Penguins look to continue Horizon League track dominance

February 22, 2019 at 12:05a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Trophies, triple crowns and shots at making history are all on the line this weekend in the Watson and Tressel Training Site.

Youngstown State’s track and field team is looking to sweep the men’s and women’s Horizon League Championships. On top of that, the men can complete the second leg of a potential triple crown having won a Horizon League cross country title earlier in the fall.

“It just shows that you’re a complete program when you can win all three,” YSU coach Brian Gorby said.

The men are shooting for their fourth straight Horizon League title while the women are going for three in a row on Saturday and Sunday. On an individual level, sprinter Chad Zallow has a shot at cementing his status as one of the best athletes in Horizon League history.

The Warren JFK graduate has won three 60-meter dash and 60 hurdles titles and has two 200 championships. He could become the first runner in League history to win the 60 four times and the second one to win the 60 hurdles four times.

“I didn’t really know that [until Thursday]. That’s really cool and something I really want to get this weekend,” Zallow said. “I’m really excited about the potential of getting that done.”

If he completes the feat, he’ll be doing it on short notice. The finals for both events take place within minutes of each other.

“It’s a hard task, but I’ve gotten used to it over the years,” Zallow said. “I’ve been doing a lot of work staying in shape for this.”

Zallow is a heavy favorite in the 60 hurdles as he currently holds the fourth-fastest time in the nation. He’s one of five male athletes who are defending Horizon League titles. Girard’s Collin Harden won the 400 in his freshman season, Daiquain Watson is the reigning long jump champ and Dylan Latone and Sean Peterson have titles in the pole vault and 800, respectively. Harden enters the weekend with the second-fastest time in the League as he’s trying to become the first YSU sprinter to win the 400 twice.

On the women’s side, sprinter Jaliyah Elliott and high jumper Abby Jones are the lone returning Horizon League champs. Elliott is the favorite in the 60 and 200 dash. Her biggest competition is freshman teammate Suerethia Henderson, who’s projected to finish second in both events.

“It’s actually really great. It’s better to have it be your own teammate than an opponent from another team,” Elloitt said. “We both have been pushing each other and whatever happens happens.”

Underclassmen expected to win in the WATTS are sophomore Kaitlyn Merwin (shot put), freshman Destiny Washington (60 hurdles) and freshman Olivia Jones (pentathlon).