'He deserves every trophy he has earned': Jackson girls track gives Rick Neitzelt another title
AUSTINTOWN — One peek at the scoreboard during the girls 3,200 meters saw Jackson holding a one-point lead lead in the team standings.
Another peek at the track saw Sofia Istnick and Kailey Zagst running one-two in the 3,200.
If there was ever a time for the Polar Bears to win another championship, this was it.
Their two distance runners made sure of it.
Istnick's win and Zagst's runner-up finish clinched a team title for Jackson in Friday's Division I regional meet at Fitch High School. The Polar Bears finished 13 points ahead of runner-up Euclid.
More regional track: Friday roundup: East Canton boys share track and field regional championship with McDonald
Over the past three weeks, the Polar Bears have won Federal League, district and regional championships. They are making retiring head coach Rick Neitzelt's final weeks on the job memorable ones.
"I wouldn't have expected this," Neitzelt said. "I guess I should have, but I didn't.
"All the kids did a great job. Everybody we brought scored. This is what happens when you have good people around."
Istnick saw where the Polar Bears were positioned going into the 3,200. Knowing what she and Zagst are capable of, it was a favorable spot.
She did not want to take anything for granted.
"I was just focused on the race," Istnick said.
Istnick and Zagst ran one-two for much of the race. Istnick gained a little bit of separation down the stretch and won in 11:00.10. Zagst's time was 11:06.14.
"The race was so much fun," Istnick said. "I love the two mile. Having Kailey push me was amazing.
"The whole race I was zoned in, focused and was like 'This is my chance.' I just had the mental confidence, and it felt great."
Zagst was not aware of the one-point difference before the 3,200. She knew the Polar Bears were in the hunt and understood how big her race was.
"I knew if Sofia and I stuck together, worked for each other and the team, and worked for those points, the team score would come along with it," Zagst said.
Zagst and Istnick made sure Jackson's team score was insurmountable. They helped clinch what is believed to be the second regional championship in Neitzelt's 47 years as head coach.
"He deserves every trophy he has earned," Istnick said. "I'm happy and blessed to be a part of it."
Reach Mike at mike.popovich@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @mpopovichREP
Automatic Stark County-area state qualifiers
BOYS
Shot put: 2, Carter Lewis (Alliance) 53-3.75; 4, Steve Arnold (Hoover) 51-6.
100: 4, Caleb Ruffin (McKinley) 10.85.
800 relay: 2, McKinley (Bri'Rell Pinkney, Braizhon Marshall, Colin Ruffin, Caleb Ruffin) 1:27.40.
1,600: 1, Blaze Fichter (Hoover) 4:17.10; 2, Noah Johnson (Hoover) 4:18.94.
400 relay: 3, McKinley (Da'Vontz Lewis, Braizhon Marshall, Davion Winston, Caleb Ruffin) 42.358.
300 hurdles: 2, Brendan Zurbrugg (Alliance) 38.41.
200: 4, Caleb Ruffin (McKinley) 22.01.
3,200: 2, Tommy Rice (GlenOak) 9:10.31; 3, Bobby Ganser (Louisville) 9:15.06.
GIRLS
Pole vault: 1 (tie), Kendal Fisher (Perry) 12-4; 4, Izzy Bernard (Jackson) 11-0.
Discus: 1, La'Kasja Edwards (Alliance) 145-4; 3, Leena Patibandla (Jackson) 130-0; 4, Maggie Hofner (Jackson) 123-7.
100: 2, Kendal Fisher (Perry) 12.32; 4, Brianna Ford (Massillon) 12.36.
800 relay: 4, GlenOak (Milana Leahy, Addison Hamm, Jenna Delp, Sydney Stepanovich) 1:44.25.
1,600: 2, Sofia Istnick (Jackson) 5:01.21.
400 relay: 3, Perry (Camille Neutzling, Grace Nelligan, Regan Elliott, Kendal Fisher) 49.26.
300 hurdles: 3, Camille Neutzling (Perry) 46.50.
3,200: 1, Sofia Istnick (Jackson) 11:00.10; 2, Kailey Zagst (Jackson) 11:06.14; 4, Chloe Dostal (Perry) 11:08.32.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Jackson girls track and field team races to regional championship
