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Lakeview’s Biehl qualifies in four events
Howland girls take
4x800 relay crown
By Brandon Judeh
Cortland
When participating in the Trumbull County Track and Field Meet, there’s a certain pride that comes with it for Lakeview athletes.
Hosting a meet is always special, but there’s something about the Trumbull County meet that really gets Ben Biehl’s blood flowing.
“It’s an honor, to go up against the area’s best is something special, and to do it at your home track makes it even more amazing,” Biehl said.
“We are going up against state champions from Harding and [Warren] JFK and that really motivated me in practice and pushed me to do my best today. My goal for Thursday is to win.”
Biehl participated in four events Tuesday and qualified in all of them.
Though Tuesday’s meet was mainly preliminary races — with the finals being Thursday — Lakeview senior Jordan Lowther says he treats the event as if it were the finals.
“The meet has been held here every year of my high school career and it’s really special, it motivates me to really work hard in practice and prepare so that I can come out here, advance and place,” Lowther said.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about the prelims was the turnout.
The parking lot, stands and fences were full of spectators as the athletes looked to advance.
“Looking around and seeing how many people turned out for the meet today is a great testament to the sport of track and field,” said Lakeview head coach Mark Swinning. “We have some fantastic programs here in Trumbull County, Harding, McDonald, Maplewood and Howland are just a few of them. One of the greatest things is seeing all of the communities coming out together to not only support their kids, but to root competing schools on as well. It’s really a great thing.”
More than 20 schools took part in the festivities and hundreds of athletes competed on a perfect day for spring sports.
“This is the best weather we have had since probably our first meet of the season, and this is the best weather to compete in,” Lowther said. “I don’t feel as good when it’s cold or rainy out.”
The Howland girls also had a big evening, running away with the 4x800 relay.
Leading the way for the Tigers was Taylor Craigo, who said the win was huge.
“The last two years Maplewood and McDonald have beaten us, so it feels nice to finally be able to break through. It was a great race,” Craigo said.
“I really think this helps put us up with the likes of Fitch, that’s somewhere we haven’t been for a while so it definitely feels good to come out and do what we did.”
Howland, along with the Warren Harding girls, are primed to be among the favorites Thursday.
The meet resumes at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
SALEM SWEEPS COLUMBIANA COUNTY TITLES
Salem won the boys and girls team titles Tuesday at the Columbiana County Meet at East Palestine High School.
The Quakers’ boys finished with 155 points, followed by United (130) and Columbiana (86). Salem’s girls won with 157 points, followed by United (108) and East Liverpool (89).
Salem’s Daniel Rumsey won the 100, 400 and ran a leg of the Quakers’ victorious 800 relay to win the boys running MVP award. United’s Larry Cooper won the shot put and the discus and was the field events MVP.
United’s Allison Parks, who won the 800, 1600, 3200 and was part of a second-place 1600 relay, earned the girls running MVP award.
Columbiana’s Addie Dunlap placed second in the shot put and discus and was named girls field events MVP.