Figueroa makes state-ment
By Joe Scalzo
Last year she fouled out. This year she broke out.
All it took for Fitch sophomore Gabby Figueroa to go from promising to overpowering was a little confidence and a big meet.
Fresh off an All-America performance at the New Balance indoor nationals in New York City, Figueroa threw herself into the record books Saturday with an Ohio-best performance in the weight throw at the Division I indoor state meet at the University of Akron.
Figueroa’s throw of 55 feet, 5 inches was more than a foot better than her personal best (54-3), more than two feet better than her competition (Cuyahoga Falls junior Erica King, who threw 53-4) and almost two feet better than the previous state meet record (53-7 1/2).
“Well, it’s really shocking,” said Figueroa, who fouled on all three of her throws at last year’s state indoor meet. “At the beginning of the season, me and my coach [T.J. Koniowsky] didn’t expect to go this far.
“It almost seems like it didn’t happen yet. I’m still processing it.”
Fitch senior Jay Jakovina also captured a state title, winning the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 8 inches. Jakovina placed second at last week’s national meet, while Figueroa was fifth in the weight throw in NYC.
Figueroa broke the state record on her third throw (53-11) Saturday, then got her best throw on her final attempt.
“It was really interesting walking into the state meet this year because last year wasn’t really that good,” Figueroa said. “I had more confidence than I was used to.
“I think the feeling would have been different [if she hadn’t competed at the national meet first]. I don’t know if the outcome would have been different but going to nationals definitely helped.”
Fitch junior Billy Price, an Ohio State football recruit, placed second in the weight throw and the Falcons’ 4x200-meter relay placed second to help them place an area-best third in the team standings behind champion Lakewood St. Edward and runner-up Cleveland Heights.
In Division II/III competition, Lakeview senior Lauren Schattinger won state titles in the 60- and 200-meter dashes with personal-best times in both events.
“There is no better feeling; it was a lot of hard work paying off,” said Schattinger, who will run at Miami (Ohio) next year. “I could not be more excited.
“This is the best thing that could happen going into the outdoor season.”
Schattinger pulled away in the final 10 meters of the 60 dash to win in 7.74 — six-hundredths ahead of Rittman senior Crystal Barber. Then, in the 200, she had her two top competitors on either side. The race was close through the curve and Schattinger pulled away from Vermillion senior Emily Cunningham, only to see Warrensville Heights senior Shavonna Jackson close in the final stretch.
“Just when I thought my work was done, it wasn’t,” said Schattinger, whose winning time of 25.19 was nine-hundredths better than Jackson. “I didn’t get too excited about the win in the 60 because I knew I still had work to do going into the 200.
“Honestly, I didn’t think I’d win it. I’m feeling on top of the world right now.”
Her reward? Ice cream.
“That’s what I told myself,” she said, laughing. “But only if I won.”