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Walker, Owen are Division II award winners
By BOB ETTINGER
AUSTINTOWN
Garrett Walker doesn’t like the thought of someone getting the better of him on a track. The Springfield junior didn’t allow the thought to be a possibly in claiming three individual titles and a relay title at the Mahoning County Track and Field Championships at Greenwood Falcon Stadium on Saturday.
“If a guy comes up on me, I’ve got to pick up my speed,” Walker said. “I have to put in more work than everybody else to win a race.”
Walker and Maddy Owen of Western Reserve were named the Division II Rob Ruan Award winners.
“I did expect to win,” Owen said. “I was feeling good about today. I didn’t think I’d win all my races. It means a lot to me. I didn’t expect this to happen. I’m more than happy it did.”
Springfield claimed the boys title with 146.5 points toppling South Range with 123, Jackson-Milton with 96, Western Reserve with 81.5 and Valley. The Valley Christian 400-meter relay team of Brandon Paige, Tyrone Lindsey, Lohron Brown and Damon Christian shattered the meet record with a 45.04. Ursuline had set the mark at 45.11 in 2013. Christian with 75 in Division II.
Lowellville was sixth with 54, Campbell placed seventh with 22 and Sebring was eighth with 17.
“They bought in,” Springfield coach Joe Antonucci said. “We told them all week if they did their best, they had a realistic shot to take this thing today. They bought in to what we were telling them and everyone gave their best effort. Some school records were broke today and we had a number of personal bests today.”
The Springfield girls were also victorious, outpointing South Range with 160 points. The Raiders were second with 101, Western Reserve third with 87 and Jackson-Milton fourth with 83. Grace McDevitt of Jackson-Milton took titles in both throwing events. She won the discus with a 98-9 and the shot put with 33-8.25
Valley Christian came in at fifth with 60, Campbell was sixth with 45, Lowellville was seventh with 42 and Sebring was eighth with 13.
“I told the girls to go out and compete and they’d have a good shot to win this thing,” Springfield coach John Toy said. “They did that. They competed.”
Walker paced the Springfield boys with victories in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes before anchoring the victorious 1,600-meter relay that also included Dante Argiro, Zach Ebert and Beau Brungard. Walker won the 100 in 11.07, the 200 in 22.32 and the 400 in 22.32.
Owen took wins in the 100-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles and the long jump while anchoring the winning 1,600-meter relay that also included Olivia Altiere, Sabra Nicopolis and Taylor Mayorga.
Anna Wiery opened the day for the Springfield girls with a win in the high jump, clearing 4-6. She was followed to the top of the podium by Mary Grace Mason (100, 13.55), Kylee Kosek (400, 1:05.84) and the 3,200-meter relay team of Ava DiMaiolo, Courtney Hughes, Brooke O’Donnell and Julianna Sandine.
Other winners for the Springfield boys included Jakob Joyce in the high jump (5-10) and Benny Chaszeyka in discus (149-4).
South Range’s Spencer Bush won the 1,600 and 3,200 in 4:42.18 and 10:19.43, respectively.