Sunday, May 22, 2016
By DAN HINER
CORTLAND
The Garfield Heights track and field program had a strong showing in the Division II district track and field meet Saturday, but the Girard boys and girls teams also performed well at the meet.
The Indians boys team finished second with 61 points behind Garfield Heights’ 91 by overcoming a massive point differential. Girard’s girls 4x400 relay team clinched second place for the Indians in the final event of the day. The 10-point win in the 4x400 gave Girard 82 points, jumping ahead of Crestwood’s 80.
Overall, the Indians placed in the top-four in 12 events, including six district titles.
“It’s overwhelming. It’s exciting,” Girard head coach Madelyn McGhee said. “It’s one of those situations we knew going in that a lot of them had the potential of making it this far, and having a few of these extra kids sneak in, it’s a cherry on top of the season.”
Girard’s Emily Marsico perhaps had the best day of all of the local runners. Marsico was a part of the 4x400 team. She also won the 300-meter hurdles earlier in the day with a time of 45.74 seconds, setting a new district record by 0.01 seconds.
“It’s been a long day,” Marsico said. “But it’s nice to break the record and get first place in my events and bring home a district title,”
Marsico’s teammate Collin Harden will make another trip to regionals after winning the boys’ 300-meter hurdles with a time of 39.11 seconds and the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.95 seconds. Marsico also took first in the 100 hurdles.
For Harden, it’s the third straight season that he has qualified for regionals. He said the number of teammates that advanced with him to the next round is special.
“It’s just great knowing the whole team is going to be there with me,” Harden said. “I’m going to be with them too, just to push each other to get better—especially in practice and in meets. It will feel great.
“Personally, I’m trying to push my teammates. It’s possible as a sophomore, junior and senior to be the best they can. They can be the best they can if they do the work.”
Girard also had first-place finishes by Makayla Trebella in the 800 run with a time of 2:24.20 and Derek Basinger in the 3200 run with a time of 9:53.21, a new district record.
Champion’s Andie Sparks won the 400 dash with a final time of 1:01.84. The junior will make her second trip to the regional meet.
“I feel so blessed honestly,” Sparks said. “We don’t get a lot of representation, but my coaches work with me. We want to get to regionals. If I want to get to state I need to get sub-60 [seconds] for sure. We want to get there, we want to represent. It means a lot to be able to be here again.”
Hubbard football and track star George Hill won the 100-meter dash. Hill will advance to regionals for the second time in back-to-back seasons.
Hill suffered a hamstring injury after his final event, although he believes he’ll be ready for regionals.
“It’s a happy ending to my senior year in track. I want to give it my all and get to the state championship,” Hill said. “I want everybody to remember me. Once you go to college, everybody forgets, but I want to be the one everyone remembers was good as far as track, being a good student in school and football. I just want to leave a legacy here and pass it on to other Hubbard kids.”
Regionals will be held at Austintown Fitch High School on Thursday.