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Harding, Mooney capture SVC track championships
Ursuline’s Jasmine Brown won three events and helped the Irish to another win in a relay event.
YOUNGSTOWN — Warren Harding’s Desmond Reed fell over the last hurdle of the boys 300-meter hurdles, got up and stumbled over the finish line for a sixth place finish.
Reed earned one point for his efforts and a whole lot of appreciation from his coach, Charles Penny, whose team finished as champions of the Steel Valley Conference track and field meet at Chaney High Thursday night.
Harding scored 126.5 points to outdistance Cardinal Mooney (99) and East (87). Cardinal Mooney captured the girls team title despite a dazzling performance by Ursuline’s Jasmine Brown, who won titles in the 100, 200 and 400, and helped the Irish 4x200 relay to a second-place finish.
The Cardinals outscored the Irish, 142-105.
Penny said that efforts like Reed’s and the performances of many of the team’s sprinters and jumpers enabled the Raiders to come through with a victory.
“We have great team chemistry,” Penny said. “We battled injuries all year and we’re starting to come together as a team as we get closer to state.
“It’s the whole team concept of how we battle for each point and making each point matter. Not just winning events but winning the meet is what was our goal.”
Harding got victories from sophomore Marvin Logan (110 hurdles), Aunre’ Davis (high jump), Paris Bruner (long jump) and D.J. Williamson (200). Williamson also anchored the 4x200 relay along with Logan, Joseph Threats and Davis, and finished second in the 100 to East’s James Allen and in the 4x100 relay.
“I really wanted to finish strong in the 200,” Williamson said. “I have a good rivalry with Allen and so after losing twice to him, I wanted to get a win against him before the night was over.”
Ursuline’s Brown didn’t look like she had to work very hard in breezing to wins in three events.
Brown captured her last win in the 200 by coming on strong down the stretch to overtake Chaney’s Danielle Cofield.
“I don’t like running in lane seven,” Brown said. “I had to work a lot harder but I was determined to get to the finish line first.”
Brown helped lead the Irish at state last year as a freshman. Brown finished third in the state in the 100 and led the 4x200 relay to a state championship. The 4x100 relay captured a third place finish.
“By the grace of God I have the energy to run all these events,” Brown said. “I try to stay focused and rest in between races.”
Ursuline coach George Stroia said he has plenty of confidence in Brown’s ability.
“Why not run an athlete of her caliber in events that she knows she can win,” Stroia said. “She’s a great competitor and she’s a remarkable young lady.”
Cardinal Mooney was able to overtake the Irish and Brown’s impressive performance with a strong team effort.
“The girls really wanted it bad,” said Mooney coach Dom Daltorio. “They all did extra events and gave an extra effort.
“They’ll need a lot of rest to recuperate after tonight’s meet.”
Daltorio’s daughter Danielle helped lead the victory with a win in the high jump (4-10) and by leading the 4x400 relay to a win in the night’s final event.
Daltorio teamed with Alex Sierra, Dani Sierra and Katie Griswold to win the 4x400 relay in 4:14.30 and put a final exclamation point on the win.
Warren JFK’s Audrey Maheu won two events by capturing the 800 (2:22.4) and the 1600 (5:28.3) and Cardinal Mooney’s Gretchen Haug won both the shot put (32-4) and the discus (110-9).
Three SVC records were tied or broken Thursday night.
Williamson tied the 200 record with a time of 21.7, while Allen tied the 100 record with a time of 10.6.
East’s 4x100 relay of Allen, Brandon King, Jeff Purdie and Mike Starkey smashed that record by posting a time of 42.1 which was .60 seconds faster than the previous mark of 42.7.
“We can win a state championship if we get a little bit more disciplined,” said East coach Jerome Jenkins. “We’ve got to work harder and who knows what the limit is for those guys.”