Boardman girls have a date with state

Five members of the Boardman girls track team are competing at this weekend’s state meet in Columbus.

After qualifying in 11 events at last week’s regional meet in Austintown, five girls and three events finished in the top four of their respective events to move on to state.

Senior Valerie Hood qualified for her first outdoor state meet by placing fourth in the shot put (40-8) and discus (127-7). Hood was an indoor All-Ohioan, placing sixth at the Indoor State Championships in the shot put.

”Valerie has had a very successful year in both throwing events and to qualify in both speaks volumes about her athleticism,” said head coach Denise Gorski, “I also want to compliment her throwing coach, Tim Swartz, who has produced two state qualifiers in the past three years.”

“The relay’s performance was outstanding both days and it took all four of them running great legs to get there,” said Gorski.

The 4x100 meter relay team of seniors Nicole Biagetti and Doriyon Glass, junior Nicole Vlad and sophomore Lesley Koch qualified for their first trip to the outdoor state meet in record fashion. They ran 49.03 to break a 27-year-old school record.

The team raced to third place to qualify for their state trip, but also shattering their season-best with a time of 48.62.

There were eight other events that qualified for regionals but did not qualify for state. In the long jump, Biagetti missed by one-fourth of an inch to qualify for the state meet in the long jump. She placed fifth with a jump of 17-3 º”.