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Solon sprinter Crenshaw is fastest in Ohio
(by Tony Lange - June 06, 2012)
Solon sprinter Crenshaw is fastest in Ohio
By TONY LANGE
It was laughs and smiles for an out-of-breath Khoury Crenshaw after claiming the title as fastest runner in Ohio at last Saturday's Division I state track and field meet in Columbus.
The Solon junior had just won the 100-meter dash in 10.76 seconds, edging St. Edward's Anthony Young by 0.05 second.
"This is just great," Crenshaw said with a smile and a laugh. "This is what I've been working for all season, and, to come out here and actually do it, it's just incredible."
During the regular season, Crenshaw got beat by Young in the 100 dash on April 7, and it's been on his mind ever since, he said.
After regionals, when a rematch became certain, Crenshaw said, "That's what I've been looking forward to all this year -- to get him back and getting another chance to race against him to show everyone that I'm up there with the top runners in Ohio."
At the state meet, that's exactly what Crenshaw did. He was the fastest runner in Ohio from any school in any division.
Crenshaw also placed fourth overall in the 200 dash in 21.88 seconds. Young won that event in 21.61 seconds.
"I was just trying to stay with the pack," Crenshaw said after that race. "I was a little tired. I mean, I tried my best. Overall, I was hoping for more, but I'm satisfied with my junior year. I'll be working to get back here next year and do even better."
Solon's next top finisher came in the discus, where senior Reggie Jagers threw a distance of 179 feet, 5 inches, which he marked on his third of six throws, placing fifth.
"I wasn't really nervous. I was just hoping to have a big throw and have the correct technique so I could put my all into it," said Jagers, who was competing at his first state meet.
During the discus event, there are two eight-person flights in the preliminaries, when each thrower gets three attempts to be in the top nine and earn three more throws in the finals.
After flight one, Jagers was in fourth place with eight more guys still to go, none of whom, however, passed him up.
"I wasn't so worried about making it to the finals," Jagers said. "I was more worried coming into the finals, because this is states, and anyone can beat you, so I was hoping not to get passed, but, unfortunately, that happened, so I placed fifth today.
"As a competitor against my opponents and against myself, I'm never satisfied, but I just started last year," he said. "It was my first year doing track, so I'm actually kind of relieved, and I'm ready to go onto the next level. I got a scholarship to Kent State, so I can continue my career and keep going."
Also finishing on the winners' podium for the Comets, Darian Hicks, Khoury Crenshaw, Kollyn Crenshaw and Rod Jackson placed seventh in the four-by-100 relay in 42.63 seconds.
That relay team was seeded 10th going into the state meet, and the Comets had doubts about advancing to Saturday's finals after finishing fifth in their preliminary heat on Friday.
There are 16 teams divided into two preliminary heats, and the top nine finishers advance to finals. Fortunately for the Comets, they ran in the fast heat.
Also during Saturday's finals, Jackson, a senior, competed in the 110-meter hurdles and finished ninth.
He appeared to be the first runner out of the blocks and over the first hurdle, but he hit the second hurdle hard, which threw off his steps for the rest of the race. He clocked a 15.09 after having run a 14.12 during the regional meet a week earlier.
Also a departing senior from the 2012 squad, Karl Pierce cleared 13 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault for 13th place.
As a team, Solon placed seventh at the Division I state meet with 21 points. St. Edward was first with 48 points.
Solon head coach Dan Iwan said he was happy with the overall performance.
"I think we took another step forward this season with all of our sprinters qualifying to run on the finals day," he said. "We're losing Rod from the four-by-100, but we've got some great candidates to try and fill that spot. I think the guys coming back will tell you they want to be state champs in that relay next year, and I think they can be."
State-potential outlooks for next season include Kevin Blank in the 1,600 run, Hicks in the high jump, long jump and 100 dash, Kyle Peterson in the pole vault, Phil Jagers in the shot put and discus and Kegan King in the hurdles.
If those athletes improve in the off-season, Solon could be chasing a state title in 2013.
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