DIVISION II TRACK AND FIELD East Palestine's relay team wins

The Bulldogs' 4x800 relay team won a regional title to advance to the state meet.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
RAVENNA -- Three individuals and a pair of relay teams earned berths for the Division II state track and field meet at Dayton next week.
They competed in the regional meet Wednesday at Ravenna High Stadium, with the top four in each event advancing.
Jacquie Travis of Struthers took second place in the high jump as she cleared 5 feet, 2 inches.
Her best effort this season has been 5-6.
McKenzie Wallace, Melanie Kiko, Julia Bloss and Lisa Davies of West Branch placed fourth in the 4x800-meter relay in 9 minutes, 43.7 seconds.
Wallace said, "We broke our school record by nine seconds, so were a little excited about going to state.
"We'll run as fast as we can, have fun and try to be in the top eight and stand on the podium," said Wallace.
Bulldogs set record
East Palestine's Joe Rettig, Matt Linsley, Craig McGraw and Aaron Allison took first place in the boys 4x800 relay in 8:07.4. The Bulldogs broke their school record by 14 seconds.
John Daubenspeck, East Palestine's coach said, "Our whole focus was on the relay. We talked about how to run the race, where to be and how to attack each phase.
"We knew we had a chance to score, but we didn't know we would win. That was beyond our dreams."
Junior Dave Sedlacko of Struthers placed third in the discus with a throw of 144-8.
He earned a trip to the 2002 state meet in the shot put, an event he's entered in Friday.
"I threw a couple of times in the 140-foot range," said Sedlacko. "Everything felt good on my throws in the first round.
"It's nice to make a return trip to state and I'll try and keep things consistent."
Switches to track
Junior Anthony Barnes of Newton Falls said he went out for track this season because he became bored with baseball.
What he accomplished was a second place (20-103/4) finish in the long jump in the regional, which was his best-ever effort.
"I knew I had potential in some track events, but it's hard to achieve something like that," said Barnes.
"Without my coach [George Tomaino], I couldn't have done it."
Tomaino said he is glad to have Barnes on his team.
"We saw him at football. He has good speed, natural athleticism, a determined attitude, doesn't like to lose and takes track seriously," said Tomaino
"To come to this level the first year and jump as well as he did today shows the type of athlete he is against the region's top competitors."
The top teams
Bay Village led the girls scoring with 16 points. Huron was second with 12 and Medina Buckeye was third with 11.
Garfield Heights Trinity led the boys scoring with 30 points. Newton Falls and Perry were tied for second with 11.