Hood earns All-Ohio honors at state indoor meet

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Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman girls indoor track team members, from left, Katie Heney (3200, Nicole Biagetti (long jump), Valerie Hood (shot put) and Nicole Vlad (60 hurdles) qualified for the state indoor championships Mar. 20.

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Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman indoor track athlete, Valerie Hood, received a medal for All-Ohio honors by placing sixth in the shot put. Hood particpated at the state indoor championships in Akron Mar. 20.

The 2010 indoor track season for the Boardman girls team came to a successful end Saturday as four girls placed at the state indoor championships at the University of Akron.

Entering the state meet ranked fifth, senior Valerie Hood threw a 36-0 in the shot put to take sixth place and earn All-Ohio honors. The top eight in each event received All-Ohio recognition.

Junior Katie Heney, who competed in the state indoor meet for the third straight year in the 3200, had the 14th best time coming into state. She finished four spots better at state, posting a season-best time of 11:52.38 for 10th place.

Senior Nicole Biagetti earned her first trip to the indoor state meet in the long jump and came into the meet ranked ninth as a result of her 16-5 1/2 at Kent State earlier in the year. On Saturday, she jumped 16-1 to finish 11th.

Junior Nicole Vlad competed at her first indoor state meet in the 60-meter hurdles and qualified by virtue of a 9.55 time run at a Kent State meet earlier in the season. At state, she posted a time of 9.95 to take 13th.

“These girls worked very hard and made a full commitment to the entire indoor season to advance to the indoor state championships. I was very proud of their performances at the state meet,” said Boardman coach Denise Gorski.

“Valerie has thrown very well all season long and although I know she wanted to throw farther at the state meet, she still received All-Honor honors. She has only been really throwing for three years. “Our throwing coach, Tim Swartz, has really increased her strength with his strong weight lifting program and worked hard on her technique.”

Before the state indoor meet, two other girls besides Heney and Hood traveled to the last chance qualifier at Oberlin March 14. Senior Kristie Stoll ran a career indoor season-best time of 12:32.41 in the 3200 and placed fourth and senior Heather McSuley threw 29-0 in the shot put.

“Kristie and Heather were both standing in the top 35 in the state and wanted one more shot at making the indoor state meet. Although they came up short, they worked hard to put themselves on this list,” said Gorski.

“I again compliment all of our girls who competed on the indoor team committing themselves for three months to this program. Now it’s time to focus on the outdoor season.”