DIVISION I Harding enjoys good day

Treymayne Warfield plus the 4x100 and 4x400 relays qualified for today's Division I finals.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DAYTON -- Reality set in for Warren Harding High's Treymayne Warfield and Tjawonkher Davis.
Upon arriving at the state track and field meet Friday at Welcome Stadium, the two Raiders took a moment to enjoy the experience and bask in their destination.
"He looked at me and I looked at him," Warfield said. "We shook our heads and smiled."
It was that kind of day for Warren Harding, which qualified Warfield in the 400-meter run and its 4x100 and 4x400 relays for today's Division I finals.
A junior making his first trip to state, Warfield finished third in his heat with a time of 49.46 seconds. The top four runners in each heat qualify for the finals.
Made his move
Warfield made his move around the 200 mark, finishing behind Middletown's Dennis Gates (49.28) and Clayton Northmont's John D'Arcy (49.37).
Warfield said he was nervous "since last night when I ate dinner. I didn't know what to expect."
The Raiders kept things light on the eve of the meet, sitting around the hotel, making jokes and looking forward to the competition.
"Now I know what it's like," Warfield said. "It's just like any other race."
Because he focused on baseball, Warfield didn't run track as a freshman. However, Warren Harding track and field coach Dan Reardon talked Warfield into getting back on the track. Turns out, it was a good decision.
As the anchor, Warfield capped Warren Harding's 4x400 qualifying run of 3:20.49. Preceding him were Rob Massucci, Mike Simpson and Antwaun Molden.
"We tried to climb that mountain and we did it," said Molden, who still missed qualifying in the 300 hurdles (38.85). "It was a long way, but we're at the top now."
Running the Raiders' 4x100 relay into the finals in 42.62 were Massucci, Simpson, Richard Davis and Tjawonkher Davis.
Travis Stanford was scheduled to run on each relay, but he missed Friday's competition, electing to take the ACT test.
"One more day," Molden said. "All we have to do is finish it."
Third again
Boardman senior Steve Vallos finished third in the discus for the second straight year.
A Wake Forest football recruit, Vallos threw 173 feet, 8 inches, behind state champion Mike D'Andrea of Avon Lake (190-5), an Ohio State football recruit, and Cleveland St. Ignatius' Ryan Franzinger (189-4), last year's state champion.
"It was a lot better," Vallos said of his experience this year. "Evan [Beard] was here, and I threw a little bit farther. I didn't think anyone was going to catch those kids [D'Andrea and Franzinger]."
Beard's best finish came in the discus (eighth, 158-4). He was 15th in the shot put (50-111/2). The Spartans' Brian Zorman was 11th in the pole vault (13-6).
The City Series was represented by Chaney junior Cameron Widget, who placed eighth in the long jump (22-11/2).
"I was happy about just being able to make it to state, with all I've been through," Widget said.
Widget has been plagued by an injured left quadricep, through which he persevered.
"Making it to state is big-time," he said. "I like to win and all, but a lot of people don't even make it."
Area Div. I boys who did not qualify for the finals included Davis in the 100 (11.18) and Fitch's Davanzo Tate in the 200 (22.59).