ELLIS SWEEPS THROWING EVENTS AT NTL COACHES' INVITE

By: Chris Manning  /  May 14, 2021  /  Photo: David Alliger

ATHENS — Coming into the NTL Coaches’ Invitational, Athens senior Asher Ellis had one goal — sweep the throwing events. He was the top seed for all three, and only had one loss during the season.

“My goal was to win every event this year,” explained Ellis. “And I almost got it, I lost at Troy — one event.”

On Friday, though, there would be no second place for him, as he won the shot put (46-feet, 5 3/4-inches), discus (141-feet, 10-inches), and javelin (166-feet, 1-inch) — all by comfortable margins.

“It was good,” said Ellis. “The last home meet… I had to put everything out there. I’m going to miss it.”

He accounted for half of Athens’ wins on Friday, with the only other individual champion being freshman Ryan Lasusa (53.57) in the 400.

The Wildcat 4x400 relay of junior Kyle Anthony, Lasusa, junior Justin Lynch, and junior Ryan Thompson won in 3:40.37, while the 4x800 relay of Anthony, senior Connor Dahl, junior Matt Gorsline, and Lynch won in 8:46.25.

In the 200, senior Joey Toscano (24.87) was fourth, and Lasusa (25.41) came in eighth. Thompson (55.57) was seventh in the 400.

Three different Wildcats medaled in the 800 with Anthony (2:05.87) third, Lynch (2:09.64) fifth, and sophomore Ethan Denlinger (2:18.16) eighth.

Dahl (4:48.47) was fourth in the 1600, and junior Sander Bertsch (5:15.46) came in sixth.

Gorsline (10:47.74) was second in the 3200, with Dahl (11:10.96) fifth, and Izaac Hobday (12:08.12) sixth.

Levi Kuhns (17.88) was second in the 110 hurdles.

The Athens 4x100 relay of Kuhns, Thompson, Toscano, and sophomore Jaden Wright was fourth in 47.72.

Senior Ian Wright (42-feet, 3 1/2-inches) was fourth in the shot put, and also took third in the discus in 121-feet, 1-inch. Lucas Aquilio (106-feet, 9-inches) was eighth in the discus.

Asher will now get ready for the District IV Championships, where he will likely be either the top seed, or in the top three, for all his events.

“I’m going to go for all three,” he said. “It’s all technique. I just have to hit my steps, everything has got to be smooth.”

The District IV Championships are Thursday and Saturday at Williamsport High School.