ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Kaila Barber Midpark Junior, 300-meter hurdles
Madeline Chambers.
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(The Plain Dealer)
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Kaila Barber
Midpark Junior, 300-meter hurdles
College: Undecided.
Notable: Barber won the Division I state 300-meter hurdles in 42.04, and the long jump with a leap of 19-8 1.4. She was third in the 100 and anchored the fifth-place 4x400 relay. As an individual, she contributed 26 of third-place Midpark's 31 team points.
OTHER ALL-STARS
Mary Bridges
North Olmsted Senior, discus
College: Cincinnati.
Notable: As her school's lone state qualifier, Bridges finished second in the Division I discus with a toss of 144-2. She won the Amherst regional with a 142-9.
Taylor Burke
Medina Junior, high jump
College: Undecided.
Notable: Burke defended her Division I state championship with a Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium record jump of 5-11. She won in 2009 with a 5-9 jump. In 2008, she was seventh as a freshman.
Erin Busbee
Collinwood Senior, long jump
College: Michigan recruit.
Notable: Scoring 29 individual points for the Division II state champion Railroaders, Busbee won the long jump in 19-3 3.4, finished second in the 100, third in the 200 and fourth in the high jump.
Madeline Chambers
Magnificat Senior, 1,600
College: Georgetown recruit.
Notable: Chambers won the Division I state 1,600 for the second straight year, this time in 4:47.37. Maintained dominance by winning at district and regional.
Beckie Famurewa
Brecksville Junior, shot put
College: Undecided.
Notable: Famurewa finished second in the Division I state shot put at 42-11, and third in the discus at 136-4. Dueled against two-event state champion Ali Tolich of Austintown Fitch through district and regional.
Rachel Hlatky
Magnificat Sophomore, 200
College: Undecided.
Notable: Qualifying in three Division I state events, Hlatky finished fourth in the 200, eighth in the 100 and anchored the 4x400 relay. She won the 200 at district and regional.
KaChay Hullum
Buchtel Senior, 400
College: Ohio State recruit.
Notable: Hullum won the Division I state 400 in 54.67, and anchored the winning 4x200 relay. She was sixth in the 200 and anchored the 4x400 relay. She won the 400 at the Austintown regional.
Hannah Neczypor
North Royalton Junior, 3,200
College: Undecided.
Notable: After winning the Division I state 3,200 as a sophomore in 10:39.92, Neczypor finished third this year in 10:51.82, five seconds off the pace. She was third as a freshman. She won the Amherst regional.
Brianna Neitzel
Brunswick Sophomore, 100
College: Undecided.
Notable: As Brunswick's lone state qualifier, Neitzel finished fourth in the Division I 400 and fifth in the 100 in her first trip to Columbus. She won the 400 at the Amherst regional.
JeRica Sanders
Lake Catholic Junior, 100 hurdles
College: Undecided.
Notable: Sanders won the Division II state 100 hurdles for the second straight year, edging Collinwood's Amber Smith with a 14.29. Finished fourth in the 300 hurdles.
Amber Smith
Collinwood Senior, relays
College: Michigan recruit.
Notable: Smith was a mainstay for the Division II state champion Railroaders, anchoring the record-tying 4x200 relay and winning the 300 hurdles in a meet-record 42.94. Finished second in the 100 hurdles and fifth in the long jump.
Alex Wasik
Medina Junior, pole vault
College: Undecided.
Notable: Wasik finished second in the Division I state pole vault with a personal-best 11-8 in her first trip to Columbus. She won the Amherst regional with a 10-8.
Natalie Zidd
Highland Sophomore, 800
College: Undecided.
Notable: Zidd won the Division I 800 in 2:10.36 as her school's lone representative at the state meet. Also won at the district and regional. Finished third at state as a freshman.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Lou Slapnik
Collinwood
Notable: Slapnik added his first Division II state title to go with eight Division I state championships. During his 17-year coaching career at Collinwood, he produced 41 event state champions. All of his teams have scored points at the state meet. Collinwood won its 17th straight Jesse Owens City Championship this past season. A retired physicaleducation teacher, he retired from his coaching position at the end of the season.