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Bailey, Mitchell finish busy weekend with three medals
By Brian Dzenis
COLUMBUS
Brookfield’s Xavier Bailey is at peace with how his high school sports career came to a close.
On paper, it looked like Saturday was a disappointment for the future Ohio University football player. In Friday’s preliminaries, Bailey recorded the second fastest times in the 100 and the 200, but in the finals he took fifth (11.09) and fourth (22.24).
The 4x200 team that he anchored finished even with its seed. Joining Nicholas Varga, Colwell and Alex Bell, the Warriors runners took fourth (1:30.36) and Bailey was satisfied.
“It meant the most to them and I’ve always been about the relay team,” Bailey said. “They’re all juniors and they’ve never been in an atmosphere like this. Running at state level with the best is unbelievable.
“I’m more of a teammate guy and if me and my teammates can do something, I’d rather do that.”
Bailey, along with McDonald’s Malina Mitchell, led Mahoning Valley athletes in total medals with three.
“Being here, the atmosphere is just unreal,” Bailey said. “You’re competing with the best of the best in Ohio.”
Mitchell, state champion, in 2016, took fourth in the 1600 (5:04.26) and sixth in the 3200 (11:18.86). She was part of the 4x800 relay team that took fourth on Friday.
“A 300ths of a second separated second through fourth place [in the 1600),” Mitchell said. “I could look at that and be mad — I could have been a state runner up — but I know gave it my all and I want to be proud of myself for that.”
She turned the attention to teammate Anna Guerra.
“I gave it my all in my two races, but my teammate ran really well as a freshman in the two-mile,” Mitchell said. “To run that good of a time in that good of a place is really impressive.”
Guerra placed fourth in the 3200 (11:02.34).
“It was pretty crazy. I was pretty nervous at first, but once the gun went off, I wanted to get tight to a pack,” Guerra said. “That’s how I wanted to run my race.”
Mitchell and Guerra will return next season for the Blue Devils and Guerra already knows how to focus while running a grueling eight laps.
“I just think about finishing and being happy with my finishing time,” Guerra said. “I know the pain is only temporary and once I finish, I’m going to recover quickly and just be proud.”