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Titles still in play for Valley’s Division I programs
Three D-I
Valley teams
have finalists
By Charles Grove
COLUMBUS
The Warren Harding girls track team put itself in position to compete for a team state title during Friday’s preliminary heats. But it won’t come easy for the Raiders.
Harding qualified for five finals when the dust settled. Individually, Aisha Jackson finished sixth overall in the 100 hurdles, Gariana Bercheni finished fourth overall in the 300 hurdles and defending-champion Justice Richardson finished fourth in the 100 dash to secure places today.
On the relay side, the Harding 4x100 and 4x200 teams both finished second overall. But it’s going to take a little something extra if the Raiders are to win any of the events.
Dublin Coffman’s Abby Steiner stole a good portion of Richardson’s thunder. Steiner broke the stadium record in the 100 dash finishing in 11.60 seconds compared to Richardson’s 12.01. Steiner ran away from Richardson during the final leg of the 4x200 relay and won the 200 dash while Richardson finished a distant sixth.
The duo looks to be one of the best rivals at the meet. Steiner finished second to Richardson in the 100 a year ago. But the Syracuse-bound Richardson is optimistic.
“I’m not worried about her. I’m more worried about myself,” she said.
Bercheni was all smiles after her strong showing in the 300 hurdles. She said the team has never had a better chance to come through with a state title.
“This is really big for us,” Bercheni said. “This is the most events we’ve qualified in and we have a great shot to place in all of them. I’m excited and I’m excited for my teammates.”
Richardson said the relays are going to run even faster than they did in preliminaries.
“I know we’re going to run even faster in the final tomorrow so I’m just really excited,” Richardson said. “We’re going to have to run against them tomorrow so we’re just going to have to push ourselves.”
While Boardman’s Brendon Lucas had hoped to be competing in the 100, 200 and 400 in Columbus, Lucas made the most of just competing in the 400. He finished second in his heat and will look to stand on top of the podium today.
“It’s first or nothing,” Lucas said. “I’m going to have to leave it all out on the track and hope for the best. I’m excited and a little nervous. I had a couple jitters since I hadn’t run much since regionals.”
The Mahoning Valley’s other main participant was Austintown Fitch. But it wasn’t the day the Falcons were hoping for as the girls 4x100 team finished 10th overall and Eva Rivera finished 11th overall in the 200 dash.
“I’m bummed. This is not the time I wanted,” Rivera said after the 4x100 relay. “There’s not even words to express the feeling. It sucks. We come up here to finals last year and we were hoping to go again.”
Fitch will have a chance to stand on the podium today as Logan Kusky will compete in the discus and the shot put and Lauren Dolak will run the 800 meters.