Saturday, May 28, 2005
Poland girls and Warrensville Heights' boys won regional championships.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
RAVENNA -- Cachet Murray of Girard High got the Division II regional track and field meet off to an awesome start.
On her first try in the long jump preliminaries she set a meet record with a leap of 19 feet, 7 1/2 inches. It was the only jump she attempted.
Murray also set meet records in winning the 100- (12.06 seconds) and 200-meter (24.7) dashes. She ran second on the Indians' 4x400 relay that finished third and her split was 55.6.
"Somebody said, 'Go get a field judge' and my heart started pounding and I shouted 'Yes!'" said Murray about the long jump record.
"I only did 17-9 in winning the district and now I'm back where I want to be," added Murray, the defending state champion in all three individual events.
"I am not quite there yet, but I am edging my way up and I'll try and reset those records I made at state last year," she said.
Poland's pleasant surprise
Poland won the girls championship with 53 points and Chaney was second with 49.
"This was completely unexpected," said Poland coach Troy Massey. "We didn't have any plans in winning the regional and we're sending eight girls in seven events to Columbus. That's the most we've ever sent at one time in the history of the school."
Poland's Colleen Moran won the 3200 (11:24.92) and placed third in the 1600. She's also a member of the 4x800 relay team that qualified.
"After the mile, I wasn't sure how much I would have left, but I had more than I expected," said Moran after the 3200.
"I didn't do well at state last year and I would like to place there this time," she added.
Sisterly bunch
Antoinette Smith, Breonna Rivers, Jonise Hartfield and Latalia Jones of Chaney were members of winning 4x200 and 4x100 relays.
Hartfield, a senior, said, "I am big sister. I keep us together and we pray before each relay.
"This year was the first time we ever ran together and we wanted to do this from the start of the season," she added.
"We aren't going to underestimate anyone at state, but we want to go there and dominate," said Hartfield. "We have the school record in the relays and now we would like to break the state record in both."
West Branch's Alyssa Bowman won the 100 hurdles (15.26). Hubbard's Rachel Crafton won the 300 hurdles (45.83) and was fourth in the 100 hurdles.
Amber Ferraro of Poland was third in both hurdles.
Running away
Warrensville Heights ran away with the boys title with 81 points. Alliance was second with 47.
Struthers' Eric Anderson, Larry Wylie, Justin Penson and Ty Campana won 4x100 relay (42.48), finished second in the 4x200 relay, and Anderson, Jeff Lute, Campana and Justin Penson were fourth in the 4x400 relay to qualify again for state in all three events.
"A couple of weeks ago, we weren't where we wanted to be, but we got it accomplished today and it feels great," said Campana.
"We won the 4x100 a year ago and would love to go back and do it again."
Campana said that the relay teams pray at each meet.
"It inspires us," said Campana. "Without God, nothing is possible."
Kendell Davis of Alliance won the 100 (10.78) and the 200 (21.80).