Chad Zallow medals, beats Olympian at Millrose Games

February 10, 2019 at 12:07a.m.

Youngstown State’s Chad Zallow beat one Olympian and was 0.08 seconds behind another on Saturday.

The Warren JFK graduate took third place in the Fred Schmertz 60m hurdles at the 112th NYRR Millrose Games at the New Balance Track and Field Center at The Armory in New York. He had time of 7.69 seconds.

“Being the only college guy in the field and placing third amongst all those guys — beating out an Olympian — I’m very happy with the result,” Zallow said. “Last year, I took fourth and just missed medalling, so I’m really happy.”

The race was extremely close with three decimal places needed to decide the winner. Devon Allen, who competed in the 2016 Summer Olympics, beat out Freddie Crittenden by 0.003 seconds, finishing with a time of 7.606.

Zallow beat out Johnathan Cabral, who like Allen competed in the 110m hurdles in the Olympics. Cabral took sixth with a time of 7.83.

“This is one of the best competitions that I’m going to get this year,” Zallow said. “Now it’s time to get ready for nationals.”

The senior is currently tied with LSU sophomore Damion Thomas for No. 3 in the nation in the 60m hurdles with a season-best time of 7.66. He recorded that time while winning the Penn State National Open on Jan. 26. Zallow has three victories in the 60m hurdles this season.

Florida junior Grant Holloway is No. 1 at 7.49.

“I feel like my start is right there. I got out and went all the way through,” Zallow said. “I just need to fix that finish where I come off the last hurdle a little bit to finish line and I’ll be right there.”

ELLIOT BREAKS RECORD

For the second consecutive weekend, YSU women’s sprinter Jaliyah Elliot broke a record in the 60m dash. This time, she did it twice

Racing in the Kent State Doug Raymond Qualifer on Saturday in the Kent State Fieldhouse, she set a new facility record with a time of 7.41 seconds in the preliminary races.

When it came time for the finals, she hit a time of 7.36 while taking first place. In her previous meet, the YSU National Mid-Major Invitational, she set a meet record with a time of 7.38.

Other first-place finishers include Abby Jones in the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 8 inches on her second attempt. In that same event, freshman Olivia Jones took third with a jump of 5-04.25 on her second attempt.

Assistant coach Eric Rupe won the 1-mile race competing as an unattached runner. The Maplewood graduate won the by close to three seconds in 4:07.01.

The women’s 4x400 relay team of McDonald grad Iva Domitrovich, Elliot, Alison Green and Suerethia Henderson ran their fastest time of the season at 3:55.28 while placing eighth.

The Penguins have one final meeting, Friday’s Akron Zips Invitational, before the postseason begins with the Horizon League Championships.