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Fitch seniors run, then graduate
By Joe Scalzo
COLUMBUS
A week ago, Austintown Fitch senior Gary Gibson knew he’d spend Saturday surrounded by some of his closest friends, celebrating one of the biggest moments of his life.
He just didn’t know where.
Gibson had a choice between the Division I state track meet and commencement. And it wasn’t an easy one.
“I finally realized I couldn’t let my teammates down,” Gibson said. “If I left, they had no one to back them up.”
Added fellow senior Nathan Bowlen (who never wavered on his choice), “We knew he’d make the right decision.”
Gibson, Bowlen and juniors Darrin Hall and Joe Harrington combined to make the medal stand in three events: the 4x100 relay (third), 4x200 relay (second) and 4x400 relay (eighth). They also received their diplomas while on the medal stand for the 4x200 relay.
“That was special, getting it here,” Bowlen said. “Not a lot of people can say that.”
They weren’t quite as happy with their performance — “We wanted it [a state title] and we thought we should get it,” Bowlen said — but they also realized what they accomplished.
“You have to remember where you are,” Gibson said. “It’s special to get here.”
East senior Terell McClain also wanted to win, but after placing third in the long jump on Saturday, he likewise tried to keep things in perspective.
“I made it all the way up here [to the state meet] so I’m content with it,” he said. “I feel good coming down here to represent [East High]. I feel like I did good.
“I hope they’re proud of me.”
Boardman senior Mark Hadley, the Division I state individual champion in cross country, finished third in the 3200 for the second straight year. Hadley made a move to the front midway through the race, then fell back to sixth before gutting out a strong final lap.
Warren Harding’s girls 4x100 relay placed second but it was a bittersweet day for the Raiders. Sophomore Justice Richardson, the team’s fastest sprinter, injured her leg during the 100 and finished ninth. She tried to run the 4x200 but was clearly less than 100 percent and Harding placed ninth in the event.
In Division II, Ursuline junior Alex Carnathan placed third in the 100 and helped the Irish finish second in the 4x100 relay with a school-record time of 48.79.
“I feel like we ran our hardest and we pushed each other and that’s what it’s really all about,” she said.
Carnathan placed sixth in the 100 as a freshman and as a sophomore, “so I didn’t want to get sixth again. I’m pretty pleased with third place this year.”
Teammate Lavonte Powell placed third in the 200 to cap a strong year for the Irish sprinters, who finished as district runners-up two weeks ago.
“It really was fun,” Powell said. “It was the last 200 of my senior year and it was at state and that end was the hardest finish ever.
“Our little group of girl sprinters did more than anyone would imagine, I believe.”
On the boys side, West Branch junior Zach Robbins placed second in the high jump at 6-foot-9, one inch behind Linden McKinley sophomore Jeffery Floyd.
“I came in shooting for that 6-10 mark and I didn’t get it, but I’ll get it next year,” he said. “It’s pretty good to get second as a junior. Next year I have to try to get that first spot.”