The Buckeye 8 Track and Field Championship made its final appearance at Bellaire's Nelson Field Tuesday evening.
However, the winners of the meet don't appear anywhere near ready for their final victories of the season as it hits the mid-way point.
The Martins Ferry girls continued their early-season domination en route to checking yet another goal off their to-do list. The Lady Purple Riders rang up 160 points to claim their first official Buckeye 8 girls' track title.
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BUCKEYE LOCAL’S Jordan Piergallini chugs towards the finish line in the 100-meter dash Tuesday during the Buckeye 8 Track and Field meet.
Meanwhile, the St. Clairsville boys used their talent and strength at the top of most events to claim yet another league title. Coach Ben Frye's squad posted 140 points, which was 46 better than runner-up Harrison Central.
MARTINS FERRY girls' coach Rich Materkoski made no bones about it when he talked in March about his team's goals.
They wanted to win the OVAC, Buckeye 8 and advance as many people as possible well into the Ohio postseason. The Lady Riders have achieved a third of their goals and the quest for the second begins in less than a week.
"We told the girls that this is our league and we take pride in winning it," Materkoski said. "Coming down here and showing that this was our year to finally get it is a good thing for these girls."
Just 72 hours prior, the Lady Riders flexed their muscle en route to winning the Shadyside Relays crown. There was absolutely no hang over.
"We talk every day about how we can't rest on what we do," Materkoski continued. "That started back at the Early Bird. We knew we were going to get St. Clairsville and Edison's best. They weren't going to let us just take it, and that's kind of fueled them each week and we'll need it again next week (at the OVAC)."
The Lady Riders prevailed in eight of the 18 events.
Sophomore speedster Taylr Jenkins ran away from the field in both the 100 and 200 meter dashes. She posted 13.09 and 27.73, respectively.
Sophomore Sarah Applegarth continued to prove she's one of the premier 400 meter dashers in the area. She circled the oval in 62.41.
Junior Sunshine Wrenn claimed the 800 meter title in a time of 2:29.16.
The Lady Riders' other four victories came in relays. The team of Applegarth, Wrenn, Nikki Allen and Jenkins won the 4x200 in a time of 1:51.25.
The female Ferrians' first victory of the day came in the 4x800 when the team of Wrenn, Brenna Becca, Alyssa Smith and Jamie Truchan won the distance relay in a time of 10:45.18.
The Lady Riders' solid 4x400 team of Applegarth, Truchan, Jenkins and Wrenn posted a 4:26.85 to capture the gold medal.
The Ferry hurdling foursome of Courtney Crolley, Allen, Rikki Allen and Ashley Griffith ran a 1:09.85.
The runner-up Lady Red Devils captured three meet championships.
Junior standout Alyssa Robinson continued her stanglehold on the shot put and also continued to re-write record books.
Her mark of 43-ft-1 1/2 was both a Buckeye 8 record and also a new Nelson Field record.
St. C.'s other two victories came in the distance races. Junior Julianna Madzia won the 1600 meter run in a time of 5:48.52 and senior Melanie Hannan claimed the 3200 meter run in 12:29.65.
Edison had a quartet of victories and it was led by the hurdling sweep of junior Ashley Borsch. She won the highs with a season-best time of 16.02 and won the 300 hurdles in a time of 48.21.
Sophomore Katelyn Pollock won the high jump by soaring over 5-feet.
The Lady Wildcats' 4x100 team of Bethanie Bube, Borsch, Kylie Long and Nhung Tran denied Ferry a relay sweep when it posted a 53.01.
Union Local posted a pair of winners in the field.
Senior Arika Kemp claimed the pole vault title at 9-feet, while frosh Mikayla Patton won the discus with a twirl of 99-ft-11.
Indian Creek's lone winner was Brooke Goodrich, who claimed the long jump with a mark of 15-ft-4 1/2.
THE ST. CLAIRSVILLE boys aren't the deepest team around, but when they claim titles in eight of the events it doesn't take too much depth.
"We had some kids step up and take on a big role which we need because of our lack of depth," Frye said. "We've got good kids, and I am glad to see a good effort from them today. This is a good tune up for next week (OVAC)."
The Red Devils were ignited with a strong start in the field. Colby Lindsay won the discus with a mark of 135-ft-2.
On the track, St. C. let its distance, middle distance and sprinting contingent take over.
Senior standout Andy Thornburg captured both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs. He claimed the 1600 meter run in 4:37.71 and then won the 3200 in a meet-record time of 10:03.41.
Senior Cole Antolak claimed the 400 meter dash title, posting a solid 53.26. Junior Drake Walker won the 800 meter run with a two-lap time of 2:05.80.
The Red Devils' talented 4x200 team of Jaylon Brown, Michael Ferns, Jerrid Marhefka and Alex Young passed the baton to a meet-record time of 44.70.
St. C.'s 4x200 team of Chase Garan, Ferns, Marhefka and Young ran two laps in 1:34.66.
The 4x800 team of Joe Davies, Jared Derosa, Matt Mamone and Walker ran a 9:03.33 for the title.
Harrison Central used its depth en route to second place. The Huskies won just one event and it came on a 4x4 after a disqualification. The team of Josh Moore, Blake Yoho, Zack Riley and Brenton Spencer posted a solid 3:32.94, which was a new meet record.
Martins Ferry's strength in the hurdles and in the field sparked the Purple Riders to the third-place slot.
Senior ace Richie Padyjasek swept the hurdling events. He won the highs in 15.35 and the intermediates in 41.43.
Junior strongman Sean McGee won the shot put in meet-record fashion. He put the iron ball to a mark of 53-ft-9.
Senior Travis Jenkins won the pole vault by soaring over 12-ft-6.
The Riders' shuttle team of Padyjasek, Jenkins, Jack Fitch and Brian Styles skimmed 40 timbers in 62.35.
Buckeye Local senior Jordan Piergallini had an impressive meet to say the least. He got his day started by winning the long jump with a mark of 20-ft-1 3/4.
However, on the track, he certainly left his mark. He ran a sub-11 in the semifinals and then posted a career best along with a Buckeye 8 record time of 10.85, which was 39 hundredths faster than runner-up Jaylon Brown of St. C.
Piergallini made it three-for-three when he legged past Brown in the final stretch of the 200 for the half-lap dash title. He posted a time of 22.94.
Union Local's Kurtis Ogilbee claimed the high jump title by clearing 5-ft-10.
Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleader-online.com
