Firestone senior Nate Julien is running toward what he hopes is his second Division I state meet this school year.
Julien competed in the cross country state meet in November and would love to conclude his senior year in the track and field state meet in June.
Julien looked the part last Saturday when he won three events to lead Firestone's boys team to its ninth consecutive City Series track and field championship at Ellet's George Auten Athletic Complex.
The Falcons girls team won its second City Series track and field championship in a row with sophomore Xyia West placing first in both throwing events.
"It says something when you are boys and girls City Series champions," Julien said. "It shows that Firestone is running the city again."
Firestone returns to competition Wednesday and Friday in the Division I district meet at Nordonia's Boliantz Stadium.
Akron cross country coverage in 2022: Nate Julien and Soraya Ledley lead Firestone to City Series cross country championships
Julien started his Saturday in the City Series championship with a victory in the 3,200-meter relay with fellow seniors Mason Brady, Quinn Hopkins and Will Potts in a time of 8:16.72.
Julien then added victories in the 1,600 meters in 4:47.71 and the 800 in 2:02.94.
"The 4x8, that was a season best time for our team," Julien said. "Everybody on our boys team ran great. … I executed the mile perfectly and the 800 perfectly. It was fun going one-two with Quinn in the 800."
The Firestone boys team scored 164 points . Buchtel finished second with 137 points, Garfield was third with 74 points and Ellet took fourth with 61 points.
Firestone junior David Burkholder contributed a victory in the 3,200 in 10:26.34 and sophomore Jaymion Jones won the long jump in 20 feet, 4¼ inches.
Akron track and field coverage in 2022: Firestone wins City Series girls and boys track and field championships
"Once again, we truly had a great team effort," Firestone boys coach Eric Mitchell said. "They understand that when they get on the track we need contributions from everybody with the chance to score. Our distance guys have carried us all year. Nate Julien, Quinn Hopkins, Mason Brady, Will Potts, David Burkholder and the young Eli Dunlap — those guys have grown and continue to step up tremendously.
"Jaymion Jones won the long jump and finished second in the high jump [to Garfield junior Markeise Smith]. Mario Jones was second in the long jump and ran on the second-place 4x2 relay. … This goes to show that the overall team effort at Firestone over the years continues to carry us in the City Series championship meet."
Dunlap, a freshman, finished second in the 1,600 and the 3,200.
Akron cross country coverage in 2021: Nate Julien and Freedom Stauffer guide Firestone to City Series cross country championships
West placed first in the shot put (33-1¼) and discus (84-7).
"I am grateful to be able to pursue my passion," West said. "I have been doing track and field for a while. Coming here and getting these wins feels really amazing.
"Firestone track and field is something different. We are really a family here. I know I can go to my teammates whenever I need them. We have amazing coaches on staff that are always pushing us to strive for greatness."
The Firestone girls team scored 169 points . Buchtel finished second with 105 points, Ellet was third (72) and Garfield fourth (67).
Firestone won five girls events on the track: the 3,200 relay (11:13.77), 1,600 ( senior Ella Julien , 5:56.95), 300 hurdles (sophomore Alyssa Williams, 47.32), 3,200 (sophomore Reese Brady, 13:45.85) and 1,600 relay (4:30.19).
Brady joined Rosie LaVictoire, Soraya Ledley and Sarah Schueler on the 3,200 relay. The 1,600 relay featured Williams, Ledley, Cheyenne Lee and Kalese Vinson.
Firestone first-year girls coach Janelle Harris was happy with the team effort.
"The girls showed a lot of grit and a lot of stepping up to the plate when we needed them to," said Harris, a 2015 Firestone graduate who was a Division I state placer in the long jump as a senior under her maiden name, Perry.
"We don't always have to come out with the win, but collectively as a team, if we get those second-, third- and fourth-place finishes we can still come out on top, and that is what we did."
Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Firestone wins Akron City Series track and field championships
