KENT: Maybe LeBron James should take a lesson from the Crestwood boys track and field team.
The Red Devils delivered several clutch performances and won the Kent Rough Rider Invitational with 89 points Friday night at Roosevelt Stadium.
It was the first invitational meet title this season for the Red Devils.
“They came through tonight. They had the hunger, they had the drive,” Red Devils coach Steve Kerst said.
“They wanted to put on a show tonight and they really did. Our field event guys did wonderful; Matt Monroe was awesome in the shot and discus.”
Monroe won the shot put and discus with throws of 50 feet, 1 inch, a meet record, and 154-4, respectively.
Senior Steve Green was greeted by his excited Crestwood teammates after winning the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:33, a personal best, in an exciting race in which he edged Mike Kenny of Tallmadge by a second.
“I am feeling really good. I am already approaching my goal for my times,” Green said. “We have been running in all types of weather so far and my experience is what has made the difference this year.”
Kent Roosevelt junior Grant Mercer celebrated his 17th birthday in style, being named Most Valuable Player of the boys meet. Mercer won the long jump by a quarter of an inch over Brian Hanson of Field with a leap of 19-8, won the 300 hurdles, was second in the 110 hurdles and was fourth in the 100 meters.
“I just wanted to come out and get some personal records,” Mercer said.
Field senior Michael Robinson won his second 3,200 invitational race of year. After winning at Newton Falls, Robinson took first with a time of 10:14.4. William Morgan of Rootstown was second.
“It was awesome. I was jockeying for position and made sure I was with the first group, and when I got the chance to get out front, I did,” Robinson said.
“I was just afraid I might have gone too soon.”
The 100-meter dash went to Chris Harris of Cuyahoga Falls (11.0), edging Cameron Farley of Firestone. Marc Megenhardt beat Bobby Clark of Tallmadge in 51.1 seconds to win the 400 meters, and Brian McGovern of Tallmadge fought off Evan Farrell to win the 800 meters in 2:02.
In the 3,200-meter relay, the Archbishop Hoban team of sophomores Ben Easton and anchor Jake Tersigni and juniors James Axson and Dan Lloyd won with a time of 8:31.
Newman Telischak of Revere won the high jump by going over the bar at 6-3.
Girls
Tallmadge won the meet with 114 points, with Kent Roosevelt second at 100.5 thanks in part to meet MVP Kaycee Harris, a junior, who won the 300 hurdles in 46.3 and won the 200 meters (26.7).
“This could be a turning meet for me and hopefully give me the confidence the rest of the year,” Harris said.
In the 100 hurdles, Demi DeLorenzo of Tallmadge edged Harris 16.2 to 16.3, and Tallmadge won the 400 relay in 52.1.
Firestone senior Sarah Meek, who made it to state in cross country, was a double winner, capturing the 3,200 meters with a time of 11:23, nearly a minute faster than second-place Liz Hoenigman of Cuyahoga Falls. She also won the 1,600 meters in 5:16, a personal best.
“The 3,200 is my favorite event. It was great weather and I just love running out there. There is a lot of good competition,” Meek said.
“In a meet like this, I focus on my time, not place, because I can’t control what other girls are doing.”
Ashleigh Pickens of Rootstown broke her own record in the high jump by going over the bar at 5-5.
In the 100-meter dash, Savannah Gearhart of Field crossed the finish line in 12.6 seconds.
Tori Chiller of Crestwood ran 1:02 in the 400 meters, and the Red Devils won the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 9:58.
Erica King of Cuyahoga Falls won the discus with a throw of 120-4.
Read the high school blog at http://www.ohio.com/preps.
