JFK girls break school record in 4x800 relay event

The Eagles finished fourth in the event at last year's state meet.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- So far this season, Warren JFK's girls 4x800-meter relay team has dealt with celebrity (they've been in the paper a few times, which is about as close as you get to fame in track and field), high expectations (they returned three of the four girls from the best relay in school history), and plenty of success (they broke their school record in the event at Wednesday's Division III district meet at Springfield High School).
These are fun things to deal with.
"Last year, we were always the underdog," said junior Michelle Chaves. "This year, we keep reaching higher and higher."
Last year, they ran 9:38.56 in the event at the state meet and finished fourth. On Wednesday, they ran 9:37.80.
"We want to get around 9:30 or 9:32," said senior Jenn Natale.
What would that have got you in Columbus?
"Second," she said. "We would have had to run around a 9:25 to win."
"Then let's go for 9:25 then," said sophomore Audrey Maheu.
Only one change
Freshman Marissa Nocera is the newcomer, having replaced Lauren Broadbent, who graduated. So far, they haven't missed a beat.
"We're never satisfied with our time," Chaves said. "We want to keep dropping."
Lordstown senior Ashley Kellar wants to do the opposite. Kellar won the high jump with a leap of 5-2 (the top four in each final advance to next week's regional meet) and nearly equaled her school record of 5 feet, 4 inches. (She missed on her three attempts to tie it.)
"Today was a really good day," she said. "The last couple meets have been kind of shaky. My approach has been off and my legs were a little tired. It was nice to do this well."
White wins shot put
Mineral Ridge senior Megan White won the shot put, one of four finals contested Wednesday. The rest will be held Friday.
Lowellville senior Lucas Gonzalez repeated as long jump champion, but he opted to do it the hard way. Gonzalez wasn't in the top four heading into the finals, then jumped just 17-10 on his first finals attempt.
"That's not the direction I wanted to go," he said.
But he jumped 19-81/4 on his second attempt -- which tied him for second and was just 1/4 of an inch off the leader -- and then clinched it with a 20-foot jump on his final attempt.
"I was kind of hoping I could repeat," he said. "I thought that would be pretty cool.
"On my last jump, I hit the board and tried to go as high and as far as I could. It felt like one of my good jumps."
Gonzalez finished third at last year's regional and was 13th at state. He's hoping for an even better result this season.
"God gave me the ability," Gonzalez said. "All glory goes to him."
McDonald surprise winner
McDonald was a surprise winner in the boys 4x800, edging defending state champion Lordstown. It was the first time the Blue Devils have beaten the Red Devils this season.
"This team just has a lot of heart," said junior Matt Firment. "At the beginning of the race, we were a little unsure we could stay with them. We just try to keep our heads up and gun for the guys in front of us."
It was the first time McDonald coach Louis Domitrovich entered his four fastest 800 runners and he was happy with the results.
"We've stayed under the radar most of the year and none of these guys have any postseason experience," he said. "They ran really well.
"I just hope we didn't peak today."
scalzo@vindy.com