A pair of Div. I throwers highlight boys track and field athletes to watch
This spring marks the first time that shot put and discus won’t be dominated by former Norwayne standout and current Michigan State freshman Dillon Morlock.
Make no mistake, there still will be a Morlock haunting area throwers in the two events in Bobcat senior and Ohio State University signee Brandt Morlock. There will also be some stiff competition for Morlock in Orrville senior and Notre Dame signee Talon Beichler.
Those are just two of the names that local fans should look for when attending track and field events this spring.
Brandt Morlock, Norwayne
A year ago, Brandt Morlock finished second in the shot put at state in Div. II to his cousin, Dillon, and finished sixth at state in the discus. He finished with a season-best toss of 163-4 in the discus and fired a 58-8 in the shot put.
This year, the soon-to-be Buckeye will at the center of attention at most meets as he looks to elevate his game even further.
Talon Beichler, Orrville
For competition and someone Morlock may rival at the next level, he won't have to look far in Orrville senior Talon Beichler. The Red Rider senior who just recently enrolled and will be a member of the Fighting Irish next year, finished sixth in the shot put with a toss of 56-1.5 and was 10th in the discus with a throw of 153-5.
Beichler will look to return to state yet again as he and Morlock will push each other throughout this spring season in a must-see-event each time they throw.
Luke Snyder, Rittman
One of the state's best distance runners and one of the best to ever run in the area on the boy's side is Rittman junior Luke Snyder. Already a holder of the area's all-time cross country best time, he will be looking to reset the area's best times in the 1,600 and 3,200 this spring. A year ago, he finished fifth in the Div. III state meet in the 1,600 with a time of 4:16.82 and was sixth in the 3,200, with a time of 9:28.62.
Jackson Varner, Waynedale
The best form of improvement is having stellar competition and Snyder has that in Waynedale junior Jackson Varner. Last year, Varner finished second in the area to Snyder in the 3,200 and was among the areas best in the 1,600. In the Div. III state meet, he took 13th in the 3,200 with a time of 9:43.22
Sammy Tomlinson, Dalton
Simply one of the fastest in the area, Dalton senior Sammy Tomlinson needs a radar to catch up to him. The two-time state qualifier finished eighth last year in the Div. III state meet with a time of :11.32 and was a key part of 800 relay team. He finished with the area's fast time in the 100 and was fifth in the 200.
If he breaks the 11-second barrier this spring, he will be cooking and be among the area's best to ever run the sprints.
Caden Race, Orrville
The area's best pole vaulter a year ago, Orrville junior Caden Race will continue to take to the skies this spring. Continuing a tradition of excellent that is Red Rider success in the event, Race finished 13th in the Div. II state meet with a vault of 13-feet even.
Braden Carr, Loudonville
The talented junior Loudonville pole vaulter finished 14th in the state meet in Div. III last year as he finished tied for the fourth best in the area. He will again be one of the Redbirds best in the field side of the things and will be counted for points.
Alex Rodriguez, Chippewa
Sometimes it's about saving your best for last, and that's what Chippewa senior Alex Rodriguez did a year ago. Entering the postseason, he had a season best vault of 12-feet, before finished sixth in the Div. II state meet with a vault of 14-6. That tied him for the eighth-best vault in area history with Erik Dravenstott (Smithville, 2004), Logan Studer (Norwayne, 2013) and Emmett Myers (West Holmes, 2021).
Manny Strong, Tuslaw
Tuslaw senior Manny Strong finished among the top 2 in the 100, 200 and 400 a year ago for area sprinters. He will look to parlay that into success come tournament time this year. He will be a key part of the Mustangs track team as he will be a source of a lot of points in most meets.
Oliver Miller, Wooster
Wooster senior Oliver Miller was among the area's best in the 800 and 1,600 a year ago. He finished second in the 1,600 with a time of 4:36.04 and was sixth in the 800 with a time of 2:03.80.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 10 boys track and field athletes to watch in 2025
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