In+the+News

= = ** States Update: ** 2012-06-02, Sarah ran a 11:08.54 in the 3200m at [|OHSAA State Track and Field Championship], placing 10th! Sarah ended her year with State CC Ranking of 24th:


 * 24. || 12 || [|Sarah Meek] || 18:49.11 || OH || [|FSTN] || Nov 5 || [|OHSAA Division I State...] ||

= = = //Dedication, and great work ethic have winning results! // = ===Sarah Meek won a regional title in the 3,200 meters at Austintown Fitch in a time of 11:13.02 on Friday, May 25th ===

She moves on to the State competition in Columbus, this coming weekend - Go Sarah!
===@http://www.sportsink.com/259/5119/firestones-meek-wins-3200-meters-at-div.-i-regional/Default.aspx@http://www.ohio.com/news/top-stories/austintown-division-i-regional-track-firestone-s-sarah-meek-dances-on-to-state-meet-1.309728 === Website for info on State Meet: @http://www.ohsaa.org/sports/tf/default.asp

@http://www.ohio.com/sports/high-school/crestwood-boys-tallmadge-girls-win-kent-track-meet-1.295360 @http://www.sportsink.com/259/4930/crestwood-boys-tallmadge-girls-win-kent-invite-titles/Default.aspx **43rd Annual Kent Rough Rider Invitational April 2012** //The top three finishers Friday in the girls 1,600 at the 43rd annual Kent Rough Rider Invitational (from left):// //Firestone's Sarah Meek (1st place), Kent's Libby Bradford (2nd place), Field's Rachel Salberg (3rd place).//
 * Articles on Rider Inv:**

Firestone senior Sarah Meek also won two individual events and did so in dominant fashion. Last fall, Meek became the first City Series girl in 10 years to qualify for the state cross country meet and her championship form has carried over to the 1,600 (5:16) and 3,200 (11:23) meters. “I love representing Akron Public Schools because I think they have great athletes in them, but I wouldn’t say I’m the only one carrying the banner – that’s for sure,” she said. Meek is choosing between Malone University and Geneva College and believes that by concentrating on improving her times she’ll achieve her goals for the season.

// By Michael Beaven, Beacon Journal, Published: November 4, 2011 - 12:32 AM // Firestone senior Sarah Meek will end a couple of streaks Saturday afternoon when she competes in the Division I girls state cross country meet in Hebron. Meek is the first runner from the Akron Public Schools to advance to the state cross country meet since Ellet’s Leo Kormanik finished 10th in the 2000 Division I boys meet. Buchtel’s Raynadia Grant was the last APS female to advance to the state cross country meet when she did so in 1994, and Megan Feeney was Firestone’s last state qualifier in the sport in 1991. “This is really exciting,” said Meek, who has a 4.2 cumulative grade-point average. “I am glad to be able to represent the Akron Public Schools like that. There are great athletes that run in the public schools.” This season, Meek won the City Series title (19:53) and the district title (19:30.69) at Goodyear Heights Metro Park in Akron. She finished third in the mud at the Boardman regional meet in 20:06.80. “We are all excited for Sarah,” Falcons girls cross country coach Malia Tschantz said. “She has fought for this opportunity since she was 14. It’s wonderful to see her faith and drive get her to the state championship meet.” Meek’s personal best time, 19:01, came earlier this season at the Tiffin Invitational. “My goal is to go out there at state and have fun,” Meek said. “There is nothing after state. I am just going there to go for my PR, break 19 [minutes] and be competitive, of course. I have to keep my focus. This year has been my best year.” After this weekend, Meek will turn her attention to track and field. She reached the Division I regional meet in the 3,200 meters after running a career-best 11:35 at the district meet. Her top time in the 1,600 is 5:27 at the City Series Championships. “Sarah loves to run and that’s what makes her a great runner,” Falcons girls track and field coach Tim Carroll said. “She trained hard all winter and into the spring last year and had a great deal of success at the city and district meets. I expect her to make it to the regional meet again this year and qualify for state. I know she is in great shape and I’m proud of what she has done this cross country season.”
 * http://www.ohio.com/sports/high-school/firestone-s-sarah-meek-ends-long-drought-for-akron-public-schools-at-state-cross-country-meet-1.243628 **
 * Firestone’s Sarah Meek ends long drought for Akron Public Schools **
 * at state cross country meet **

[] **Congratulations Sarah!** Congratulations to Firestone senior Sarah Meek (20:06.80) she is state-bound with a third-place finish at the Boardman Regional qualifier last Saturday – racing through the mud! The top four teams and 16 individuals in each division advance to state meet Saturday, November 5, at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.

