MANSFIELD — Shelby’s Cody Stine struck gold on a sun-soaked Saturday afternoon at Malabar Intermediate School.
A junior, Stine matched his season best with a leap of 6-feet, 6-inches to win the high jump competition at the 82nd Mehock Relays. He out-jumped highly-regarded Steele Wasik of Lakewood St. Edward’s to reach the top of the podium as one of the state’s oldest and most venerable meets returned to Mansfield after a three-year stint at Ashland University.
Headed to UCLA on a track scholarship and one of the nation’s most heralded young decathletes, Wasik won both hurdle events and was runner-up in the high jump and long jump to lead the two-time Division I state champion Eagles to their third straight Mehock title. St. Edward’s piled up 81 points, well ahead of runner-up Cleveland Glenville (50). Dayton Dunbar (39) was third, while Medina (37) was fourth and Massillon Jackson (31) was fifth.
Madison led the way locally, finishing 14th with 14 points. Ontario (11.5) was 18th, while Shelby (10) tied for 20th. Crestview (4) tied for 29th and Clear Fork (1) tied for 33rd.
The long jump finals were delayed while Wasik competed in one of his other events. Both Stine and Wasik failed to clear the bar on their first two attempts at 6-6 before Stine sailed over the height on his third try.
“It’s just crazy,” Stine said. “It really helps (my confidence) knowing he is a really good decathlete.”
Stine’s confidence almost got another shot in the arm as he narrowly missed clearing a Shelby school record 6-7. He just ticked the bar on his second attempt.
“That last jump I kind of psyched myself out,” Stine said. “My leg was bothering me a little bit and (the potential school record) kind of affected it.”
Crestview’s Ben Orewiler finished fourth in the high jump, clearing 6-2. Ontario’s Eddrick Deloach-Holley tied for fifth, clearing 6-foot.
Madison’s Frank Douglas pushed Wasik in both the 110 meter hurdles and the 300 hurdles. Douglas was third in the 110s, finishing in in 14.67 seconds. Wasik was first in 14.19 and Glenville’s Davon Anderson was runner-up in 14.66.
Douglas and Wasik were nearly even as they cleared the final hurdle in the 300s. The 6-foot-4 Wasik out-leaned the 5-8 Douglas at the finishing line and won the event in 38.69 seconds. Douglas was runner-up in 38.80.
Ontario’s Lenell Sheby (41.23) was fifth and Shelby’s Colton Orr (41.71) was eighth.
“It was a good race. He’s a good runner,” Douglas said. “I came around the corner and I saw his feet and I knew I had to keep pushing.”
Douglas and the rest of the Rams have had limited track time this sprig because of the renovations at the high school. Madison is installing a synthetic surface at the football stadium and the track is not available.
Most of Douglas’ prep work has been indoors.
“Really, for the first time running the 300s, I just wanted to have a good time and have a good race,” Douglas said. “I was looking for the good competition, which he brought.
“When we get a track … it’s going to bring good things.”
Douglas was already looking forward to a possible rematch with Wasik at the state meet in June. Douglas was fourth in Columbus last year in 38.47, while Wasik (36.91) was second.
“I like a challenge,” Douglas said. “He’s a good runner, don’t get me wrong, but I feel I can be up there with him. Make this a preview of the state meet. I’m coming for him at state.”
Ontario’s Brett Cortelletti finished second in the 3,200 run. The junior finished in 9:51.02. Massillon Jackson’s Paul Clifford won the event in 9:49.85.
Clear Fork’s Brad Studenmund finished sixth in the 400 dash. The sophomore finished in 52.85 seconds.
In the girls competition, Solon cruised to the team title with 107 points. Gahanna Lincoln (77) was runner-up, while Warren Harding and Chardon tied for third with 52 points. Medina (41.5) was fifth.
Locally, Mansfield Senior and Clear Fork tied for 20th with five points apiece.
Mansfield Senior’s Symphony Cooke, who has been hampered by injuries, raced to a fourth-place finish in the 100 meter dash. The senior crossed the finish line in 12.68 seconds.
“Fourth is not acceptable at all,” Cooke said. “I’ve been trying to get back. I can’t keep using the pain in my foot any more. It’s come to a point where I’ve got to get past that.”
Mansfield Senior’s other point came from the 400 relay team of Kendra Stanford, Jazzlynn Greene, Cristyn Jones and Dominique Marshall. That quartet finished sixth in 50.90 seconds.
Clear Fork’s Deijah Swihart finished fourth in the long jump with a leap of 15-11.25. Teammate Maija Johnson scored Clear Fork’s other point with a sixth-place finish in the pole vault (9-6).
