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Flying Falcon: Harrington powers Fitch boys to district title
AUSTINTOWN
Fitch boys track coach Seth Steiner was gloating in his team’s fourth straight district championship following the Division I track meet at the Falcons’ home track on Friday afternoon.
“That’s been a big goal of theirs,” Steiner said of the four-peat by his seniors, who were also beaming since they represent a group of champions since their freshman year.
Leading the way was Joe Harrington with wins in the 100 (11.25 seconds) and 200 (22.32), while also anchoring Fitch’s winning 4x200 (1:29.22) and 4x400 (3:25.15) relay teams.
“He’s kind of been holding down the fort for us for four years now,” Steiner said of Harrington, who was a state qualifier in some relays as a freshman.
The Falcons had 145 points to Solon’s 125.
Fitch also beat out the Comets for last year’s boys crown.
“We came in as underdogs, but we performed and had a couple keys wins that made it a close victory for us,” Steiner said of Fitch’s outcome in 2014. “We knew it would be the same [this year] and come down to the last few events.”
Although MVPs aren’t awarded at the district level, Harrington spearheaded Fitch’s dominance but he had help.
“We have so much depth with guys scoring in every event — guys like Darrin Hall.” he said of the athlete who starts the Falcons’ engine in the 4x200 and 4x400 relays.
Warren Harding’s Jermaine Jones also won two events: the 110 hurdles in 15.49 and the 300 hurdles in 40.22.
Among girls, Harding finished behind winner Solon, the Division I defending state champion. Aisha Jackson and Justice Richardson were double winners for the Raiders, had 99 points to Solon’s 130.5.
The top four finishers in each event advance to the Fitch regional.
Isaiah Nuckles was East’s standout as the senior repeated as district champion in the 400. Nuckles, a senior, picked up 10 points for the Panthers with the fastest time of 49.36. He beat out Kent Roosevelt’s Terry Spurney (49.72).
“He made me push myself,” Nuckles said of Spurney’s competition. Nuckles, who also played football and basketball for East, missed qualifying for state in the 400 in 2014 by one place at the regionals. Nuckles, coached by Jerron Jenkins, is hoping for a slightly better finish at next week’s regional.
Nuckles also ran on East’s second-place 4x200 team, as well as the Panthers’ 4x100 and 4x400 relays, both of which placed third.
Fitch high jumper Carlos Herriott beat everyone at 6-2, but couldn’t clear 6-4 in three attempts. Herriott won the long jump earlier in the week.
Between his first and second attempts at 6-4, Herriott, a junior, reached into his duffle bag, pulled out a package of fruit snacks, ripped it open and ate them. He then unzipped his warm-up jacket and got ready for his next jump.
“I needed a little sugar for energy,” said Herriott, who missed his final two jumps.
His winning leap wasn’t his best, but Friday’s 6-2 was an improvement over recent meets.
“I’ve been down a lot lately, so this is a confidence-booster going into the regional,” Herriott said.
A pair of second-place finishers included Boardman’s Nathan Hadley in the 3200 (9:38.76) and Canfield’s Chase Kern in the 1600 (4:31.06). Fitch’s Logan Kusky was second in the shot put in 54-103/4.
Other key performances ranged from Boardman’s Ka’Nisha White, who was second in the shot put (35-11) and fourth in the discus (111-10) to Boardman freshman Casey Zaitzew’s fourth in the 3200 in 12:00.07.
Howland’s Cheyenne Wilson was second in the discus with a throw of 114-1, while winner Jane Sensibaugh of Solon threw a whopping 148-5. Sensibaugh also reigned in the shot with a heave of 37-51/4.
Also among girls, Harding’s Riley Brown was second in the long jump (15-4) and Fitch’s Lauren Dolak was third in the 800 (2:18.81).