Norwayne's Morlock owns shot put, Orrville's Lacy wins 1,600 at district meet

ORRVILLE — It wasn’t a picture-perfect lean at the finish line Saturday for Orrville’s Daniel Comito. Far from it.

But the result, well, that was a thing of beauty.

Comito overcame a roller-coaster race in the 800-meter final at the Orrville Division II District, going from being in the lead to two positions back of a regional berth, before finding himself in a three-runner battle with 20 meters to go for the last two regional-qualifying spots.

After a near collision at the line, Comito came away with of those coveted spots, in placing third overall in the event.

“I'm not quite sure what exactly happened,” the junior said. “I saw of the runners stick their arm out and then the other runner tripped.

“By the end of the race, though, I felt like I had it.”

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The photo finish came down to Comito, Fireland’s Dane Vanderpool and Norwayne’s Tripp Wingate, but when Vanderpool leaned to try to obstruct the other two from crossing first, it caused Wingate to tumble to the track and Comito to stumble enough to get ahead of both runners. In the end, it was Comito placing third in 2:00.49, followed by Wingate (2:00.52) and Vanderpool (2:00.53).

It wasn’t the result Comito was expecting as he led the race for 500 meters before being passed by three runners and then finding himself in a battle with two others.

“Most of the race I'm just focused on the race, but there were definitely a few moments where, 'Oh boy, I gotta start sprinting,’” he said. “There was definitely a little bit of doubt in my mind, but a lot of the race is staying focused and just running your race.”

A handful of locals came away with district victories in Saturday’s final-day action who, among others, earned spots up for grabs in next week’s regional in Austintown.

Norwayne’s Dillon Morlock earned his second win of the two-day meet — this time taking top honors in the shot put — while Orrville’s Owen Lacy (1,600) and Smithville’s Jake Hershey (high jump) also were winners.

It took Morlock a little longer to put the win out of reach but found it with a mark of 69-feet-7-inches to capture a second straight district title.

“I came in and I didn't feel like I was low through my throws, so I had to tweak with that a little bit,” the Michigan State recruit said. “I was just tweaking a little bit today, seeing what I could put together, and I was really fortunate to hit that 69-foot throw.

“I had to work for it a little more than usual, but I was glad to hit that throw.”

It was an area-heavy finish in the shot as fellow All-Ohioans — Norwayne’s Brandt Morlock (60-8¼) and Orrville’s Talon Beichler (56-6½) — were 2-3 in the event to make return trips to regionals in the event.

“It feels really good,” Brandt Morlock said. “I got some nice marks early on just to get myself to calm down and then I started jumping and hitting some bigger numbers.

“It felt good to get over 60 again and build some confidence heading into regionals.”

For Beichler, a week removed from his school-record toss of 58-11 to win the Principals Athletic Conference title, it’s been about bringing the same effort every time out.

“The biggest things from past years is that I've been consistent going the entire year, keeping my form not jumping all over the place,” he said. “Just being able to build speed towards the end of the throws is what has really helped.”

Lacy put together an impressive final lap in the 1,600 as he was able to pass Bay’s Connor Spellman with 200 meters to go and held on in the final straightaway for his first career district title, clocking a 4:26.84.

The sophomore, who also advanced in the 3,200 after a third-place run of 9:58.98, was able to lean on his training — and his love of finding that kick on the final lap — to earn a hard-fought victory.

“I was just doing what I do,” Lacy said of the final 100-meter sprint. “On that last stretch I always give it my all and the last 100 is where I have the most confidence in myself because I know that I'm willing to do anything to stay in front of him.

“My strategy is always to sit back with the leaders for the first 2-3 laps and usually it's just an absolute battle on the last lap,” he added. “It was a real tough mental battle on the third lap because he a had pretty sizeable lead on me. I really had to dig deep to catch up to him and pass him.”

Hershey matched his personal-record in the high jump, clearing 6 feet, on a day where he hit each mark on his first attempt.

