Mooney relay wins 4x1 gold

Nate Burney, Ken Coleman, Desmond Marrow and Mike Mazerik jelled.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- Inside the tent at the check-in point for the 4x100-meter relay at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium, Mooney High senior Desmond Marrow was standing near a Buchtel sprinter who was spouting off about his team's chances.
Marrow didn't like it.
"Even with our [record] time at regionals, they were still talking," Marrow said. "They said we weren't supposed to beat them.
"He's like, 'We've got this. We're Buchtel.' "
Marrow paused, then smiled.
"Yeah, well we're Mooney," he said.
After setting a regional record last week, the Cardinals entered Saturday's Division II state final with the best qualifying time. But the 4x100 relay is arguably the toughest relay to win, since any little mistake can cost a team victory.
Were they worried?
"I'm always worried until I have the baton in my hand," said senior anchor Mike Mazerik.
The other Cardinals put Mazerik's fears to rest.
Mooney wins gold medal
Senior Nate Burney started well and, before you could blink, Burney found senior Ken Coleman, who found Marrow, who gave the baton to Mazerik with the lead.
Mazerik wasn't about to lose it.
Mooney won the gold medal in 42.42 seconds ahead of Buchtel with 42.87.
"I pretty much knew we had it when I got the baton," said Mazerik, who finished third in the 100 a few minutes earlier. "I wasn't worried."
When Mazerik finished, he walked to the infield and hugged Coleman. Then Burney ran over, nearly jumped over Mazerik and started yelling "Woo! Woo!"
"It feels good," Burney said. "Real good."
"We came in as the top seed," Mazerik said. "We've been coming in first in every race so far. We wanted to come out and prove we were the best."
Added Coleman, "There were no surprises today. We came out and did our thing."
Previous area successes
Two years ago, Struthers won the 4x100 relay in Division II at the state meet. Six months later, Mooney won a Division IV state football title. Burney and Marrow were starters on that team.
Then, last fall, the Cardinals made it back to the state football final, only to lose to Coldwater.
"After that football game last fall, I had a little bit of a sour taste in my mouth," Marrow said. "I wanted to win one last state championship before I left with my friends."
Marrow was missing a few of his friends in Columbus. Mooney held its graduation on Saturday. The Cardinals missed it.
"Instead of a diploma, I got a gold medal," Marrow said. "It's the next best thing, I guess."
scalzo@vindy.com