The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
SAILORS WIN CUP, GERACI SETS MARK
Ranger senior sets meet record in long jump, wins high jump and anchors two relays
At the 41st Vermilion Invitational on May 4, Vermilion captured the Stillman Cup and North Ridgeville senior Isabella Geraci was perfect, helping the Rangers to a runner-up finish (94) behind champion Madison Comprehensive (165). The Rangers boys also placed second (91) behind Madison Comprehensive (102).
Geraci won all four of her events and broke the meet record and school record in the long jump, jumping a 18-41/2 on her first attempt. She cleared a 5-4 in the high jump, and anchored the winning relays of the 4x100 (Abby Bernhardt, Trinity Thomas, Tatiana Serna, Geraci) with a 51.87 and the 4x200 (Bernhardt, Thomas, Serna, Geraci) with a 1:49.62.
“It means a ton to win here,” Geraci said. “Four wins is pretty sweet. And I honestly don’t think I’ve ever done that. I was super excited once I won that last 4x1. For the long jump, I just felt good because I didn’t do any events prior and I was ready to go. I was pretty surprised because it was my first attempt and I was super excited. In our 4x2, our handoffs were spot on, and our 4x1, we mixed it up a little but other than that we did great.”
Teammate Graicen Riley won
the 1,600 (5:39.86). On the boys side, Milan Seiber and Austin Casey won three events. Seiber and Casey won the 4x800 relay (8:23) and 4x400 (3:32.25). Seiber also won the 800 (2:05) and Casey won the 400 (50.39). Teammate Matthew Caraszi won the pole vault (11-0). With the Southwestern Conference meet beginning next week, Geraci is ready.
“I feel ready for it,” she added. “My jumping legs are a little iffy and I have to ice them, but I’m super excited for it.”
The Stillman Cup is a trophy named after both athletic directors from Firelands and Vermilion — Ty Stillman and Andy Stillman. To win the award, the boys and girls scores are combined to see who has the highest total. The Sailors won, 130.5-97.5.
Vermilion senior Zack Kelly placed second in the 100 (11.49) behind Lorain senior Zion Cross (11.12). Cross opted out of the 200, and Kelly won with a 22.77.
But he preferred Cross was in it.
“I was so nervous to run and I had to pick my head up to look at him and I was like, man, this kid is a monster,” Kelly said about the 100 race. “So I was pretty happy with staying up on him though. I was sort of angry when he wasn’t in the 200 because I definitely wanted to run against him. I don’t really care I came in second if he was running, I just would have loved to face him again because I felt in the 100 I was getting closer to him and I felt the 200 was going to be my race.”
Kelly came in second in the 400 (50.70) behind Casey (50.39), and one spot ahead of Brookside’s David Chambers (51.04).
To capture the Stillman Cup, and to win an event, Kelly came away satisfied.
“It means a lot,” he added. “In front of all the fans and cheering me on. All of them were telling me I was going to beat Zion and I told them I don’t know about that. Especially for the first time going against a state champion. We take the Stillman Cup very seriously. I don’t like seeing Firelands winning anything. That’s our championship right there.”
Vermilion boys coach Dave Domonkos echoed his senior’s statements. He also saw Isaac Lindo win the 1,600 (4:48.21) and place second in the 3,200.
“Anytime you beat your competitor down the street, it’s awesome and the kids did a great job tonight,” he said. “Zack Kelly is an amazing athlete. We’ve been trying to get Zack for a couple years and we knew he had speed but we didn’t know what kind of speed. But now we do.”
Lorain freshman Mikiya Hermon doubled up, winning the 100 (12.87) and the 200 (26.48).
“I was nervous, I’m always nervous before an event,” Hermon said. “But my friends help me and encourage me. People always say that I’m naturally fast and I guess I am because I’ve been winning. I feel like I’m ready for the postseason but I just need more training. There are a lot of fast girls but I’m hoping I get better.”
Hermon added that she learns from watching Cross in his sprints events.
“It’s good to watch somebody that’s better than you so you can watch what they do,” Hermon said.