Howland hurdler races for a big date

By Joe Scalzo

AUSTINTOWN — Nicole Pachol was in a race against time on Saturday — and not just on the track.

The Howland senior kept one eye on the scoreboard and the other on her watch, hoping to finish her hurdling duties at The Optimist in time for prom.

“My dad said, ‘We’ll focus on one and move on to the next,’ ” Pachol said.

She wasn’t satisfied with her performance in the 100-meter hurdles, where she placed second with a so-so time of 15.02.

But she rebounded nicely in the 300 hurdles, breaking a 20-year-old school record in the semifinals with a time of 44.31, then lowering it in the finals to 44.17.

Her coach, Nicole Marino, held the old mark of 44.5, set in 1989, but has spent the last few weeks urging her protege to break the record.

“I’ve never met somebody so unselfish,” Pachol said. “She really motivates me.”

McDonald junior Joh’Vonnie Mosley also had a terrific meet, winning the discus (142 feet, 2 inches) and shot put (39-11‚Ñ4) with state-level throws. Both would have been good enough to win Div. III regional titles last spring and the discus throw would have been good enough for third at the state meet.

Green’s Kelsie Ahbe was named the girls outstanding field events performer after setting a meet record in the pole vault at 12-0 — more than a foot higher than the previous record of 10-9.

Gilmour Academy’s Candice Longino-Thomas was the top running performer after breaking the Div. III state record (and a meet record) in the 200 with a time of 24.19.

Euclid’s Tamica Harbour was the top points performer with 27.

On the boys side, Canfield junior Dustin Brode won the shot put with a throw 57-103‚Ñ4 — less than two feet off the meet record. He also placed third in the discus.

Chaney senior Myke Parker won the 100 and placed second in the 200, while Salem’s 4x100 relay of Ben Eisel, Dustin Matak, Jason Keniston and Trent Toothman also placed first.

Ken Amos of Euclid was the top point performer with 20.