Fitch boys, Harding girls win Poland Invite

April 26, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

JFK’s Chad Zallow tops 18-year-old meet record in 110-meter hurdles

By Steve Wilaj

POLAND

While Warren JFK senior hurdler Chad Zallow already holds a bunch of records, the four-time state hurdles champion had his eye on a couple more heading into the 20th Poland Invitational Track and Field Classic on Saturday.

“I saw the records coming in here and that was definitely a big goal I set for myself,” Zallow said.

Winning two races, Zallow broke the 18-year-old 110-meter hurdles record with a time of 13.66 seconds. Niles’ Marc Tipton held the previous record of 14.00 seconds. The Eagles hurdler then placed first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 38.62 seconds — narrowly missing the invitational record of 38.21, set by Cuyahoga Falls’ Rob Jones in 2008.

“I just wanted to come out here, get a good start and execute my races,” said Zallow, a YSU recruit. “I knew if I did that I’d be fine.

“The biggest thing for me right now is just staying healthy and executing my races, working on my form and just getting ready for those big meets coming up down the road.”

Meanwhile, the Austintown Fitch boys won the team title with 91 points. Poland placed second with 54 points while Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary finished third.

“This is a good overall effort today,” Falcons coach Seth Steiner said. “I think we’re well balanced. The Poland Invitational always brings in good competition, so we wanted to see how we stacked up.”

Fitch’s 4x200-meter relay team of Darrin Hall, Savon McWreath, Frank Geidner and Earl Scott placed first with a time of 1:29.90. The Falcons also received an invitational-record performance by Joe Harrington in the 100-meter dash as he finished in 10.75 seconds.

“Joe ran a great race,” Steiner said. “Our 800-meter guys got some great competition, too, and our guys hit personal records. So we had some good performances all around.

“We just want to make sure that we’re running our best at the end of May and early June when it really matters. We’re on track to do that.”

Warren Harding placed first in the girls competition with 74 points. Boardman and Firestone tied for second place with 56 points.

“Very proud of our girls,” Raiders coach Charles Penny said. “We had a really rough meet Wednesday in Columbus. It was cold and really good competition. The kids ran really well there and then to come back today with limited rest and late bus rides, we’re happy with what we did today.”

Harding’s Aisha Jackson and Gariana Bercheni placed first and second in both the 100- and 300-meter hurdles. Justice Richardson also finished first in the 100-meter dash while a team of Richardson, Chyna Stroud, Berchini and Ka’Naylah Cox won the 4x100 meter relay.

“Coach [Frank] Caputo does a great job with our hurdlers,” Penny said. “Aisha and Gariana are two girls that are working hard to qualify to go do something great in Columbus on June 6.”

Other first-place finishers included: McDonald’s Heidi Hoffman (3200 run); Fitch freshmen Lauren Dolak (400 dash) and Eva Rivera (200 dash); East’s Isaiah Knuckles (400 dash); Howland’s Taylor Craigo (1600 run); Poland’s Nicolette Kreatsoulas (discus); Harding’s Ja’vone McCollough-Provi (shot put); and Girard’s Savannah Teter (high jump).

Fitch’s 4x200 relay team of Makaila Barbel, Rivera, Tyra Barnes and Ebony Davis also placed first.