Canfield girls top Poland for title

Salem's boys won their third straight league championship.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- With the Cardinals gathered in a meeting at the other end of the track, Canfield sophomore Audra Frimpong jogged over toward her teammates carrying a Subway sandwich.
She was hobbling a little.
"I'm tired," she said.
That wasn't a surprise. Entering Friday's Metro Athletic Conference meet, Frimpong took one look at the race schedule and winced.
"When I saw the races were so close, I was nervous that I wouldn't make it," she said. "But the team was motivated to win, so I tried to push it."
Fortunately for Canfield, she succeeded, winning the 100-meter dash, the 200 (in a meet record time) and the long jump and anchoring the winning 4x100 relay to help the Cardinals edge two-time defending champion Poland, 145-140 1/2.
Because Frimpong split her victories between the running and field events, she didn't win MVP in either. ("She's the overall MVP," said assistant coach Pat Pavlansky. "That's my quote.") But the team victory meant more, she said.
"We wanted to do it for the seniors," she said, looking over at her team. "They're all crying right now. They're really happy."
Ferraro is running MVP
Poland senior Amber Ferraro won running MVP for the second straight year, winning both hurdling events and finishing second in the 100 and 4x100 relay. It wasn't as good as another team title, but she was proud of her team's performance.
"We fell a little short, but we did a lot of things that our coaches didn't expect," she said. "We stepped up in a lot of events and overall, second is still pretty good."
Ferraro qualified for the state meet in both hurdling events last season, but she's got a bigger challenge ahead when district competition begins next week. The Bulldogs jumped up to Division I this year (Poland's boys dropped down to Div. II), which makes the road to Columbus a little tougher.
"Division I is a big challenge," she said, "but I'm ready and excited."
Salem sophomore Sarah Brobeck was named field MVP after winning the shot put and discus.
On the boys side, Salem won its third straight league title, cruising past second-place Poland 138-114. Senior Tyler Pierce won the field event MVP (also for the second straight year) after placing first in the high jump and fourth in the long jump. Pierce's success wasn't surprising, and neither was Salem's.
"My sophomore year, I didn't think we'd do this good at all," Pierce said. "It's Salem. I mean, come on.
"It's been so cool to be on a team that's used to winning. To go out knowing you can win is a great feeling."
Penson is running MVP
Struthers senior Justin Penson won the running MVP after placing first in the 100 and 200, anchoring the winning 4x100 relay and anchoring the second place 4x200 relay.
"To come here at my last MAC meet and come home with a plaque, it's a great feeling," said Penson.
Penson, who will run track and play football at Ashland, has had a lot of success in the postseason the past few years. He's been a part of three second place relays at the state meet and a state championship relay. Two of his relay teammates are back this season -- Eric Anderson and Larry Wylie -- although Ty Campana was lost to graduation. Campana's replacement, Jeff Lute, isn't quite as fast, but the Wildcats still expect big things.
"Jeff's dropping his times and he's done a great job," he said. "This year is going to be a little more work, but we're looking forward to it."
scalzo@vindy.com