Fitch's Figueroa maintains reputation, improves state meet record

Staff report

AKRON

When it comes to the weight throw, Austintown Fitch senior Gabby Figueroa admits she’s usually competing against herself.

At Saturday’s state indoor track meet, she won.

Figueroa broke her own state meet record by more than three feet in the weight, throwing 59 feet, 61/2 inches to win her third straight Division I state title at Stiles Field House at the University of Akron.

“I feel like I have to almost maintain that [state] reputation,” said Figueroa, a LSU recruit. “When I compete, it reminds me of why I train so hard during the week.”

Figueroa’s throw fell short of her career-best of 64-11, but it easily topped last year’s state meet record throw of 56 feet.

She said Saturday’s performance wasn’t quite up to her recent standards.

“I guess you could say I was under my batting average,” she said. “I’ve been throwing 60-plus [feet] for a couple weeks now.”

Figueroa also placed fourth in the shot put, while teammate Tradaiza Merchant placed fourth in the weight throw and 16th in the shot put to help the Falcons tie Centerville for second in the team standings with 32 points. Solon was first with 33.50.

“Me and the shot put don’t get along very well,” Figueroa said, laughing. “It’s probably my shakiest event but I’m learning to accept the challenge.

“I think I have some great improvements to make in the outdoor season. I’m extremely excited about it. I think our whole track team is going to be great.”

Warren Harding’s Justice Richardson placed third in the 60-meter dash and helped the Raiders place third in the 4x200 relay to place 11th in the team standings.

Fitch’s girls 4x400 relay was second and the Falcons’ 4x200 relay was fifth.

On the boys side, Fitch’s Joe Harrington placed fifth in the 60 and third in the 200, while Sam Ortz was fifth in the 60 hurdles and Nathan Bowlen was fifth in the 400 as the Falcons finished 11th.

BOYS Division II/III

Warren JFK senior Carl Zallow won the 200 and placed second in the 60 behind Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary standout Parris Campbell, an Ohio State football recruit.

In the 200, Zallow ran a 22.29 to best Dunbar senior Curtis Boyd.

“I ran a really good race today, from the start to getting out of the blocks to all the way to the end,” said Zallow, who was sixth in the indoor 200 last year. “I like to think of myself as having more top-end speed because I’m more of a 100-meter guy, so I feel like if I can get them [his opponents] out of the blocks, I can hold them off pretty much to the finish line.”

Zallow ran a blistering 6.94 in the 60. Problem was, Campbell broke his own state indoor record in 6.85, lowering the previous mark by two-hundredths.

“Taking second to someone like Parris Campbell, I really can’t complain,” said Zallow, a YSU recruit who won the Division III 100-meter outdoor title last year. “He’s a heck of an athlete.”

Zallow’s brother, Chad, sat out Saturday’s meet with a strained hamstring. The brothers will compete at New Balance indoor nationals next week in New York.

“This just motivates me for outdoor [season],” Zallow said. “It makes me hungrier for more accomplishments, for more wins.”

Girls Division II/III

Ursuline’s LaVonte Powell won the 200 and helped the Irish place second in the 4x200 relay to finish fifth in the team standings.

Powell, who won an indoor title in the 400 last year, said she got off to a “horrible start” in the 200, but was able to finish in 25.65, ahead of Cleveland JFK’s Sierra Williams (25.78) and Bath’s Jocelyn Ayers (25.85).

“It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish,” said Powell, a Youngstown State recruit. “I knew the girl in Lane 5 [Ayers] had the next-fastest [seed] time, so I knew all I had to do was catch her. She put up a great fight, so I just had to power through and get the win.”

Powell wants to run in the sub-25-second range during the outdoor season, but she knows she’s not going to sneak up on anyone.

“I’m no longer the hunter; now, I’m the hunted,” she said. “I know in the outdoor season there’s no playing.”

Warren JFK senior Morgan Rice, last year’s outdoor 100 hurdles champion in Division III, placed third in the 60 hurdles and sixth in the 400.

Girard’s 4x200 relay was fifth and the 4x400 relay was sixth, while Liberty’s Courteney Lukac placed fifth in the 800.

For complete area results, see B2. For complete meet results, visit oatccc.com.