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Valley track and field stars eye state berths
Some veterans of the state track and field meet and some looking to punch their tickets for the first time will be competing this week in their respective regional meets.
The Division I regional meet will be today and Friday, beginning at 5 p.m. each day at Austintown Fitch. Division II will be Thursday and Saturday also at Fitch. Prelims will be at 5 p.m. Thursday while Saturday’s finals begin at 11:30 a.m.
Division III will be today and Friday at Massillon Perry, both days beginning at 5 p.m.
DIVISION I
Fitch is well represented in the meet on its home turf. Individuals are in 16 different events between the boys and girls teams.
One of the Falcons’ best chance for a state appearance is Lauren Dolak in the 800. Dolak said she already has particulars about how she’d like the race to play out in her mind.
“I definitely want to be towards the front after one lap, probably about 64 [seconds],” Dolak said. “I just want to not go out too fast on the first lap and stay calm and relaxed. That’s how I got to state last year and I hope to do it again.”
On the boys side, Warren Harding’s Theran Hargrove is in one of the most competitive preliminary heats, the 200. The eight runners are separated by just 0.74 seconds on paper.
Hargrove’s chances look good on paper. He’s third overall between the two heats.
“You just have to stay focused and stay humble, you can’t go into races like this with a big head,” Hargrove said.
DIVISION II
Newton Falls should once again be strong in the throwing competitions on the girls side. Izzy Kline is the favorite in the shot put while teammate Kayla Barreca is favored to go to state in both the shot put and the discus. Barreca said the goal is not regional titles in either, not wanting to set personal standards in either competition.
“I just want to throw my [personal record] and do what’s best for myself,” Barreca said. “If I do win, it’ll be because I did well and I’ll be really happy, but I’m not expecting anything or making a goal. I’m just trying to make it out of regionals.”
Girard senior Emily Marsico was sixth in the state in the 100 hurdles last year. This year she’s seeded third in that event and second in the 300 hurdles.
“With the higher competition the regional meet will bring, I’m confident I’ll perform much better than I have so far,” Marsico said. “[Going to state in two events] would mean everything. I’ve worked all summer for this. I’d love to see it all pay off in the end.”
DIVISION III
It’s difficult to talk Division III track without mentioning the McDonald girls program. Junior Malina Mitchell was part of last year’s state champion 4x400 relay team. This year, that team has two freshmen while the 4x800 features Mitchell and three freshmen. Both look to be strong enough to go to state.
“The freshmen are a fantastic group of girls and I think they’ll handle the pressure,” Mitchell said. “I liked having the older girls with me last year to guide me but now, I’ve learned how to take these girls under my wing.”
The Blue Devils dream of another state title come June, but Mitchell knows what she’s up against.
“State is obviously the ultimate goal,” Mitchell said. “But we can’t take that for granted. We have some serious competition in teams like Minster and St. Thomas Aquinas.”