TRACK Struthers' Penson excels at Bulldog

In the girls meet, United scored a surprising victory with 92 points.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
EAST PALESTINE -- With his future already decided, Struthers speedster Justin Penson is now ready to turn his attention to the present.
The senior started the week by deciding to attend Ashland University next fall to run track and play football.
On Saturday, he finished out the week in style, winning the 100 meters and anchoring Struthers' winning 4x100 and 4x400 relays at the Bulldog Invitational. He was also a member of the second-place 800-meter relay team.
"I just think it was the right decision," said Penson, regarding his college choice. "I wanted to go somewhere where I could play both football and track and not have to sit and wait to play. My cousin [Mooney's Nate Burney] is going there, too, so that will be a lot of fun.
Div. II has advantages
"It's a nice Division II school and I'm excited about going and showing them what I have and enjoy a fun four years."
Penson could have run track at a Division I college instead, but Struthers coach Mark Carden thinks the senior made the right call.
"He could have gone bigger, but he really didn't want to give up football," said Carden. "He has a great future at Ashland and I think he can step in and compete right away.
"He's the hardest worker on our team. He could win a state title today and he'd be back at practice tomorrow working just as hard. He's a quiet leader who leads by example."
The Wildcats' relay squads had a solid meet, despite running their top four guys in just the 4x100 race. In that victory, Penson was joined by Larry Wylie, Eric Anderson and Jeff Lute.
Penson, Wylie and Anderson were part of the team that won the state title in 2004. (Ty Campana was the other member.) The same group finished second in the 4x200 that year.
Last year, the quartet was second in the 4x100, second in the 4x200 and fifth in the 4x400 at the state meet.
Eyeing another shot
Despite the loss of Campana to graduation, Penson thinks Struthers can make another run at the top spot.
"We have some work to do on our exchanges," said Penson. "But we're coming along and Jeff Lute has the heart to run, so he's helping us out this year.
"We've set a pretty high standard, but I think we have a chance to experience that same feeling we did when we were No. 1 in the state."
On the strength of the relays and strong individual performances from Wylie (first, 200), Anderson (first, 110 hurdles; second, long jump) and Lute (fourth, 400), Struthers finished fourth with 74 points.
Garfield Heights Trinity won with 95 points, Poland (84) was second and United (79) finished third.
In the girls meet, United scored a surprising victory with 92 points. The Golden Eagles, who also sent part of the team to Columbiana for the Boots Hawkins meet, outdistanced second place Warren JFK (71). Lowellville was third with 63 points.
Not the objective
"This was a pleasant surprise," said United coach Nancy Miller. "Winning wasn't something we talked about. This was about individuals getting better and our relays working well together.
"I didn't think we were in a position to win a meet like this. But I'm proud of the kids for all doing their part and supporting each other."
United scored in every event. Caitie Rinto led the way by finishing fourth in the 3200, eighth in the 1600 and was a member of the Golden Eagles' third-place 4x800 relay team.
The meet's running event MVPs were Warren JFK's Jamie Prezioso with 23 points and Garfield Heights Trinity's John Sobonya with 20 1/2 points.
Honors in the field events went to Kelsie Crowder (18 points) of Newton Falls and Josh Chuck (14) from Beaver Local.