JOHN KOVACH | Colleges Area athletes lead Thiel to PAC titles in track and field

GREENVILLE -- Youngstown-area athletes and coaches are finding success with the Thiel College men's and women's track and field this season.
Not only did first-year coach Clyde Morgan (Chaney) lead the men's and women's teams to the Presidents' Athletic Conference championship and runner-up spots, respectively, but freshman sprinter Lou Scudere (Brookfield) produced the fastest time in the nation in the 100-yard dash in NCAA Division III.
Scudere's national-best 100 time of 10.4 seconds helped Thiel to win its fourth PAC track championship with 198.5 points.
In the process, Scudere automatically qualified for the Div. III national championships May 27-29 at Milliken (Ill.) University.
Scudere also won the 200 (22.64).
Morgan said Scudere can still improve.
"He has a very explosive start and he is strong," Morgan said. "[But] we are trying to improve his form. I do see room for him to do better. I noticed his last 15 meters is the weakest part of his race. He tends to tense up. He needs to relax his face and keep his body loose.
Although the Thiel teams, which produced six area PAC champions in all, are loaded with talent, Morgan also credits the success to an increase in self-confidence -- "having the kids to believe not only in the system and me but in themselves, because at the start of the year a lot of them didn't have confidence but they ended up believing in themselves," he said.
Three area coaches
Morgan has four assistants, including three with area ties -- his brother, Marco Morgan (Chaney); Nakisha Logan (Rayen and Thiel); and Marty Yaniglos (Hubbard and Walsh). The other assistant is Ben Blasko (Erie).
Other area PAC men's champions were freshman James Justice (Howland) in the 400 (50.20) and senior Richard Purdy (Jackson-Milton) for the second straight year in the high jump (6-21/4). Justice also was second in the 200 (22.74).
"[Justice] has one of the best attitudes around," added Morgan. "He will run anything you tell him to. He is a hard worker. We are trying to find him a specialty race. He can run 100, 200 and 400 meters. We are trying to get him to specialize in one.
"Purdy is a short high jumper but he is very explosive. He best this year is 6-6 but has had a 6-8 personal best. I believe he can do 6-10. He has been battling injuries this year."
Hauser repeats in javelin
On the women's side, Thiel junior Libby Hauser (Reynolds) won the javelin for the second straight year with a throw of 134-5, and she also was third in the shot put (35-01), as the Tomcats placed second with 184 points.
Earlier this season, Hauser qualified for the upcoming national championships in the javelin for the second straight year with 141-7, although her personal best is 143.
Also, Michelle Shellow (Fitch) was a member of the winning 4x400 relay and placed third in the 400 (1:04.77), while the Tomcats went 2-3-4 in the 1500, led by sophomore Amanda Myer (Badger, 5:21.74); sophomore Jacci Corso (Poland, 5:39.17), and freshman Kristy Marapese (Struthers, 5:44.46).
Freshman Fontella Jones (Farrell) was a member of the winning 4x100 relay and placed third in the 100 (13.47).
Morgan said Shellow is a versatile sprinter.
"She ran in five events in [the PAC meet]," Morgan said. "We started her as a 100 runner but she had a hamstring injury. We moved her up to the 200 and 400 to reduce the impact."
Morgan hopes for more national qualifiers. He is taking the teams to three more qualifying meets.
kovach@vindy.com