Highlights From the 2025 Horizon League Outdoor Championships
5/12/2025 12:15:00 PM | Track and Field
The Youngstown State men's and women's track and field teams earned Horizon League Outdoor Championships during a great three-day event hosted in Youngstown at the Covelli Sports Complex and the YSU Throwing area.
League Honors
- Men's Champions – Hunter Christopher (10,000m), Luke Laubacher (110m hurdles), Lukas Lang (pole vault), Connor Durig (high jump), Owen Brady (5000m), Trenton Shutters (800m), Sage Vavro (steeplechase) and the 4x100m.
- Men's Runner-Up Finishes – Michael Ballone (400m Hurdles), Jake Mcentyre (200m), Clancy Chrystal (110m Hurdles), Aaron Berardinelli (triple jump), Owen Brady (steeplechase), Luke Laubacher (long jump), Jaden Kirkwood (shot put), Coleson Kertesz (discus)
- Women's Champions – Mariah Day (100m), Nia Williams-Matthews (triple jump) and Ainsley Hamsher (pole vault).
- Women's Runner-Up Finishes – Melody Harloff (400m), Emily Bee (100m hurdles/heptathlon), Jenna Razavi (steeplechase), McKinley Fielding (10,000m), Krista Perry (discus).
- Men's Award Winners – Michael Ballone (Freshman Running Athlete of the Meet), Head Coach Brian Gorby (Coach of the Year)
- Women's Award Winners – Mariah Day (Freshman Running Athlete of the Meet), Head Coach Brian Gorby (Coach of the Year)
Men's Horizon League Championship Notes
- The men's team raced to their sixth straight league title and ninth overall, scoring the third-highest point total in program history with 281 points and winning by an impressive 140-point margin. That margin was the biggest difference in Horizon League history eclipsing the previous total of 137 set by YSU in 2019.
- Won eight event titles (pole vault, 110m hurdles, high jump, 800m, steeplechase, 5000m, 10,000m and the 4x100m relay) and had eight runner-up performances.
- The Penguins scored 28 points on day one, 65 on day two and a whopping 188 on the final day.
- The Guins scored 26 in the 110m hurdles, 25 in the steeplechase, 23 in the high jump, 22 in the shot put, 21 in the 200m, 19 in the 400m hurdles, 19 in the 5000m, 18 in the 5000m, 18 in the 10,000m and 17 in the pole vault showing great versatility.
- School-records - Christopher (10,000m) and 4x400m relay team (broke a 21-year-old record). Vavro and Mcentyre clocked second-fastest times in the steeplechase and the 200m.
- YSU scored at least 200 points for the eighth straight event.
- Luke Laubacher won his fourth straight 110m hurdles championship – a first-ever at the league meet. He is one of just 14 athletes all time to be a four-time single-event champion.
- Hunter Christopher repeated as the 10,000m champion.
- YSU has won eight straight 110m hurdle titles.
- YSU has won eight straight pole vault titles.
- YSU has won four straight high jump titles.
- The Guins won their first 5,000m since 2014, first steeplechase since 2015, first 4x100m since 2019 and first 800m since 2022.
- Brian Gorby was named the Coach of the Year for the ninth time in his career.
Women's Horizon League Championship Notes
- The women won for the 16th time overall, 10th time in the last 11 years and 11th time in the last 13 meets. YSU has finished first or second in every outdoor meet held since 2004.
- The Guins scored 190.5 points in the meet, a 60.5 jump from the 2024 outdoor meet. The Penguins scored 33 points on day one, 68.5 on day two and a whopping 89 on the final day.
- YSU won three event titles (100m, pole vault and triple jump).
- Posted runner-up finishes in the pole vault, 400m, discus, 10,000m, 100m hurdles, heptathlon and steeplechase.
- Bee set the school record in the heptathlon and the 100m hurdles.
- YSU has won 14 straight Horizon League 100m races dating back to 2011.
- The Guins have won five straight pole vault titles.
- YSU has won three straight triple jump titles.
Players Mentioned
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Multis
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and FieldPole Vault
/ Track and FieldSprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and FieldThrows
/ Track and FieldPole Vault
/ Track and Field
Hurdles
/ Track and Field
Sprints
/ Track and Field
Throws
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Distance
/ Track and Field
Jumps
/ Track and FieldWednesday, February 04
Wednesday, January 21
Wednesday, January 21
