Label these Wolverines a winner
Dunbar High School had just roasted the final event to win an elusive boys state track and field title.
It had been a long time since the proud program had done such a thing. There had been six titles, but none since 1990. It was time. “It means more for us to win it for our coach,” senior sprinter Eric Blair said in a salute to Sidney Booker.
“He’s been trying to win a state title for who knows how long.”
That’s how track and field success is measured by Wolverine standards. Anything less than first is fuel for the next season. That Dunbar had reeled off multiple state basketball titles in the last decade only compounded the wishful oval thinking.
“I’ve been here enough to know that you’ve got to hope for the best but expect anything,” Booker said. Those are words to coach by. Playing catch-up throughout the day with Akron St. VincentSt. Mary, Dunbar finally pushed past the Irish with a recordsetting effort in the Division II meet-ending 1,600-meter relay at Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Dunbar trailed St. V 46-39 with that race remaining. Dunbar needed to win or place second. The Wolverines answered that challenge by blowing out a state meet record 3:15.92.
That the Wolves were pushed by runner-up Thurgood Marshall made it even better.
The 10 points pushed Dunbar’s total to 49, three better than St. V. Versailles rode Sam Prakel’s sweep of the 1,600 and 3,200 to place third (33.5), just a half-point better than Marshall.
Dunbar rode former sprint sensations Craig Wallace and Chris Nelloms to state track titles. This time they did it with a stable of depth. The title-clinching relay was their only win.
Senior Michael Ohiembor executed a flawless back flip behind the awards stand while the Wolverines awaited yet another big trophy. “This is a good day in Dunbar history,” he beamed.
Booker won’t admit it, but it’s also a heavy load off his broad shoulders. After 21 years of coaching at Dunbar, he’s part of a grand prize.
“My wife said don’t come home unless I got the gold,” he reflected. “I get to go home.”
Chaminade COLUMBUS — Julienne High School senior Cierra Brown led a spirited effort by the Eagles in their attempt to win a Division II state track and field title Saturday. Brown swept the 100-meter (14.50 seconds) and 300 hurdles (44.32).
Camille Dickens added seconds in the 100 hurdles and long jump (17 feet, 6.25 inches). Teammate DeVanae Mitchell was fourth (17-2) in the long jump and seventh in the 100 (12.66).
But it wasn’t enough as Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary rallied to win its first girls state title with 55 points. Columbus Eastmoor Academy (46) overtook CJ (43) in the final event.
“I have two gold medals,” Brown said. “That was my goal.”
Brown will run at Purdue University. Dickens will return to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium to run for Ohio State.
• The only thing left for Meadowdale’s Oksana Lawrence is to win a state title. Third in the D-I 400 last season, the junior was second in the DII 400 this time (55.77).
“That (home) straightaway killed me (against the wind) but I got there,” she said. “I really do hope I get first next year because I’m striving to get there so bad. I want it.”
She also was eighth in the 200 (26.54).
• Coldwater’s Sarah Kanney could be a rare four-time state champ after winning the D-II 1,600 (5:00.97).
“It was odd for me,” she said. “I wasn’t very nervous but I wasn’t confident, either.”
She also was third in the 3,200 (11:09.39).
• Alter senior Olivia Albers was second in the D-II 1,600 (5:04.65). She also ran anchor for the Knights on the runnerup 3,200 relay and third-place 1,600 relay (4:00.56).
Division III: Trailing by one going into the final event, Versailles placed third in the 1,600 relay to win its second state title in three years. Versailles eased past Waynesfield-Goshen 39-34.
It caps an incredible fouryear