Cardinal Mooney's 4x100 relay tunes up for another run at state

Canfield's Audra Frimpong was honored with a Performance Award for field events.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
AUSTINTOWN -- Mooney's Nate Burney, Ken Coleman, Desmond Marrow and Mike Mazerik won the 4x100-meter relay in 43.07 seconds Saturday at the 28th Optimist Track and Field meet at Fitch High Falcon Stadium.
Cleveland St. Ignatius captured boys team laurels with 88 points. A distant second was Cleveland JFK with 40 while Canfield was third with 391/2.
Canton GlenOak won the girls title with 83.1 points. Cleveland Rhodes was second with 611/2 and Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit finished third with 53.
"All of us went to state [Division II] in the 4x100 last year and we've been working hard at practices to try and get there again," Coleman said.
"Our relay coach [Pat Kohovski] makes us work hard on our handoff techniques at practices and if we make a mistake, he immediately corrects what is wrong so that we don't make it again," Coleman said.
Mazerik said, "We knew if we got our exchanges right we would win today."
Mazerik also placed second in the 100 (11.15) behind Anthony Thomas (11.13) of Cleveland John F. Kennedy.
Hurdles winners
Bryan Albani of Howland won the 110 high hurdles (15.01) and second in the 300 intermediate hurdles (40.29). Adam Kagarise (49.1) of Fitch won the 400.
The Falcons' 4x400 relay of Jason Anderson, Zach Entzi, Tim Koniowsky and Kagarise won in 3:29.99.
The 3200, the first boys final of the day, was considered to be one of the best events as Emile Heineking of Chardon set a meet record in 9:11.01. He was given the Running Performance award.
Aiman Scullion (9:16.09) of Salem was second and Paul Robinson (9:17.39) of Mogadore Field was third.
Joe Thomas of Lakewood St. Edward set a meet record in the shot put with a winning toss of 59 feet, 83/4 inches, bettering the old mark (59-5) by Frank Cimmento set in 1986. He was given the Field Events Performance award at the conclusion of the meet.
Mike Hartline of Canton GlenOak was given MVP for running events. He won the 300 hurdles (39.88) and was second in the 110 hurdles (15.21).
Frimpong honored
Sophomore Audra Frimpong of Canfield shared the girls Performance Award for field events. She won the long jump with a leap of 18-21/2.
"It feels like I am in the air a long time when I jump and that feels good," Frimpong said. "When I warmed up at practice, my steps weren't there, but they were when it counted the most.
"I came here hoping I could place and I am happy I did 18 [feet] for the first time this season," Frimpong said. "My goal is to get in the 19s and go on to state and hopefully win there."
Sharing the award was Sabrina Forstein of Madison, who set the pole vault record (10-9).
Latalia Jones of Chaney was presented with the meet running MVP award. She won the 100 (12.4) and the 200 (25.25).
"I've been concentrating on the 200 this year because it's been a little weak," Jones said. "But I've been working in the weight room and running hills to try and improve.
"Today I got out fast, got the lead and just stayed there," she said.
miller@vindy.com