ATHLETES TO WATCH Caramia Boland, Geneva: Unfortunately, Geneva remains on the strange path of having to bypass a district (Perry) to go to Bedford then funnel through the Lexington Regional, not Austintown-Fitch, in Division II. But this senior’s jumps talent translates wherever she sets foot, wi th high-17-foot ability in long jump, including a 17-6 1/4 last spring at Lexington, and 5-plus potential in high jump. Geneva girls track and field: Caramia Boland eyes more with long jump, 4×1 after strong start to season Kylie Coleman, Mentor: Speaking of great long jumpers, this senior and 2024 second-team News-Herald all-star will be eager for a state push following close calls on automatics a year ago in D-I for long jump and for the 100-meter dash. She has the laudable skill set to get deeper in the 12s in open 1, go sub-25 in open 2 and hit 17s and above in long jump. Brielle Collins, Hawken: After some tough injury luck in the first half of her career, it was great to see this Hawks' senior not only get to state in 2024 as a junior in 3,200 but get on the podium in Dayton as well, placing fifth in D-II. Similar or better could be in store as she wraps up her Hawken tenure. Izzie Copeland, Kirtland: The Hornets, rightfully, should have high aspirations for their 4x800, and this junior is a big reason why, after breaking into News-Herald all-stars as a third-teamer in her sophomore campaign. As far as 4x8, going 10:17.86 in D-IV state indoor was a good sign, as was Copeland going 2:23.72 to take fourth individually in open 8. Kara Deister, West Geauga: High jump in the present and future locally is in good stead with this versatile junior, who has shown such strong 5-5 and 5-6 ability already that making a charge at the all-time News-Herald coverage area record in the event of 5-10 1/2 doesn't seem unreasonable before she's done at West G. On top of that high jump quality, her 100 hurdles work is also very good, having taken eighth in D-II at state a year ago. Related Articles 2025 girls track and field area rosters High school scoreboard for April 5 Weingart Relays track and field: Riverside’s Kate Meinke maximizes moment for mile crown PHOTOS: Weingart Relays track and field, April 5, 2025 Lake Catholic track and field: Caleb Stein hopeful high-21 long jump merely the start Abby Detzel, Gilmour: Leading a state champion 4x4 and runner-up 4x2, as this senior did a year ago, is leapfrog enough into this outdoor season as it is. But the Lancers were also impressive at state indoor in D-III, taking second in 4x4 and third in 4x2 with times that should transition nicely into the spring. Rielyn Jackson, Gilmour: An outstanding and decorated relay performer throughout her time in Gates Mills, this senior will take on an even more vital role in those Gilmour quartets with the graduations of 2024 News-Herald girls track and field athlete of the year Amy Weybrecht on 4x4 and program staple Mariyah Moore on sprint relays. She has the talent and experience to handle it well. Alexandra Kheyfets, Beachwood: This junior had a confident run to capture the D-II regional crown at Fitch in 2024 in 3,200, going 11:22.59, and got on the podium in eighth at state. It's certainly within the realm to expect similar or faster coming off a solid cross country campaign and more race and situational awareness going into the back half of her career. Brianna McIvor, Kenston: One of the coverage area's premier distance performers throughout her Bombers' tenure, this senior also had a good cross country season, took an encouraging fifth in D-II 3,200 at state indoor and should push for Columbus with her ability. Sadie Poudevigne, Kenston: The Bombers struck proverbial gold as this affable senior came in from volleyball the last couple years and flourished in high jump and long jump. A returning D-I state qualifier, she is a 5-5/mid-17 and better threat every time out on a big stage with her explosiveness and range that puts her in regional-title and state-podium contention, as it should. Addy Trefzger, Perry: This Pirates' standout senior will be aiming for a special piece of history this spring, going for her fourth state berth in pole vault. The event, which went through a rough patch locally due to the pandemic disrupting development arguably more than any other track and field discipline, has been in capable and productive hands amid that stretch thanks in part to her. Gabrielle Turner, Hawken: With shot put prowess up to and including 40 ability, this senior and returning D-II state qualifier should be in line for that type of standard in 2025 as looks to close her Hawks' career in style, perhaps with a podium push at state along the way. MEETS TO WATCH George Gross Invitational (April 8 at Cuyahoga Heights), Gene Kobus Perry Relays (April 12), Nordonia Knight Relays (April 12), Mentor Cardinal Relays (April 17), North Invitational (April 17), Berkshire Invitational (April 18), Beachwood Invitational (April 19), Dick Beeler Booster Invitational (April 25 at Harvey), Hilltopper Invitational (April 26 at Chardon), Kurt Frankel Wolverine Invitational (April 26 at West Geauga), Mayfield Invitational (May 2), Miele Invitational (May 3 at Gilmour), NCC meet (May 7 at Padua), Euclid Relays (May 8), CVC Valley meet (May 12 and 14 at Fairview), CVC Chagrin meet (May 13 and 15 at Perry), GCC meet (May 14 and 16 at Mentor), WRC meet (May 15 at Mayfield) AT THE LINE • In the final year for the three-division format, the big changes from a postseason standpoint occur in D-I. The largest is, after a decades-long stint here at Mentor, Mayfield and Riverside, the "primary" D-I district is moving outside the coverage area to Nordonia per Northeast District Athletic Board assignments. The Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin girls join Kenston down at the D-I district at Fitch. At the regional level, Fitch remains in place as the D-I and D-II host, while North Royalton takes over the D-III regional for 2025. • There is also quite a bit of regular-season invitational pivoting. Mentor Cardinal Relays has gone to a Thursday meet on April 17, as will the North Invitational the same day. Those had been late-April Saturday and mid-April Friday meets, respectively. Euclid Relays has also opted for a Thursday slot on May 8 instead of its usual Friday timing. Chardon's staple Hilltopper Invitational has gone one week later into April and will be contested April 26. • Without putting too much pressure on them, of course, there have been some strong freshmen classes come through the coverage area track and field ranks in recent years. But you would be hard-pressed to find one as good as this one could be led by the trio of Beachwood's Meena Abdul Basser, Perry's Emily Mechenbier and Chagrin Falls' Gabby Byrne. Abdul Basser is a skilled 200 and 400 performer, especially the latter with sub-57 ability even before she steps on the high school track for the first time. Those skill sets, and her junior-high resume, don't come along very often. Mechenbier should be poised for a decorated throws career in shot put and discus after having a stretch as an eighth-grader with the nation's best shot put throw among middle-schoolers. Even as she switches to a heavier implement, Mechenbier should be in the high-30s to even 40 range to start, which is an exciting prospect. Byrne was 2024 News-Herald girls cross country runner of the year as a freshman and appears to be next in line amid a deep lineage of Chagrin girls distance runners. And yes, all three merit athletes-to-watch consideration here as well, but let's ease them in with deserved praise in this avenue instead before plenty of appearances on that athletes-to-watch list in the years ahead. • In addition to those already mentioned above in the athletes to watch list, several coverage area student-athletes encouraged at state indoor. Chagrin's Natalie Zalud was D-III pole vault runner-up at 11-4, which is great to see coming into outdoor. Brush's Brielle Ray showed 38s as she fourth in D-II shot put, and the Arcs' 4x4 could be very good after going 4:10.95 for D-II runner-up indoor. Brush's Destiny Johnson was also fifth in 60 hurdles and could be a performer to watch in 1s and 3s outdoor. Beaumont's sprint relays should be solid as usual, too, after its 4x2 was fifth in D-III. And as always, there will be plenty of room for more breakthrough across the coverage area as the road to Columbus edges closer. ...read more read less