Seven locals earn All-America honors at Adidas Track Nationals

Over the weekend, a few locals got their track and field seasons started off with a bang. Colby Morlock, Dillon Morlock, Grace Sparks, Pyper Gibson, Malena Cybak, Jaylee Wingate and Ainsley Hamsher all competed in the 2022 Adidas Track Nationals held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

They all looked to be in midseason form as they earned All-American honors with big-time performances.

The Bobcat throwing unit showed why they will be at the top of most meets this spring. Colby Morlock finished second with a toss of 59-feet-9 inches in the shot put and was third in the weight throw, firing an 18.74. Dillon was right on his heels in the shot put placing third with a toss of 58-7.25 and finished fifth in the weight throw (15.91).

On the girls side, Sparks threw a toss of 47-11.75 to finish second in the weight throw.

"I am absolutely proud of them," said Norwayne throwing coach Bri Indorf. "This group of kids have taken a chance on learning the weight throw and working to better themselves in the circle. They all compete, push each other and went into nationals knowing it was possible to become an All-American and they did just that."

It's something that ultimately Indorf hopes will carry over into the upcoming track season and should bode well for them.

"This success will hopefully keep them moving and progressing into another record-breaking spring," said Indorf.

A group of area runners worked together, with Cybak, from Tuslaw and Wingate, from Norwayne, teaming up with Hannah Wyler (Tusky Valley) and Sofia Istnick (Massillon Jackson). The quartet of runners showed their endurance and outlasted the field to win the 3,200 relay with a time of 9:15.66.

On the track, Rittman standout Pyper Gibson was at it again, this time blowing past most of the field with a 5:10.65 to finish second in the 1,600. She wasn't done there as she legged out a 10:59.68 to finish second in the two-mile run and was second in the 3,200 with a time of 10:56.25. It was a run that, if done this spring, would be the second-fastest run in area history, just about five seconds off the record held by West Holmes' Michelle Hostetler.

Wrapping up the area athletes at Nationals was Orrville pole vaulting star and University of Louisiana Monroe-bound Hamsher. She won the pole vault title by clearing 11-feet and 11.75 inches, just shy of her career best.

Other locals also competing at Nationals and performing well were Rittman's Luke Snyder, who finished fifth in the middle school one-mile run with a time of 4:46.67. Annabelle Snyder also ran in the one-mile for the middle school race and finished 12th and Brooke Bowlby finished 23rd. Bowlby added a 13th in the 800 middle school race.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Track & Field: seven local perform well at Adidas Nationals