Coleman surprises, Salem relay reprises

By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
RAVENNA -- Mooney senior Ken Coleman isn't going to lie.
"I didn't expect to go to state," he said.
At least not in the long jump, anyway.
When Coleman began the season, he struggled with his distances -- "I wasn't jumping too good," he said -- and, despite doing OK in a few invitationals, he kept his expectations in check heading into the postseason.
That didn't change at last week's district meet where Coleman finished fourth, grabbing the final qualifying spot.
But something happened over the next seven days. Something good.
Coleman jumped 21 feet, 4 inches at Thursday's Division II regional at Ravenna High School, placing second to advance to next week's state meet.
"This came out of nowhere," said Coleman, who opted out of his last jump in order to save his legs for the rest of the meet. "It's a big accomplishment for me, but it's very surprising."
Coleman also helped the Cardinals advance to the finals in the 4x100- and 4x200-meter relays. The meet continues Saturday at 11:30 a.m.
Tough test
Salem's 4x800 relay team entered Thursday's meet just trying to survive until next week.
The Quakers finished third in the event at last year's state meet and returned three of the four runners, but junior Patrick Gorby (who anchors the relay) knew it would be tough.
And he was right.
"We knew it was going to be a dogfight," Gorby said. "There were five or six teams fighting for four spots. On the last 300 [meters], my legs started hurting and I was just trying to hang on.
"I kept thinking, 'I can't let anyone pass me or we're not going.' "
He got two things when he finished: a state berth and a headache.
"It just came out of nowhere," he said, "and now it's pulsating in my head.
"I think it means I ran hard."
All four members of the relay -- Gorby, along with seniors Aiman Scullion, Paul Shivers and Mike Downs -- were members of Salem's state championship cross country team. Traditionally, the Quakers run better at the state meet than at regionals.
"It seems like a pattern," he said. "I think our main goal is just to qualify for nationals."
Other qualifiers
West Branch senior Jim Boals, last week's district champion at Salem High, finished second in the discus. The top four in each event advance to Columbus.
On the girls side, Struthers sophomore Ashley Galbraith finished third in the high jump with a leap of 5-5. She nearly missed her jump at 5-6, which would have equaled her personal best.
"I was just so happy," she said.
Galbraith finished third at last week's district meet -- her best jump was 5-0 -- and wasn't too happy about it. She was determined to do something about it this week.
"Last week, I just wasn't focused enough," she said. "I was more focused today and I spent more time practicing during the week."
Girard senior Sarroya Townsend placed fourth in the shot put while Southeast senior Danielle Cofojohn finished first in the event.
scalzo@vindy.com