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The Boardman boys track team sent junior Dave Merdich and sophomore Micah Beckwith to the 2019 OHSAA State Championship at Jesse Owens Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University.
Merdich earned his first trip to the state meet by placing fifth overall in the shot put with a throw of 52 feet and 11.75 inches.
However, Merdich’s achievement was not without its share of drama. The OHSAA this season has instituted two ‘Wild Card’ selections in field events after adding them to running events in 2018. By finishing fifth, Merdich had to wait over an hour until the results of the other three regions were final to find out if he had indeed qualified to state.
“I am so happy for Dave,” said Boardman Head Coach John Phillips. “To go through all the anxiety of having to wait to see if you make it is rough, but Dave stayed positive and everything worked out in the end. Dave has worked very hard the last few seasons in the shot ring and the weight room to get to Columbus, he has definitely earned this honor. I am also thrilled for our throws coach, John Pallini, on qualifying his first regional athlete to Columbus after being so close for so many years. Coach Pallini does an excellent job and deserves a trip to state as well.”
Beckwith will be competing in all four seated events in Columbus after qualifying in earlier meets held throughout the season.
Beckwith earned All-Ohio honors in three events last season and will look to add to his medal count this weekend. The expansion of the seated division in Ohio will result in Friday prelims for Beckwith in the 100, 400 and 800 where the top 2 in each race and the next 5 fastest times overall will advance to Saturday’s finals. Beckwith will begin his Friday with a final in the seated shot put prior to the racing prelims.
“Micah is going to be very busy on Friday and hopefully, if all goes well, Saturday too. His experience last year at state has prepared him for the workload he is going to have this year. He is a very dedicated athlete and works very hard on the track, in the ring, and in the weight room all year,” said Phillips.
Also scoring for the Spartans at the regional meet were junior Mitchel Dunham in the 1600 with a career-best time of 4:21 which placed sixth overall, and sophomore Ted Anzevino with a career-best vault of 13 feet in the pole vault to also place sixth.
The 4x800 relay team of sophomore Frank Bero, sophomore Jonah Bacho, senior Payton Torres and Dunham placed eighth with a time of 8:09.