Brookfield’s Bonekovic wins shot title, but will skip discus event

By Joe Scalzo

She will be one of five valedictorians at her high school graduation Friday.

NAVARRE — On Friday Fairless High School will hold one of the biggest events of Morgan Bonekovic’s track and field career. That same day, Brookfield High will hold one of the biggest events of Bonekovic’s life.

So, on Friday, Bonekovic will hang up her uniform in favor of a cap and gown and take her seat beside four other valedictorians for her high school graduation.

Smart girl, huh?

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Bonekovic. “I wasn’t going to miss it.”

Of course, the decision to skip Friday’s regional discus competition was made a little easier because of what Bonekovic did in Wednesday’s regional shot put competition.

Bonekovic, one of the most successful athletes in school history, won a regional title in the shot with a throw of 37 feet, 61‚Ñ2 inches at the Division III meet at Fairless High. She will make her first state tournament appearance next week in Columbus.

“It was exciting to win,” said Bonekovic, who also won district titles in the shot and discus last weekend. “I didn’t throw as well as I wanted to, but I won, so I guess that’s all that counts.”

Bonekovic won last week’s district title with a throw of 39-71‚Ñ2, so she was a little frustrated with her performance Wednesday. (“Some days you’re on, some days you’re off,” she said with a shrug.)

Bonekovic, a three-sport athlete for the Warriors who will play basketball at Slippery Rock next year, said her better event in the shot put anyway, so missing Friday’s meet isn’t a big deal. Besides, she’s already going to Columbus.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “I don’t really know what to expect.”

Western Reserve’s Sammi Burton will join her next week after finishing fourth in the shot. The top four in each event advanced. Also qualifying was Maplewood’s Jordan Moxley, who placed third in the high jump.

On the boys side, East Palestine junior Geoff Salyers became the area’s only state qualifier through four events after winning the long jump with a leap of 21-01‚Ñ2.

It was a big win — and a big relief — for Salyers, who saw his jumps tail off during the season due to a heavy track workload.

“It was frustrating,” he said. “I did it [jumped 21 feet] early in the year, then everything started going downhill. I think it was just my form.”

His winning jump was also his first jump Wednesday, helping him earn his first trip to the state meet.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s amazing.”

It’s also his first year long jumping. What took him so long to pick it up?

“I just never thought I could jump,” he said.

scalzo@vindy.com