Anderson hurdles sickness

The top four in each event advanced to next week's regional meet at Ravenna High School.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- If you're a little queasy, you might want to scroll down a few sentences. Because this story starts with Struthers senior Eric Anderson, leaning over, gagging, hacking, coughing and, thankfully, not spitting up much.
"I've been sick," he said. "I'm trying to get all the mucus out of my throat."
Oh. Nice.
"Not really," he said, smiling. "But what can you do?"
You see, it's district tournament time. And in district tournament time, you forget about your cold and you worry about it tomorrow. Because if you don't, there is no tomorrow.
Anderson performed his gag-a-thon after finishing first in the 300 hurdles at Saturday's Division II district meet at Reilly Stadium. He's got high hopes for the event -- "My goal is to get first place at the state meet," he said -- but over the past two years, he's made his name as a member of the Wildcats' sprint relays.
Broke own record
On Thursday's first day, they broke their own meet record in the 4x200-meter relay -- they've finished runner-up in the event the past two years -- and finished first in Saturday's final. They also won the 4x400 relay. Easily.
"Our four-by-two is doing great," Anderson said.
As for the 4x100? It's doing good. Not great. The Wildcats finished third on Saturday, behind Mooney and West Branch.
"We want to do a lot better," said Anderson, whose team has finished first and second in the event the past two years. "Our goal right now is to get Mooney. In the past, we were beating them, but they've been getting us this year. We want to get them back."
Is there a rivalry brewing? You bet. Mooney senior Mike Mazerik -- who won the 100 and finished second in the 200 on Saturday -- anchors Mooney's 4x100 relay.
When asked about Struthers, he smiled.
"There's a little rivalry there," he said, smiling. "We're all good friends with the guys on their relays. It's always competitive.
"It's nice to finally get them."
Relief
Another thing that's nice (for Mazerik, anyway) is that Alliance's Kendell Davis isn't around anymore to torment the division's best sprinters. The four-time state champ graduated last spring.
"He was the real deal for sure," Mazerik said, "but it's kind of nice that he's gone."
The sprinters at Mooney and Struthers will renew their rivalry the next two weeks, but neither school has the depth of Salem, which easily defeated the Cardinals 108-87 for the district crown.
Salem senior Aiman Scullion, who helped lead the Quakers to back-to-back state cross country championships, set a district record in the 3200 with a time of 9:31.08 -- just .07 off his time at last year's state meet.
Other area winners were Mario Baugh of Niles in the 110 hurdles (15.25) and Joe Locher of Southeast in the 400 (51.19).
The top four in each event advanced to next week's regional meet at Ravenna High School.
Tallmadge edged Canton Central Catholic for the girls title. West Branch was third and Struthers was fourth, thanks in part to sophomore Ashley Galbraith, who anchored two winning relays (4x200 and 4x400), finished second in the 400 and third in the high jump.
"I'm pretty tired after all that," she said.
Looking ahead
Galbraith jumped just 5 feet on Thursday -- she's jumped as high as 5-6 this season -- but she's happy she'll have another chance next week. And after being one of just two Wildcats at the state meet last year, she's hoping to see more of her teammates in Columbus this year.
"It's more fun when you have more people," she said. "There's more people to cheer on and more people to cheer you on."
Charity Montford of Salem won the 400 (59.8), Alyssa Bowman of West Branch captured the 100 hurdles (15.6) and Danielle Cofojohn of Southeast claimed the discus (132 feet, 10 inches).
scalzo@vindy.com