DYNAMIC DUO: Harding speedsters will be very busy at state meet

June 2, 2016 at 12:10a.m.

Warren Harding’s dynamic duo will try to strike again this week at the Division I girls state track meet.

Seniors Justice Richardson and Gariana Berchini will compete in four events each, one year after both competed in two events.

Richardson will run the 100 and 200, and will combine with Berchini, Aisha Jackson and Ka’Naylah Cox in the 4x200 and 4x100 relays.

Berchini will run the 100 and 300 hurdles, along with her relay commitments.

Richardson set a meet record in the 100 last week at the Austintown regional, finishing in 11.78. She was third in the 200 at 24.84.

Richardson is the defending 100 state champion, having edged then-freshman Abby Steiner of Dublin Coffman. Richardson finished at 11.85, with Steiner at 11:89.

Steiner has lowered her times this season, breaking the state record of 11:58 with a time of 11:56.

“My goal is to win, and it would be nice to break the state record,” said Richardson, who has accepted a scholarship to attend Syracuse. “But my ultimate goal is always to win.”

Richardson, who placed third in the 200 at the regional, is taking a common-sense approach to the 100.

“I feel like I’m my main competition,” she said. “I only worry about myself.”

Like Richardson, Raiders coach Charles Penny isn’t worried about setting records.

“Goal number one is to win,” Penny said. “If she’s blessed enough to win the state, then obviously goal number two would be to win in record-setting fashion. The goal isn’t to break the record and get second. That happened indoors. Her and Abby Steiner both broke the 60-meter record, but she [Richardson] finished second.”

It will likely be a bittersweet day for Penny as he watches Richardson finish her high school career.

“Justice is a pleasurable young lady,” Penny said. “Her winning a state title has no effect on the enjoyment of her four years at Warren Harding.

“She made a name and has her own legacy at the school,” Penny said. “She works hard and does everything asked of her to be a state champion. In that respect, it will be hard to see her go, but it will be harder to see her go as an individual.”

Berchini competed on the 4x100 and 4x200 relays at state last season. She advanced from regional this year in the 300 hurdles with a first in 43.23 and in the 100 hurdles with a third in 14.47.

“I thought it was possible,” Berchini said of advancing to state as an individual, “but not so much in four events. I was pretty sure about the 300, but the 100 set it over the top for me.”

For Berchini, it’s all about maintaining a proper mindset.

“I know what everyone is running and how they run,” said Berchini, who will attend Ashland University later this year. “It comes down to me keeping my composure and my head, and I’ll be fine.”

Penny isn’t surprised at the improvement shown by Berchini.

“She works extremely hard,” Penny said. “To be an underclassman in Division I last year and to make state is definitely more challenging because the girls are more mature.

“At smaller schools you’ll see freshmen and sophomores make the state meet. In Division I, she’s competing against the best in the state.”

The 4x100 relay team placed first at regional with a meet record 47.59. The 4x 00 quartet was second at 1:41.22.