University hitting its stride

Whatever is going on in Hunting Valley at the moment, they may want to consider bottling it up for present and future use.

One of the most promising developments thus far in 2021 for News-Herald coverage area track and field has been the rapid evolvement at University, in individual events to be sure but perhaps even more so in relays.

May 1 during the Mentor Cardinal Relays, the Preppers prevailed in the 4x100-, 4x200- and 4x400-meter relays. The 4x1 (43.25) and 4x2 (1:30.18) are this area’s fastest times to date this spring, and a 3:28.37 was the fastest until being surpassed later in the day by Brush (3:27.76) as the Arcs took second at Gilmour’s Miele Invitational.

In US’ last trip to the Division I Austintown-Fitch

Regional in 2019, it had two qualifiers: program staple Justin Iler, embarking on an eventual D-I 3,200 state podium charge, and pole vaulter Gabe Laskey.

Amid this outdoor campaign, the Preppers appear to have a very real chance at contending for state berths in several events.

Senior Michael Beros has developed into one of The News-Herald coverage area’s premier performers. Beros logged what had been an area-best 49.90 in open 400, before being surpassed May 4 during Day 1 prelims at the Bruin Invitational by Villa Angela-St. Joseph’s Jordan Dean with a 49.89, and he has the versatility and grit to be a trusted relay anchor across all three of the relays that won at Mentor. Junior Nate Miller has really come on in 800, recording the area’s fastest time at the Mentor Cardinal Relays with a 1:57.01.

And US’ relay depth is arguably as good as it’s been in recent memory.

Put that all together, and the Preppers have the potential to put it all together and impress immensely at Fitch on the road to state.

“We’ve changed the attitude of how we approach it,” Beros said. “We have a thing called ‘U’ plus ‘R’ equals ‘O,’ and it’s the event plus your response equals your outcome. And I think after every race, we kind of take that into consideration.

“And we have really been able to develop that into a system that makes us mentally stronger. But it’s also kind of a way to analyze where we’re a little slower and get a lot faster hopefully when we get closer to district.”

Beros could sense special things may potentially be in the offing for US’ 4x4 at the Nordonia Knight Relays. There, the Preppers saddled up with Beros on the anchor and Miller second, along with Ben Lafave and Sam Holthaus as the popper and third legs, respectively. The result was a 3:28.74, staving off the hosts (3:29.26) and instilling confidence to boot.

US has not gotten a 4x4 out of regional competition since 2009, and in sprint relays, it’s never advanced a 4x1 to state and hasn’t gotten a 4x2 out since 2011.

If the day at Mentor is indicative, whatever is going on in Hunting Valley, they might want to be prepared to bottle it up somehow.

“I think it started back in indoor when we were able to run mid-3:27,” Beros said. “To come out here and come pretty close to replicating that, with guys having a pretty heavy workload at Nordonia especially, it’s always good to be able to get back out and get right back on pace.

“I think, the more we do this and the more consistency we continue to build, we’ll be setting ourselves up for a pretty good run in the future.”