Ellen Steppenbacker returns to state as Buckeye posts strongest regional finish in years
Buckeye’s girls track and field team turned in one of its most memorable regional performances in decades Saturday at the Austintown Division III Regional, scoring 16 points and finishing 17th out of 52 teams. The biggest moment belonged to Ellen Steppenbacker, who won the pole vault at Austintown Regional with a clearance of 10 feet, 8 inches to earn a return trip to the state tournament for the second straight year.
That breakthrough anchored a day filled with standout efforts for the Bucks. Blakely Herman delivered a personal-best 16.16 to place sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, adding another scoring performance for Buckeye. In the pole vault, Leah Bengough also reached the podium with a seventh-place finish after clearing 9 feet, giving the Bucks a second placer in the event and adding to the team’s strong total.
Buckeye picked up another regional place in the 800-meter run, where Sophia Regiec finished eighth in 2:25.14. It was a fitting close to the final race of her career, and it gave the Bucks their fourth placing performance of the meet. Between Ellen Steppenbacker’s regional title and the three additional placers, Buckeye produced its highest level of regional success in years, even with only one state qualifier advancing to Columbus next weekend.
Several more Buckeye athletes turned in strong performances just shy of the scoring places. The 4x100 relay team featuring Blakely Herman, Erin Salazar, Emma Bostic and Ellen Steppenbacker ran a season-best 51.31 and was narrowly edged out of a spot in the finals. In the 300-meter hurdles, Blakely Herman posted a 48.53, while the 4x800 relay team of Sophia Regiec, Maycie Bodak, Lily Regiec and Hayleigh Kreeger finished in 10:48.29.
Erin Salazar, who recorded a long jump of 14-6.75 as a first timer at the regional meet. The Bucks showed depth in the hurdles, relays, middle distance and field events, with multiple athletes delivering season-best or career-capping performances at the right time.
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