DIVISION III TRACK Handoffs key for Lisbon's 4x100 champs

The Blue Devils felt confident they could win their state title.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
DAYTON -- Eye-catching white headbands are its trademark. Speed is its virtue.
The Lisbon High boys 4x100-meter relay team had forecasted a state title in the Division III meet Saturday at Welcome Stadium.
"We were telling everybody that we weren't going to accept anything but gold," senior Matt Feaster said. "I'm glad we could back it up."
With junior Todd Ramsey and seniors Kevin West, Feaster and Logan Pozenel motoring around the track in a team-best time of 43.17 seconds, the group put Lisbon on the track and field map by winning the state championship.
"Everybody said that we couldn't do it, that we're just little, old Lisbon," Feaster said. "We showed that if you put your mind to something, you can do it."
When Pozenel, the anchor, grabbed the baton from Feaster, he was about three steps behind Findlay Liberty-Benton. Pozenel made up the ground coming down the straightaway, in front of the boisterous home stands, for the title.
Keeping the faith
"I knew that if I ran my race, I could get them," Pozenel said. "The team put me in good position, and I didn't want to let them down."
Pozenel's teammates had total faith that he would reach the finish line first.
"As soon as I gave it to Logan, it was over," Feaster said. "I just raised my hand, took my headband off and started yelling."
Pozenel's confidence grew for his 100-meter leg when he received a clean handoff from Feaster. The team's smooth execution of the handoffs was a deciding factor throughout the relay.
"I knew it was there," Pozenel said. "I just had to take it home."
With the same runners, Lisbon finished fifth at state last season with a time of 44.33, but they may have peaked too early.
Not this time.
"We knew we hadn't peaked; we knew we didn't run a perfect race yet," Pozenel said.
Last time for fouresome
The Blue Devils ran 43.8 in this year's regional and 43.3 in Friday's state preliminaries, and they continued that improvement in the finals.
"This hasn't set in; it probably won't until tomorrow," Ramsey said. "This is just a great time in my life right now."
As the Blue Devils embraced and stood atop the podium, with Pozenel giving his state championship medal a light kiss, they sensed a bittersweet feeling.
"This is the last time we'll be at the track together," Feaster said. "It feels great to win the state title, but it feels terrible to lose these guys. It hurts because I won't get to run with them again."
West added, "We're like brothers. We're as tight as tight can be."
richesson@vindy.com