Magnificat wins Bay Invite team title behind strong day across track and field events

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - Magnificat claimed the team championship Saturday at the Bay Invite, finishing first out of 13 teams with 107 points behind a balanced performance that included an individual track victory, a field event win and three runner-up relay finishes.

Kelly Karabatsos turned in one of the Blue Streaks' top efforts on the track, winning the 400-meter dash in 60.5 seconds. Chloe Bibbo added another first-place finish in the field events, clearing 10 feet, 6 inches to win the pole vault. Those victories helped set the tone for a Magnificat squad that scored in multiple areas throughout the meet.

The Blue Streaks also picked up a strong runner-up finish from Nadia Zerepheh in the shot put. Zerepheh placed second with a throw of 32 feet, 2 1/2 inches, giving Magnificat another key scoring performance as the team built its championship total.

Magnificat's relays were a major part of the winning effort. The 4x800 team of Kuhlman, Corrigan, Vargo and Martin finished second in 10:13. The 4x200 relay of Ansberry, Loeffler, Karabatsos and Laux also placed second, crossing in 1:47.83. In the 4x100, Bibbo, Laux, Loeffler and Karabatsos added another second-place result with a time of 50.65.

With points spread across sprints, throws, vaults and relays, Magnificat showed the kind of depth that can decide an invitational meet. The Blue Streaks did not rely on one event group alone, instead piecing together a complete day that lifted them to the top of the standings.

By the end of the afternoon at Bay High School, that all-around approach had delivered the Blue Streaks a meet championship and a first-place finish in a 13-team field, with Karabatsos and Bibbo leading the way and the relay groups providing the depth needed to secure the title.