DIVISION III TRACK AND FIELD Rivalry in distance events continues

McDonald's and Maplewood's boys and girls battled in the 4x800 relay.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CORTLAND -- Maplewood and McDonald battled each other in a distance running event Thursday.
In other news, the sun came up and the oceans stayed wet.
"We know they're always going to be there," McDonald senior Kevin Stonestreet said. "We're all friends with them. It's not like we're against them. We'd like to beat them. If they beat us, it's not all right, but they're a good bunch of guys. It's a friendly rivalry."
Close finish
The schools' annual postseason battle began Thursday, as McDonald edged Maplewood by less than a second in the boys 4x800-meter relay on the first day of the Division III district meet at Lakeview High.
The top four in each event advanced to next week's regional meet at Navarre Fairless.
"I think [the rivalry] just makes us better," said Stonestreet, who anchored the relay.
And not just in the boys races.
McDonald and Maplewood also took 1-2 in the girls 4x800 relay, as Blue Devils senior Jenn Wenhold used a good last lap to pull away from Maplewood's Hillary Gladd.
"I was afraid of going out too fast and not having anything left," said Wenhold, who ran next to Gladd during the first 400 meters. "I thought I could outkick her."
McDonald set a stadium and meet record with a time of 10 minutes, 6.1 seconds.
Legs recovered
"I think we were running on tired legs during the middle of the season," Wenhold said. "We're fine now."
The Blue Devils won the event at last year's regional meet, only to be disqualified for taking too many steps on the inside line.
"We're going to work on that," Wenhold said. "We don't want to make the same mistake."
Maplewood sophomore Jen Grayson set a meet and stadium record in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet, 5 inches. She'll face last year's state champion, Western Reserve senior Anna Marie Ricciardi, at next week's regional.
Ricciardi, who jumped 5-9 to set a state record earlier in the season, said Grayson was the area athlete who worries her most.
"I'm worried about her," Grayson said with a laugh. "She's scaring me."
Grayson failed on her attempts to clear 5-6. The problem wasn't physical, she said, but mental.
"Everyone tells me that when I clear 5-5, I'm a couple inches above [the bar]. It's a big mental block. I psych myself out."
Panezich's throwing
Springfield sophomore Nick Panezich may have been throwing at one of his least favorite sites, but he liked the results. Panezich -- last year's district champion in the shot and the discus -- easily won the discus with a throw of 159-0 -- almost 15 feet beyond his closest competitor.
"It's always good to get first place," said Panezich, who admitted he doesn't like throwing at Lakeview. "I'm just taking this one step at a time."
His next step is the regional meet, which he won last year. Last year's experience should help him this year.
"The stress will still be there, but I've already been to state, to the big show," Panezich said. "That will make it a lot easier."
Warren JFK senior Michelle Rossio won the shot put and her teammate, Keith Black, won the long jump.
scalzo@vindy.com