PREP TRACK Lewis propels Lakeview to share of TAC girls' title

She won the discus and shot put events.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CORTLAND -- Heather Lewis delivered on a family promise.
With her grandmother confined to the Intensive Care Unit of Trumbull Memorial Hospital, Lewis, a Lakeview High senior, entered Tuesday's Trumbull Athletic Conference track and field meet with a purpose.
Between throws of the discus and shot put, Lewis found herself thinking of her grandmother, with whom she lives in Cortland. Jane Lewis is battling pneumonia.
But instead of allowing the matter to drag her down, Heather Lewis used it as motivation. She made the promise, and she kept it.
Honoring her grandmother
"I wanted to throw for her," Lewis said. "Even though she's still in the hospital, I wanted to show that I could still do it.
"I told her that I'd do it for her today."
Lewis won the discus (123 feet, 5 inches) and shot put (34-71/4) to help lead host Lakeview, with 110 points, to the co-championship with Girard.
"She'll be happy," Lewis said of her grandmother's reaction. "She's always here cheering me on."
The Bulldogs made it a hometown sweep when they claimed the boys title, as well, with 1251/2 points.
Lewis won the discus and shot put titles on her final throw of each event, outdistancing Newton Falls' Kassi Collins and Jackie Clonch.
"I felt the pressure, but I knew I had to stay calm," Lewis said. "You have to stay calm and relax."
In her final high school season, Lewis is eyeing a return trip to the state meet. She finished fourth last season in the discus with a school-record throw of 131-11.
"It's my favorite thing to do," Lewis said of the discus, in comparison to the shot put. "It's more intense and more competitive. It makes you feel like you're achieving more when it goes farther out there."
Lewis, who is planning to attend Youngstown State, walk on the track and field team and major in criminal justice, has been satisfied with her senior season and her consistency in the throwing events.
Her coach, Diane Neighbarger, is stressing balance and hoping Lewis will qualify for the state meet in both events.
"We've been trying to tell her that she has to be a sellable product in both events," Neighbarger said. "People will be more interested in her if she's a dual product."
Lakeview tied for the title with Girard, the defending champion, which was led by the MVP performance of sophomore Cachet Murray.
Despite battling flu and cold symptoms, Murray set meet records in the 100 (11.9), 200 (25.5) and long jump (17-2).
"I felt like I didn't want to be here," Murray said. "But when I heard the gunshot [to start the races], I thought that I might as well try to run because I can't go home."
Boys MVP
The boys MVP also went to Girard. Senior Jeriel Harrison, who didn't run last season because of injuries, was awarded the trophy after winning the 100 (10.9), 200 (22.5) and 400 (51.6).
"My times are starting to drop and I feel like I'm starting to peak," Harrison said. "I'm able to get breaks between meets and my body is getting time to rest."
As twilight set in, the Lakeview boys took one final lap around the track, settling into their victory stride.
The Bulldogs got key performances from seniors George Washko and Avinash Bhatia and junior Justin Rush.
"Since Day 1, I've been preaching that the TAC-8 meet was the most important meet. Everything else was gravy," Lakeview coach Tom Pavlansky said. "We're real excited because they performed well under pressure."
richesson@vindy.com