Making the feat more impressive is that the senior has been battling a recent Achilles injury that has made things from easy in the previous two meets.

“It just started to come on in the last two weeks and I've been struggling to practice, but I'm pushing through it,” Hershey said. “I put in the work in offseason and God gave me this great opportunity to compete and I was able to pull out the win.”

Also advancing in Saturday’s action was Orrville’s 4x1 relay team, which was third in 44.78, while Chippewa’s Braydan Braswell clocked a personal-record 40.31 to earn the fourth and final regional-qualifying spot in the 300 hurdles.

For the sprinter-turned-hurdler, a regional berth was something that became more of a reality as the season progressed.

“Coach (Aidan Douglas) told me it was a possibility (at the beginning of the season) but I didn't really believe him,” Braswell said. “It's awesome. I woke up extremely nervous and I've been trying to control those nerves all day. Now I can relax.”

Along with Dillon Morlock, Brandt Morlock and Beichler all advancing in the discus, Thursday was filled with regional berths for locals Chippewa’s Alex Rodriguez won the pole vault — an event where Orrville’s Caden Race and Norwayne’s Jon Graham also qualified — while Orrville’s Trent Roe moved on in the long jump and Norwayne’s 4x8 relay was fourth.

Orrville D-II District

Boys

Team standings: 1. Bay 111, 2. Norwayne 80, 3. Orrville 67, 4. Northwest 62, 5. Firelands 54, 6. Keystone 53, 7. Brookside 48, 8. Holy Name 36, T-9. Smithville/Fairview 31, 11. Elyria Catholic 29, 12. Lutheran West 24, 13. Chippewa 19, T-14. Triway/Clearview 6, 16. Brooklyn 2.

Results

(Top four in each event advance to regionals; winner and locals in the top-6 listed)

Shot put: 1. Dillon Morlock (N) 69-7, 2. Brandt Morlock (N) 60-8¼, 3. Talon Beichler (O) 56-6½, 6. Tyler Suster (S) 42-11. Discus: 1. D. Morlock (N) 188-7, 2. B. Morlock (N) 163-9, 3. Beichler (O) 151-11. High jump: 1. Jake Hershey (S) 6-0, 5. Jack Maibach (N) 5-11. Long jump: 1. Lincoln Barnhart (Bro) 20-11¾, 2. Trent Roe (O) 20-10½. Pole vault: 1. Alex Rodriguez (Ch) 14-0, 2. Caden Race (O) 13-4, 3. Jon Graham (N) 13-4, 5. Trei Durstine (S) 12-0. 4x800: 1. Bay 8:09.46, 4. Norwayne 8:19.99.

110 hurdles: 1. Mohamed Kori (RR) 14.85, 5. Maibach (N) 15.58. 100: 1. Liam O’Leary (Bay) 11.19, 6. Braydan Braswell (C) 11.66. 4x200: 1. Bay 1:28,99, 5. Orrville 1:32.79, 6. Norwayne 1:33.57. 1,600: 1. Owen Lacy (O) 4:26.84, 5. Joey Clabaugh (S) 4:32.38, 6. Romagn Wingate (N) 4:36.64. 4x100: 1. Bay 43.52, 3. Orrville 44.78, 6. Norwayne 45.79. 400: 1. Jeffrey Jemison (HN) 50.38. 300 hurdles: 1. Kori (RR) 39.59, 4. Braswell (C) 40.31, 5. Bronson Rogers (O) 41.18. 800: 1. Tyson Crandall (Fa) 1:57.75, 3. Daniel Comito (O) 2:00.49, 4. Tripp Wingate (N) 2:00.52, 6. Kaden Hilty (T) 2:02.93. 200: 1. Connor Petrus (EC) 22.93, 6. Graham (N) 23.67. 3,200: 1. Michael Hanselman (Bay) 9:50.09, 3. Lacy (O) 9:58.98. 4x400: 1. Keystone 3:27.51, 6. Smithville 3:34.34.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Norwayne's Morlock owns shot put, Orrville's Lacy wins 1,600 at district meet