By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
The Galion Tigers and Lady Tigers track teams may have a dynasty on their hands. The girls picked up their fourth straight team championship at the county track meet, while the boys held up the trophy for the third straight year.
With overcast skies and a wind that would chill the bone at the Wynford athletic complex, the Tigers iced their competition Friday at the county track meet. The Lady Tigers amassed 179 points, outperforming second place Colonel Crawford by 13 points over 17 events. For the Tigers, it was a similar story as they defeated the Eagles by 22 points 165-143.
With first place finishes in the long jump and high jump, and the shotput and discus, Galion Lady Tigers Marisa Gwinner and Briana Streib took home co-MVP of the field events.
Gwinner, who jumped 16’ 4” in the long jump and 5’ 2” in the high jump, was confident that her and her teammate would be co-MVP.
“Honestly, we were both walking into this meet knowing it was going to happen, so for us to come out and compete and both go in one in both high jump and long jump for me, and shot put and discus for Bri, is pretty freaking awesome,” Gwinner said. “We are just a powerhouse team together.”
Streib, who threw the shot 33’ 6.5” and the discus 107’ 9”, echoed her teammate’s sentiments.
“It was great. Honestly, we knew it was going to happen. We finally both did it together,” Streib said.
Taking home the track MVP for the women was Kirsten Vehrs. Vehrs, who finished first place in the 100 meter hurdles (16.97) and 300 meter hurdles (50.38), second in the 100-meter dash (13.41), and third in the 200-meter dash (28.72), explained how it felt winning the MVP.
“It is an honor to be congratulated as the running event MVP winner, especially since I just followed a lot of leaders’ footsteps.”
The boys’ side featured co-MVP’s in the fielding events as well. Bucyrus’ Harley Robinson and Wynford’s Seth Hoffman shared the honor.
Finishing first in the high jump (6’) and long jump (20’ 4.75”), Robinson was proud to win the award for his school.
“It actually feels really good because Bucyrus don’t win much and I like to represent my school,” Robinson said.
Robinson added what it took to get to the MVP award.
“It takes a lot of work and practice on form just everything,” Robinson explained.
Taking home the co-MVP in field for his home school with throws of 142’ 2” in the discus, and 51’ 1” in the shot put, Hoffman felt his better event was in the shot put. Hoffman explained how it felt winning MVP in front of the home crowd.
“It feels pretty good, and shows that hard work pays off,” Hoffman said.
On the track side Colin McCullough got over the hump to be crowned MVP for the boys. Finishing first in the 110-meter hurdles (15.42) and 300-meter hurdles, McCullough said it felt good to step up and finish in first place.
“It feels great, I have been training. I have always been second man getting this award,” McCullough said. “Always second place behind one of our guys getting the award last year, and with him graduating I knew I would have to step up, and take on the events I would need to take the award. Just being able to do the hurdles and the relays it just felt good to get the award for it.”
While the weather may not have been conducive for record breaking, one record did fall at this year’s county meet. Anna Reffey took the record in the 3200 meter race with a time of 11:51.65, falling the record of 11:53.30 by Jessica Carmona in 1997.
A 39-year old record in the boys 4×400 meter relay was almost taken down as well, but in the end the Galion Tigers fell short by .15 of a second from tying the 3:31.00 mark set by the Tigers in 1978.
Team Rankings
Boys:
Galion – 165
Colonel Crawford – 143
Bucyrus – 92
Wynford – 84
Crestline – 31
Buckeye Central – 8
Girls:
Galion – 179
Colonel Crawford – 166
Wynford – 64
Buckeye Central – 58
Bucyrus – 48
Crestline – 7