot but fouled on his first two throws before settling on a toss of 54-0.25. An 11th-place finish was not exactly what Hicks had in mind. It didn't take him long to make up for that effort. All Hicks did in the discus was uncork an otherworldly throw of 200 feet, seven inches, over 20 feet better than his previous school record. It set a new stadium record and became the third-longest throw in the 104-year…
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Solon's Yaeger, girls' 4x200-meter relay qualify for finals
After a tough opening day, Solon's boys' track and field team will have to step it up during today's finals at the Division I state track and field championships at Ohio State University. The Comets failed to advance to the finals in four events yesterday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Solon, coming off a regional championship last weekend, finds itself 10 points behind Cincinnati LaSalle at the start of today's action. The Comets will be looking to improve on last year's sixth-place team finish. Solon's Paige Yaeger advanced in the 300-meter hurdles as she clocked in at 44.91 for the ninth and final spot. Yaeger also anchored the 4x200-meter relay with Tinisee Kandakai, London McNair and Jelvon Butler (1:41.38) that qualified for the …
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
14 Solon Track and Field Athletes will head to Columbus to compete for a state championship
The Solon Comets had a great track and field season. All the hard work culminates this weekend at the state championship meet at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium at the Ohio State University. Solon's boys' team has nine athletes competing in seven events. The girls' team has five runners competing in three events. Here are the athletes and their events: BOYS Senior A.J. Hicks: Shot Put and Discus Senior Paul Arters, junior Max Haiss and sophomores Eric Hansen and Zack Zimmers: 4x800-Meter Relay Sophomore Khoury Crenshaw: 100-Meter Dash Junior Rod Jackson: 110-Meter Hurdles Junior Karl Pierce: Pole Vault Senior Matt Thompson: 200-Meter Dash GIRLS Juniors Paige Yaeger and London McNair and freshmen Jelvon Butler and Tinisee Kandakai: 4x200-Meter…
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Haiss leads Solon girls to fourth-place finish at Austintown Fitch
Having mixed emotions after winning a regional track and field meet by 25 points might be hard to comprehend. Solon's boys had that unusual experience Saturday at the Austintown Fitch Division I regional meet. The Comets rolled up a team total of 67 points to easily outdistance runner-up Glenville (42) for the program's first regional championship in school history. But Solon failed to advance its sprint relays, a factor that will cost the team points at next weekend's state meet in Columbus. "It was a weird meet," said head coach Dan Iwan. "We had some great individual performances from A.J. (Hicks), Khoury (Crenshaw), Matt (Thompson) and Rod (Jackson) but we were disappointed in the relays. We were in great position in the 4x200 but we …
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Comets' Hicks captures title in discus; Pierce is runner-up in pole vault
After the first day of competition in the Division I regional track and field meet in Youngstown, Solon is in a very familiar place. First place. The Comets finished Wednesday's competition at Austintown-Fitch with a team total of 23 points. Alliance Marlington is in second with 14 points with favored Glenville yet to score but waiting to pile up points in the sprints and relays when competition resumes Friday afternoon. A.J. Hicks continued his impressive season for Solon by winning the discus with a heave of 181-7. Hicks will also look to score points in the shot put Friday as he takes aim on his own school record. The Comets' Karl Pierce came up with a clutch effort in the pole vault as he cleared 14-4 to earn a second place and a berth…
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Solon will join some fast company at regionals
In the fast lane all season long, Solons boys' and girls' track and field teams are primed to kick it into overdrive during the upcoming Division I regional meet at Austintown-Fitch High School. The Comet boys were clearly the class of the Ravenna district meet, finishing with a team total of 169.5 points to easily outdistance runner-up Kenston (99). The Solon girls were involved in a competitive race for the top spot but won the district with 107 points, edging second-place Shaker Heights (100). "We had some pretty high expectations and we met those expectations," said Comet boys' coach Dan Iwan, whose team qualified in 15 of 17 events. "We've put ourselves in position for the regionals, now we just have to go out there and do it." Solon …
Friday, May 6, 2011
Comet track teams finish unbeaten; softball team keeps winning
The Week in Solon Sports is just that – a weekly look at Solon High School sports teams in action over the last week and quick previews of what's to come next week. Come to Solon Patch every Friday afternoon to get all the sports you need. TRACK AND FIELD Solon's boys and girls finished the Northeast Ohio Conference dual meet season with unbeaten records with big wins over rival Medina this week and both teams now have the inside track for Valley Division championships. The girls bested Medina 72-65 as Tinisee Kandakai and Paige Yaeger were multiple winners, Kandakai taking the long jump (16-7) and the 200 meters (26.1) while Yaeger captured the 100-meter hurdles (15.7) and the 300-meter hurdles (44.5). Other Solon firsts came from Kristen…
Friday, April 29, 2011
Late-inning heroics spark Lady Comets to softball victories, and more from the Comets playing fields
The Week in Solon Sports is just that – a weekly look at Solon High School sports teams in action over the last week and quick previews of what's to come next week. Come to Solon Patch every Friday afternoon to get all the sports you need. SOFTBALL Some late-inning heroics gave Solon's softball team a pair of big Northeast Ohio Conference River Division victories this week as the Lady Comets came from behind to down Twinsburg and Stow. Kristen Confroy tripled twice, drove in two runs and scored the winning run on a hit by teammate Carly Simecek in the seventh inning of a 5-4 win over Stow on Thursday. Dani Zysek gained her sixth win of the season on the mound, striking out eight as Solon improved to 2-2 in the River Division. Solon plated…
Friday, March 25, 2011
A.J. Hicks wins indoor state titles in the shot put and weight throw
It was an inside job for Solon's A.J. Hicks. Hicks, Solon's talented football and track and field standout, helped lead the Comets to the Division I indoor state track and field title last weekend. The North Carolina recruit set a new state record in the weight throw with a toss of 70-7 3/4, seventh-best in the country this season. He also won the shot put with a heave of 61-4 3/4 as Solon bested some of the state's top programs in competition held at the University of Akron. "Everyone at the meet knew he was the best thrower there," said Comet head coach Dan Iwan. "He was a marked man and he came through." Hicks was fifth in the shot put and third in the discus at the 2010 outdoor state meet. And while he will be a key componentof the …
Phil
4:12 pm on Saturday, May 21, 2011
What a great evening in Ravenna. Watching the Solon boys and girls track and field is a real treat. Very exciting competition. This year's competitors were extremely talented which made for a lot of gratifying wins in the top four of many, many events. Regional competition at Austintown-Fitch this Wednesday and Friday willbe a thriller showcasing many of the best athletes in the state. more ›