HEATH — The Crestview boys track and field team bolstered its reputation as a Division III regional powerhouse Friday at Heath High School.
For the fourth consecutive spring, the Cougars captured the regional team title, this time riding a quartet of first-place, state-qualifying efforts at the two-day event to take the top spot.
Crestview’s 51 points were comfortably ahead of runner-up Seneca East (41).
It wasn’t quite the regional runaway the Cougars put together a year ago, when they doubled up second-place Shadyside (74-37), but CHS head coach Tim Kuhn said his team’s four event titles were enough to carry the needed load against a deeper Seneca East squad.
He said landing in the 50- to 60-point range always seems to put teams in the title conversation at Heath.
“I knew if we performed with the group that we were taking down there that we could score in that range and things worked out,” Kuhn said. “I’m really proud of my guys.”
Crestview thrower Wade Bolin added to his banner senior season. After claiming the regional crown in the discus Wednesday, he picked up gold in the shot put Friday with a throw of 58-0.
That outing gave the Cougars their fourth regional champ, as Liam Kuhn took gold in the pole vault Wednesday, when the CHS 4×800 relay crew of Cooper Brockway, Bransen Hider, Everett Smith and Logan Friges also was first.
Coach Kuhn believes it’s the first time Crestview has won four individual regional titles in the same year during its current team-championship run. He also was fairly certain that Bolin is the first dual-event champ in that time.
Adding to the state-qualifying crew Friday was Crestview’s 4×400 relay team of Ayden Reymer, Smith, Brockway and Friges, which took fourth in 3:28.46.
Kuhn said all the top-level talent should make for an interesting few days at the state meet once again. The Cougars were fifth as a team last year — just 13 points outside of first.
“I’ll put our team up against anybody’s,” he said. “The biggest thing this week is just surviving and giving yourself a chance to perform down there on that big stage.
“I think our guys are ready and most of them have state experience, so I’m excited for the opportunity that we have and for what we can do. I think it should be fun.”