Positive thinking, fans help Durkin claim title

Jackson-Milton's Luke McCluggage won the boys race.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CANFIELD -- Anger can be a good thing.
After a frustrating finish at last Saturday's Boardman Invitational, Boardman senior Brittany Durkin came into Tuesday's Suburban League Championship with one goal in mind.
Winning.
"In my head, I said I was going to win it," Durkin said. "You have to tell yourself that."
Of course, it doesn't hurt to hear that from others, too. Durkin rewarded her sizable cheering section with a first place finish at the meet, helping the Spartans to a second place finish behind Maplewood and McDonald in the 22-team race at the Canfield Fairgrounds.
"I like to run when people are around," Durkin said. "I hate running in the middle of nowhere."
Pulling away
For much of the race, it wasn't a problem. Pymatuning Valley sophomore Tracee Gruskiewicz (20:16.2) stayed with her stride for stride, until Durkin (20:02.6) pulled away over the last mile.
"We actually talked to each other and bumped into each other," Gruskiewicz said. "We're good friends, at least through running."
It was the third time they've raced this season. Durkin won all three.
"It's always close," Durkin said. "She went out fast and I kind of let her set the pace. I was feeling good after a long downhill and I picked it up a little."
Gruskiewicz struggled with pain in her calf over the last mile, which allowed Durkin to pull away.
"My coach always says to run the first mile with your legs, the second mile with your head and the last mile with your heart," Gruskiewicz said. "That's what I tried to do."
Gruskiewicz wasn't happy with her performance, but that could be a good thing.
"Second place is fine, but my time made me mad," she said. "I'll probably think back on this and take my anger out on the course."
Boys
In the boys race, not even tired legs could stop McDonald.
Blue Devils senior Joe Kunkel (16:57.3) placed second behind Jackson-Milton senior Luke McCluggage (16:26.2) to lead McDonald to the team title, edging Boardman and Cardinal Mooney in the 27-team race.
"We've had two pretty darn big meets over the last few days," Kunkel said. "You're recovering from one We've got a few guys hurting, but we ran pretty well."
McDonald, the state's top-ranked team in Div. III, also won Saturday's Boardman Invitational and seem to be on course to win their second state title in three years.
The Blue Devils placed second at last year's state meet behind Maplewood.
"We're the team people are going to be gunning for," Kunkel said. "It's nice to come up and surprise people, but I think we use [the pressure] to our advantage.
"I think we thrive on it."
Strong showing
And while McDonald has been the dominant team, McCluggage has emerged as the area's dominant runner. McCluggage, who finished fifth in the state last season, also placed first in Div. III at the Boardman Invitational.
"He's racing like an animal," Kunkel said of McCluggage. "He's in great shape.
"I have a lot of respect for him because he trains by himself."
And, as Kunkel pointed out, McCluggage usually ends up running by himself by the end of the race.
"He knows how to take it to everyone," Kunkel said.
scalzo@vindy.com