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The Boardman boys track team will be represented in 10 events at the 2019 OHSAA Regional Championship after finishing second overall at this year’s District Championship at Fitch High School. This was the best the Spartans have finished since 2013. The Boardman program has three OHSAA Northeast District Champions. They are junior David Merdich in the shot put, sophomore Ted Anzevino in the pole vault and the 4x800 meter relay team of senior Payton Torres, junior Mitchel Dunham, sophomore Jonah Bacho and sophomore Frank Bero. Also heading to the regional meet are junior Brian Yauger in the 300 meter hurdles, senior Nikitas Missos in the discus, junior Isaiah Suarez in the 400 meter dash, Dunham in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, Bero in the 800 meter run and the Spartan 4x400 meter relay. “We had a great opening day on Wednesday and followed up with an even better night on Friday,” said Boardman Head Coach John Phillips. “After being so close at The AAC Championship, I was worried that our kids would be deflated coming in to districts. Instead, they were extra motivated to put together a great performance, I could not be more proud of their effort.”
The Spartans also scored in a variety of events, including sophomore Dawaylon Pritchard placing fifth in the 200 meter dash; the sixth place 4x100 meter relay team of Pritchard and seniors Josh Rodriguez, Zach Hillard and Nick Torres; sophomore Sam Cammack placed eighth in the pole vault; senior Payton Torres was eighth in the 800 meter run; Missos was seventh in the shot put; Yauger was sixth in the 110 meter hurdles and sophomore Cristian Ortiz was seventh in the 400 meter dash.