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Hartman rockets Maplewood to victory in 4x800 relay
By Joe Scalzo
navarre
With his wiry frame, pink headband and not-quite connected goatee, Maplewood senior Wyatt Hartman isn’t going to strike fear in the heart of someone walking down a dark alley.
But on a track? In the 4x800-meter relay? With a lead?
Be very afraid.
In Wednesday’s Division III regional meet at Fairless High School, teammate Derek Morrison gave the Rockets the lead after his third leg, which is like giving LeBron James a trampoline or the Yankees an extra $1 million.
“We know we’ve got a great anchor with Wyatt,” Morrison said. “The last 300 [meters] is key to get Wyatt that lead.”
Hartman did the rest, pulling away for a 7:55.68 finish — the Rockets’ fastest time of the season and almost nine seconds better than second-place Gilmour Academy (8:04.38). McDonald was third, earning one of the four spots for next week’s state meet.
“We’re right where we need to be,” Hartman said. “We’re all hitting our stride, but we realize other teams will cut time, too.”
Hartman learned that lesson the hard way three years ago, helping the Rockets run a regional-record 7:50.83, only to get clipped by St. Thomas Aquinas at the state meet by less than half a second.
“We’re happy with our performance,” Hartman said, “but by no means comfortable with where we’re at.”
United sophomore Riley Fillman was the only other Valley native to capture a regional title, leaping a personal-best 21-111/2 in the long jump to edge Columbiana senior Britton Steiginga by a half-inch. South Range senior Jake Arsuffi placed fourth.
“It feels amazing,” said Fillman, who had a knee injury last spring and failed to make it out of districts. “I came in not expecting to win, so I was really surprised when I jumped that 21-11. It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders.
“It actually didn’t even feel like my best jump. I didn’t feel like I had much spring off the board. But I’ll take it.”
Steiginga, who won last week’s district meet and was seeded first, surpassed 21 feet on all his jumps but couldn’t quite match his personal-best jump of 22-4 from earlier in the season.
“The guy got me by half of an inch,” he said, shrugging. “So, I mean, we’re both right there.”
Steiginga pulled his hamstring last spring but still managed to finish ninth at last year’s state meet. He’s shooting for a personal record next week.
“I think I can get into the mid-22s,” he said.
Maplewood junior Stephen Pop finished second in the discus (161 feet) to punch his second straight ticket to Columbus, losing the regional title on the final throw of finals when Rootstown senior David Paliscak threw 178-8.
“I’d rather let him beat me here than beat me next time,” Pop said. “I’m excited for next week. I can throw farther. I guess next week’s the time to do it.”
McDonald sophomore Christian Smith was third (157-2) and South Range senior Jon Kenney (who tore his ACL as a sophomore and a junior) was fourth as both earned their first state berths.
On the girls side, United’s 4x800 relay placed third to advance, as did Badger’s Taylor Baumiller and Columbiana’s Shayla Ray, who both cleared 5 feet to tie for third in the high jump.
“I actually cried,” Baumiller, who battled a back injury all last season, said. “I didn’t really get a chance last year to do good, so it’s nice to get out this year.”