BOYS TRACK ROUNDUP Nemergut gets third in Div. III 3200 race

The South Range standout is just a sophomore.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DAYTON -- Don't judge Dan Nemergut by his age. Judge him by his results.
"It really doesn't matter what grade you're in," said Nemergut, a South Range High sophomore. "It just matters what you've got inside of you and how long you've been training."
Competing in his first individual event at the Division III state track and field meet, Nemergut ran to a third-place finish in the 3200 Saturday at Welcome Stadium.
Nemergut picked up his pace late in the race to finish in 9 minutes, 44.91 seconds, behind Stryker's Braden Martinez (9:23.68) and New Riegel's Jason Bumb (9:42.95).
"I was just trying to get on the podium," said Nemergut, who competed on the Raiders' 4x800 state-qualifying relay last season. "I had a surge on the seventh lap, and I thought I might as well take it."
Also joining Nemergut on the podium Saturday was South Range senior Jim Kusiowski, who finished fifth in the 800 (1:57.38).
Golden bonus
Warren Kennedy junior Shane Golden ran track for the first time this season to prepare for football. Qualifying for the state meet happened to be a bonus, and finishing second in the 200 (22.53) was even better.
Jackson-Milton junior Luke McCluggage fell short of a state title as he placed third in the 1600 (4:23.66).
"I went out to win. If you run to win and you don't, it's better than running for second," said McCluggage, who was 12th in the event last season.
McCluggage placed ahead of Maplewood senior Terry Rush, who was seventh (4:28.60).
Don't be surprised to see Mineral Ridge sophomore Levi Leigh back at the state meet in the next two years. Another of the area's young talents finished eighth in the 110 hurdles (15.79).
"I don't think much about it," the first-time qualifier said of the state atmosphere. "Warren Harding has bigger facilities than this, but it's nice to get in front of the fans. There's more people here than the whole town of Mineral Ridge."
Division II
Ursuline sophomore Derrick Stewart is the grandson of the late Willie Davenport, a former Olympic gold medalist from Howland.
Davenport would have been proud of Stewart, who finished third in the 300 hurdles (38.79).
"This is my first year running hurdles, so I didn't know what I could do," Stewart said. "I never thought I'd make it to state, but everyone was telling me that I was capable of doing this."
Injuries sidelined Girard senior Jeriel Harrison all of last season.
Watching teammate Cachet Murray sprint to victories motivated Harrison to get back on the track and qualify for state. He finished fifth in the 200 (22.27) and eighth in the 100 (11.18).
Harrison was edged in the 100 by Campbell Memorial junior Darrin Johnson, who ran 11.09.
Division I
Boardman junior Mark Lipinsky wasn't sure how far his abilities would carry him in the 110 hurdles. He won the district and finished fourth at the regional before finishing third in the state meet (14.53).
Woodrow Wilson senior Ed Fetuah was eighth in the 400 (50.64), while Howland senior George Fetchko finished fifth in the discus (172-7).