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YSU nears a sweep in Horizon League track and field championships
Horizon League Championship
Gallery
YOUNGSTOWN
Despite the poor weather conditions, things are looking bright for the Youngstown State men’s and women’s track teams. Both extended already large leads heading into today’s final day of competition.
The YSU women lead Oakland 103.5-64 while the YSU men lead Oakland 111-70.
Photo Gallery: Horizon League Championship
Penguins coach Brian Gorby is thrilled with his team’s performances.
“The women’s side is really separating themselves at this point,” Gorby said. “Oakland went 1-2-3 in the steeplechase and got some points there but tomorrow we’re pretty much 1-2-3 in every sprint event and the hurdles so things are looking good there.”
The women’s 200 looks to be very strong with Jaliyah Elliot, Keishawnna Burts, Taylor Thompkins and Iva Domitrovich all in the final qualifying first, second, fifth and seventh, respectively. Elliot won her heat by 1.23 seconds, literally running away with the competition.
“I was just trying to win my heat,” Elliot said. “I didn’t know I was going that fast.”
The inseparable trio of Elliot, Burts and Thompkins all said they think they’ll go 1-2-3 in today’s final.
Other highlights on the women’s side include Jaynee Corbett following up Friday’s discus championship with a win in the shot put, throwing 51 feet, 10.5 inches. Corbett’s throw broke the Horizon League record.
Abby Jones won the high jump competition, leaping 5-6, and Chenera Lacey won the heptathlon.
Hurdler Amber Eles also dominated in the 100 hurdles, easily taking the top seed in today’s final.
“I came in a little nervous knowing it was going to be cold and rainy, but running a good time and getting top seed makes me feel comfortable for tomorrow,” Eles said.
Things went well on the men’s side too. Chad Zallow, Caleb Lloyd, Myron Anderson and Collin Harden all qualified into the 110 hurdles final while Chad and Carl Zallow both qualified in the 100 dash.
Harden is also the favorite in the 400 hurdles by 0.51 seconds.
“We’re set up pretty well,” Chad Zallow said. “Everyone came out here and did what they were projected to do so we’re looking good for [today]. As long as we take care of business [today] things are setting up pretty well for us.”
Runners battled stiff winds all day which meant race strategies had to be changed on the fly depending on if someone was running with or against the wind. Freshman Brendan Lucas learned that lesson on Saturday when he got passed by Milwaukee’s Kyle Becker and Oakland’s Corey Goodloe right at the finish.
“[Brendan] tried to gun it with the wind in his back [during the 400 meters], but he sold out so much in the first 300 that he got picked off at the end,” Gorby said.
Said Lucas: “I’ll run a little smarter tomorrow and then just give it my all in the 200.”
The final events of the day were the women’s and men’s steeplechase, which had athletes running 3,000 meters, over hurdles and then into a pool of water each lap. YSU senior Libby Rogenski, who graduated with a degree in engineering earlier in the day, said it was not the most ideal conditions, especially with the wind chill at a near-freezing 34 degrees.
“It’s kind of like you’re running and someone is pushing against you and then you jump into a lake of frigid cold water and then you get out of the lake and then someone’s still pushing against you and then you have to jump like three feet in the air,” Rogenski said. “And then you have to do that five times every lap.”.
Field events today will begin with the men’s high jump at 10 a.m. Running events begin at 11 a.m.