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Harding boys going for gold
Raiders hope to capture Division I team track title
By JON MOFFETT
WARREN
Photo
Warren Harding senior DeAver Williamson, shown here running in the 4x100-meter relay at last weekend’s Division I regional meet, will look to lead the Raiders to the title at this weekend’s state meet. Williamson is the defending state 100 champion.
There were a lot of butterflies for the Warren Harding High track team at last year’s state championship meet. But this year those butterflies have been replaced by fireflies.
Though the Raiders boys finished third overall a year ago, many on the team felt they could’ve done better. With that experience and another season under their belts, the Raiders are burning with energy to compete for the gold in Columbus this weekend.
And the Raiders believe they have a good shot at taking home the title.
“Last year we won our first regional title, and I think that we were so overly excited and happy with that moment, that we kind of let that supersede the state meet,” said head coach Charles Penny. “This year, we knew we had a great shot at winning the district and regional, and we did. We’re more focused this year.”
The Raiders will have participants in eight events at the state meet at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
The running preliminaries will begin Friday, with the finals taking place Saturday. Seven runners and one thrower will represent Warren Harding.
Some of those athletes, like hurdler Marvin Logan and sprinter DeAver Williamson, were at last year’s meet. Penny said those lessons learned will hopefully write a better ending to the 2010 script than the previous installment.
“We won this [regional meet] last year and we finished third [at the state meet],” Penny said. “Cleveland Glenville got second [at the regional] last year, and they beat us [at state].
“So obviously, this region gives you an idea of how well you can do at the state meet, but you can’t rest on your laurels. Just because you won the regional doesn’t mean anything.”
While many of the athletes don’t have state experience, Penny said he hopes the numbers game helps. He said nothing is guaranteed, but bringing “a lot of guys” to the meet will hopefully help the final score.
“Our goal is right in front of us right now,” Penny said. “We set out to compete and have a shot of winning a state title. And by bringing athletes for all of these events down there, that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’re giving ourselves the ability to win one.”
Draped with medals from their regional events, the Raiders discussed the sate meet.
“We’re just staying with our eyes on the prize,” said Logan, who will compete in the 110- and 300-meter hurdle events. “We’ve said all season that our ultimate goal is to win a state championship, and [the regional meet] was just another notch in our belt. We look to go down to Columbus, do damage and do what we came to do.”
Teammate Andrew Zitnik said, “In my mind, winning state is a definite possibility. I honestly think we’re going to do it.”
Zitnik, who earned Division II All-Ohio honors in the 100 and 200 last year while at Hubbard, will again compete in those events, as well as the 4x100 and 4x200. Williamson will also run the relays.
Williamson won the 100 last year and was part of the second-place 4x200 and third-place 4x100.
“Most people when they get to state, they lock up,” he said. “But we’re used to it and we’re used to the competition. So when we get there, it should be no problem.”
Said Logan, “Last year it felt like there was a lot of pressure. This year, there is no pressure. Even though the expectations are high, if that’s what we expect to do, there’s no pressure.”