OPTIMIST TRACK Hoover, Heightscapturecrowns

Steve Vallos of Boardman won the discus while Christen Clemson of Maplewood win the shot put and discus.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- As expected, the powerful Cleveland Heights Beaumont girls team successfully defended its title at the Optimist track and field meet at Fitch High's Falcon Stadium Saturday.
Beaumont scored 84 points, while Cleveland Collinwood was second and Boardman was third with 421/2.
North Canton Hoover ran away with the boys championship with 901/2 points. Canton GlenOak was second with 75 and last year's winner, Cleveland Glenville, was third with 56. The Rayen School and Fitch tied for seventh with 301/2 points each.
Vallos triumphs: Steve Vallos of Boardman took first place in the discus with a throw of 162 feet, 8 inches. Ahead going into the finals, he improved on each of his three tosses.
Scott Kyser of Leetonia was second at 155-6.
"He [Kyser] had beaten me three times this season, so I am getting better," said Vales. "I wanted to improve on each of my final throws, because I knew he could always throw one out there and that kept pressure on me."
Maplewood's Dave Morrison, John Palmer, Derek Armstrong and Dave Pykare won the 4x800-meter relay in 8 minutes, 1 second. Canton GlenOak was a close second (8:02.4).
"You got to fight if they [GlenOak] challenge. You fight and they fall back," said Pykare. "This was our best effort so far.
"We are looking forward to the district, run the best race we can and take it one step at a time."
Dennis Reed of Rayen placed third in the 110 high hurdles in 14.7 seconds. Derrick Williams of GlenOak was first (14.0).
"I was a little shaky at the start, but by the third hurdle I begin to pick it up a little bit," said Reed.
"Coming into the race I knew he [Williams] was ranked third in the nation and I just wanted to stay with him and do my best."
Reed finished fourth in the 300 hurdles, in 40.2. Williams won in a record time of 36.8.
Clemson cops pair: The area's only double winner was Christen Clemson of Maplewood. She won the shot put (36-111/4) and the discus (135-0).
"I had a good day, there were a lot of good throwers here," said Clemons. "The shot was my best effort this season.
"My warm ups went well in the discus and I wanted to hit 140. I didn't and that's the way things go. This kind of competition is to see who is the best and if you can beat them, that means you're the good one."
South Range's Kim and Julie Nemergut finished second (11:36.5) and fifth (12:12.2), respectively, in the 3200. Maggie Infeld of Beaumont won in 11:24.8.
"I just wanted to stay with the Beaumont girl," said Kim Nemergut. "She had better times coming in then I did."
"I am excited about fifth place," added Julie Nemergut. "When you are ahead in fifth place, you don't want anyone coming up and beating you."
Boardman sophomore Monica Cuevas finished second in the 400 (59.02), behind Laquae Jones of Massillon (58.56).
"I was a little nervous, worked hard, gave it everything I had and did my very best," said Cuevas.