DIVISION I TRACK Bland learns 'lesson' failing to retain her title

The Boardman sophomore is determined to learn a lesson from not repeating as state high jump champ.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DAYTON -- Amber Bland may be more impressive in defeat than in victory.
The Boardman sophomore failed to defend successfully her Division I state high jump title at Friday's state meet at Welcome Stadium. But Bland handled the misstep the same way she handles success: With grace and humility.
"Failing is the best way to make you stronger," Bland said. "I mean, everyone wants to be first, but you have to accept what happens. You don't accept losing, but you take it as a way to grow."
Bland jumped 5 feet, six inches to finish fourth. Kent Roosevelt sophomore Ali Borland jumped 5-8 to take first. Bland jumped 5-9 at state last year and jumped 5-10 at this year's district meet.
"I'm just going to take it as a lesson," Bland said. "It will help me push myself harder."
Bland, who qualified for today's 100-meter final, has run four events much of the year and has attended basketball camps on her off weekends.
"My body is exhausted," she said. "But I have to keep pushing myself. That's why I'm so strong. I still have another event and now I know what I have to do. I have to win the 100."
But, she added with a laugh, "I don't know how I'm going to do it."
Brager is fourth
Boardman junior Allison Brager extended her school pole vault record, vaulting 10-6 to finish fourth. After a mid-season slump, Brager has been strong in recent weeks.
The slump and her recent success have one thing in common: She can't explain either.
"I have no idea," Brager said with a laugh. "I think the slump came from a lack of practice. I was still concentrating on the 300 hurdles in the middle of the season. I've been so surprised lately. I've added a whole foot since districts."
Only one thing bothered her while preparing for the state meet this week -- she wasn't nervous.
"That made me nervous," she said. "But finally I woke up nervous this morning. I was just happy to get to state and I wanted to get on the podium. I honestly didn't expect to do this well."
Steele places fourth
Fitch senior Marian Steele closed out her strong career with a fourth place finish in the discus. She threw 139-0 -- one of the best throws of her career.
She brought one of her best friends to the meet, Fitch senior Ashley Jenkins, and had the support of her coaches, she said.
"I'm really excited," she said. "This is something unexplainable. When I walked in, I wasn't nervous but I started bombing my practice throws like 20 feet away. But I threw 136 on my first try and 139 on my second. That helped."
Boardman's 4x800 relay team of Brittany Durkin, Gina Mavrikis, Sarah Grabert and Monica Cuevas improved on last year's eighth place performance to finish fifth.
"Last year was so disappointing because we wanted to make it on the podium," Durkin said. "I just remember telling myself, 'Next year, we're going to make it up there.'
"I'm just really happy."
The top eight make it on the podium to earn All-Ohio honors. Last year, the top six made it on the podium.
"Last year was just a rehearsal for this year," Grabert said. "I just told myself during the race, 'Sarah, you'd better go.' I wasn't going to give up. I was saying, 'Monica, I'm coming to you.'"
From ninth to fifth
Cuevas took the Spartans from ninth to fifth.
"It was really hard, but you have to overcome your thoughts," Cuevas said. "I don't even realize I'm passing anyone."
Mavrikis is the relay's lone senior. The strong finish might have meant more to her than anyone else.
"It's just a great way to go out," Mavrikis, who will run at YSU, said. "As soon as we came in this morning, we felt more confident than last year. I'm going to miss it a lot because I've gotten so close to this team.
"But it's been a great season."
scalzo@vindy.com