Boardman regional full of talent

The meet begins at 11:05 a.m.

By MARK W. MILLER

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

BOARDMAN — Many of the coaches bringing teams to the Division I, II and III regional cross country meets Saturday at Boardman High School believe that the regional meets there are the toughest in the state.

Some believe the competition is as good as the state meet, which will be held in Columbus on Nov. 3.

Three of the six state champs last season came from the Boardman regional and three others placed second.

Girls runs at Boardman will get underway with Division III at 11:05 a.m., Div. II at 11:50 and Div. I at 12:35 p.m. Boys races are set for Div. III at 1:20, Div. II at 2:05 and Div. III at 2:50.

The top four teams and individuals in the top 16 not on a qualifying team advance.

Struthers seniors Robert Zanni and Keith Karas, whose times are among the area’s best this season, will join Wildcats freshman Katelyn Ardale in Division II competition Saturday.

“Aside from last year’s boys team that made it to regionals, it’s the most individuals I’ve had going to the regional,” said Struthers’ fifth-year coach, Geoff Malcomson.

Zanni, whose best effort this season was 16 minutes, 25 seconds, is going to the region for the fourth straight year. He placed 28th last year.

He’s on the Struthers bowling team in the winter and pitches for the Wildcat varsity baseball team.

“Zanni is an all-around athlete, has some speed and is motivated,” said Malcomson. “He feels he’s in the mix with some of the top runners and hopes to get out and make it to state.”

A National Honor Society member, he hasn’t made up his mind where he wants to go to college.

Karas made it to the regional last year with the team.

“I think he knows he’ll have to run his best race if he expects to make it to state,” said Malcomson. “He’s more of an endurance athlete and puts a lot of time in running when he’s not in meets.”

A distance runner during track season, Karas also plays varsity basketball and is a National Honor Society member.

Ardale is the first girl to make it to regional since her sister Amanda, who did it two years ago. She’s an A-student, plays basketball and runs track.

“She is probably the most competitive, hard-working kid I’ve ever coached,” said Malcomson.