@http://www.ohio.com/sports/firestone-runs-to-city-series-titles-again-1.240409 =Firestone runs to City Series titles again= By Michael Beaven, Special to the Beacon Journal; Published: October 16, 2011 - 12:10 AM Firestone continued its cross country reign over City Series opponents on Saturday morning at Goodyear Heights Metro Park. Seniors Claude Christensen-Diehl and Sarah Meek won the boys and girls individual titles, respectively, to guide both Falcons teams to overall team titles. Firestone placed seven in the top 11 of the girls race and seven in the top 12 of the boys race. “We ran pretty well,” Falcons boys coach Tim Carroll said. “The kids went out there and competed. They didn’t let the weather bother them. This is actually pretty good running weather, but it was a little bit windy. “The kids ran hard. They faced some tough competition from other kids in the City, especially from the East team. They responded well to it.” The Falcons boys won their ninth consecutive City Series title and 10th in 11 years with 22 points. East took second with 43 points. The Falcons girls won their second City title in a row by scoring 28 points. Ellet was second with 38 points. “This is really exciting,” Falcons girls coach Malia Tschantz said. “Last year we got it by only one point because a few girls had a rough day. They definitely learned how to deal with injuries this year. “They stayed confident and they worked together as a team. They hang out a lot and are really a family. The seniors are great and really lead the team.” Christensen-Diehl completed the 3.1-mile course in 18 minutes and five seconds. “I loved the weather today,” Christensen-Diehl said. “It is 50 degrees. It is perfect. I was ready for this race. I was a little nervous. East gave us some competition. I felt good this race. I felt strong.” Meek finished in 18:05. “I would like have to run a little faster on this course, but for today I am happy with my time because of the cold weather and not having anyone to pace off,” Meek said. “My goal today was to focus and run my pace. I think I definitely achieved that and ran pretty consistent.” Falcons senior Arian Daneshvar finished second in the boys race at 18:16. “Claude and Arian have worked hard all year and really challenged each other,” Carroll said. “When you have some of the hardest-working kids on the team who just love to run, they usually do the best for you. Those kids have done really well this year.” East seniors Kyle Stanley and Chaz Lewis placed third and fourth. Firestone sophomores Jacob Petry and Quin Gilbert were fifth and sixth. Junior Nick White (eighth), senior David Petry (ninth) and senior Evan Yetter (12th) were also solid. “The team has been working really hard,” Daneshvar said. “Coach Carroll picked us up a couple of years ago when we lost a bunch of seniors. He took this team, he pushed us and he made us into something really good.” Buchtel sophomore Ciandre Johnson was seventh. East seniors David Powell and Matt Waldsmith were 10th and 11th. Meek easily pulled away from the field, with Kristi Kester of Ellet finishing second in the girls’ race at 21:39. “Sarah has gotten a lot more confident and she understands the art of running,” Tschantz said. “She has a very strong passion.” Firestone senior Claire Hardman placed third and Buchtel freshman Simone Green was fourth. Ellet’s Cayce Pasko and Mikhayla Callahan were fifth and sixth. Falcons finished seventh through 11th in this order: junior Brooke Morgan, sophomore Angel Standard, senior Lauren Herr, senior Holden Simon and junior Erin Glotzer. “I am excited,” Hardman said. “We have a really great team this year. We are all very close and have worked hard together. This is a good feeling.”
 * [[image:claude.jpg width="150" height="205" caption="Claude Wins individual Title"]] || [[image:http://www.ohio.com/polopoly_fs/1.240403.1318734636%21/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_270/image.jpg width="204" height="206" align="left" caption="Claude and Arian"]] || [[image:claire.jpg width="150" height="198" caption="Sarah Wins Individual Title"]] ||

@http://www.sportsink.com/259/4108/firestone-falcons-cross-country-sweeps-city-series/Default.aspx (10/15/2011) Firestone Falcons cross country sweeps City Series By JOE JASTRZEMSKI Firestone's Claude Christiansen-Diehl posted a time of 18:05 (5K) to win the overall City Series cross country championship and led the Falcons to the team title.

AKRON, Ohio -- It was a clean sweep for Firestone at the City Series cross country meet at Saturday at Goodyear Metro Park. The Firestone boys, undefeated in the regular season, won their ninth consecutive City Series title. The Falcons placed six runners in the top 10 as they easily defeated East for the City Series title. “It means a lot to us,” Firestone coach Tim Carroll said. “The city kids really challenged us. It was not easy. The East kids really came after us. They were on us the whole race.” It was a cold, windy morning for the runners, but Carroll said his team was not intimidated by the conditions. “We run in all kinds of weather. The wind may have held us back a little bit, but the temperature was fine.” Leading the way for the Falcons was senior Claude Christensen-Diehl, who posted a time of 18:05 for the 3.1-mile race. Senior Arian Daneshvar was second, just 11 seconds behind. East’s Kyle Stanley was third and Chaz Lewis was fourth. “I loved the weather today,” said Christiansen-Diehl. “I was ready for the race, though I was a bit nervous. I felt strong going up the hill.” Christiansen-Diehl took the lead about 1,200 meters from the finish line. On the girls side, the Lady Falcons made it back-to-back City Series championships. Leading the way was senior Sarah Meek, who captured her second individual championship, running a 19:53. Finishing second was Kristi Kester of Ellet at 21.39. Firestone’s Claire Hardman finished third. “I wanted to run a bit faster” said Meek. “It was difficult because of the cold and I had no one to pace after. My goal today was to focus and run at my own pace.” Meek grabbed the lead about 600 meters into the race and stretched it out quickly. Firestone girls coach Malia Tschantz called the championship “exciting.” “Last year we won by only one point,” Tschantz said. “This year, they learned how to push through things. They stayed confident and worked together as a team.” Regarding Meek, Tschantz said: “Sarah has gotten a lot more confident and she understands the art of running now.” 1. Firestone 22, 2. East 43, 3. Ellet 97, 4. Buchtel 110, 5. Kenmore 136, 6. Garfield 154, 7. North 185. 1. Claude Christiansen-Diehl (Firestone) 18:05, 2. Arian Daneshvar (Firestone) 18:16, 3. Kyle Stanley (East) 18:34, 4. Chaz Lewis (East) 18:42, 5. Jacob Petry (Firestone) 18:47. 1. Firestone 28, 2. Ellet 38, 3. Buchtel 83, 4. East 103, 5. North 149, 6. Kenmore 155. 1. Sarah Meek (Firestone) 19:53, 2. Kristi Kester (Ellet) 21:39, 3. Claire Hardman (Firestone) 22:01, 4. Simone Green (Buchtel) 22:48, 5. Cayce Pasko (Ellet) 23:03.
 * AKRON CITY SERIES CROSS COUNTRY MEET**
 * Boys Team Standings:**
 * Boys Individual:**
 * Girls Team:**
 * Girls Individual:**