DIVISION II REGIONAL TRACK Mooney's 4x800 relay team gains state

Stephanie Rosa, Valerie Zajac, Deanna Schorsten and Jessica Mazerik placed third in the regional.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
RAVENNA -- Mooney High's Stephanie Rosa, Valerie Zajac, Deanna Schorsten and Jessica Mazerik raced to a third-place finish in the 4x800 relay race at the Division II regional track and field meet Wednesday at the Ravenna High School stadium.
Their time was in 9:46.37.
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy took first place (9:36.64) and Perry was second (9:41.98).
Mooney's tremendous effort qualified the Cardinals for next week's state meet in Dayton. The top four in each event earned spots for state.
Rosa, a senior, said, "We've been aiming for this all year and we broke our school record by 15 seconds."
Mazerik, a senior, said, "We knew we had to go out hard because everybody here was good, and we knew we had to break 10 minutes to qualify for state."
Zajac, a junior, commented that, "We didn't want it to be the race for our seniors, because they have been in cross country and track since our freshman year and we wanted to do it for them."
The leading teams
Overall, Medina Buckeye and Woodridge lead the girls division after three events with 12 points apiece.
Cleveland Benedictine was in first place in the boys early standings with 19. Perry was second with 15 and Hubbard third with 11.
Hubbard High's Nyelia Page, a senior, will be making her third trip to state. She finished second in the shot put with a toss of 37 feet, 101/4 inches.
Last year's regional champ, Page has a career-best throw of 38 feet, 101/2 inches. Kelley Moore of Bay Village won with a toss of (38-2).
"I am happy I'm going back to state, but I wanted to be cocky and be first at region," Page said. "My goal at state will be to place in the top six, and I'll need a throw of 39-40 feet to do that."
Other standouts
Maria Mancino of Poland High cleared 5 feet, 2 inches to place fourth in the high jump.
East Palestine's senior Alex Casi, who was trying to qualify for state for the fourth straight year, earned spots in the regional finals in the 100, 200 and 300 hurdles, and will be a contender in the long jump.
Sophomore Shaun Lane of Hubbard earned a spot in the long jump, leaping 20 feet, 113/4 inches for third place.
"I worked hard all season and it paid off," Lane said. "It was the first time I beat my teammate this season [Anthony Smith] and I did it when it counted most.
"It means a lot to me to make it to Dayton, and you know, I have two more years and plan to make it a routine," Lane said.
Adam Chatman of Ursuline, a senior, qualified for Friday's finals with the best times in the 110 hurdles (14.39) and 300 hurdles (38.57.
Friday's finals will start at 5 p.m.
"I felt comfortable in reaching the finals in both hurdles," Chatman said. "I was just trying to qualify and I'll turn it up a notch Friday."
Wilson's Edward Fetuah, a junior, reached the finals with the top qualifying times of 22.16 in the 200 meters and 50.17 for the 400.