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Girard’s Marsico follows routine with 2 wins

Tribune Chronicle / John Vargo Girard’s Emily Marsico, left, leads Tori Blandine of Newton Falls during the 300-meter hurdles Saturday at the Division II district at Lakeview.

CORTLAND — Emily Marsico isn’t about to deviate from her routine.

Considering the Girard senior came in as the defending Division II district 100- and 300-meter hurdles champion, why change anything now?

She eats Mickey Mouse Foodles, a kids snack pack which includes apple slices, cheese chunks and grapes.

Saturday, at the district meet on the Don Richards Memorial Stadium track, Marsico won both hurdle events again — even breaking her 300 meet record with a time of 44.53 seconds.

She made the Division II state meet last year in the 100 — placing sixth.

Marsico wants to take both events to Columbus this year.

You can bet she’ll eat her snack pack before she competes at next week’s Austintown Fitch Regional, trying to be one of the top four in each event — qualifying for state.

“I eat those before every race,” Marsico said. “I think it helps. That’s just me.”

GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP: Grand Valley junior Grace Steimle finished first in the 3,200-meter run, a feat she also accomplished earlier in the 1,600.

Winning two district titles wasn’t what made her stand out Saturday, though, it was her sportsmanship.

She stood at the finish line after winning the 3,200 — congratulating each and every competitor after their eight laps around the track.

“Everyone is running this race and I know how hard it is to hit the times you want, how disappointed you can be,” Steimle said. “I make a point of congratulating everyone at the end, no matter how they did.

“I just feel it’s something nice to do.”

She ran 5:23.50 in the 1,600 and 12:03.26 in the 3,200. Dropping time in both next week is important, as much as rooting for your community of runners.

It’s how distance runners are.

“We’re more together, kind of like a family,” Steimle said.

GIRARD’S HALF-MILE SWEEP: Makayla Trebella wanted something more than a repeat of her district title in the 800.

The Girard senior remembers running at Lakeview a couple weeks ago in the Trumbull County Meet — finishing behind McDonald’s Malina Mitchell and Bella Wolford. Trebella took third.

Winning Saturday’s 800 in 2:23.29 was good, but having a gauge from the county meet was more important. Mitchell ran a 2:18.97 at county.

“Running against Malina in county showed me where I’m at and where I need to be,” Trebella said.

Girard junior Mike Belcik followed Trebella up with an 800 victory of his own.

He made a charge in the last 200 meters for the victory.

Belcik plays football for the Indians and says he strives for success in every sport he plays.

“Hard work beats talent,” said Belcik, who ran 2:00.78. “Talent doesn’t work hard.”

DISTANCE BATTLE: Girard senior Derek Basinger and Garfield sophomore Tyler Klouda have gotten to know each other the past couple of years through distance running, becoming friends.

Basinger knew that closely following Klouda the last couple of laps would be his best chance to win the 3,200. Basinger made his move in the final lap, passing Klouda.

“I wanted to go early because that kid can kick like nothing else,” said Basinger, who won in a time of 9:55.33. “He’s got real fast leg speed. I didn’t want to mess with it. I figured I’d go early, I’d draw it out of him a little bit.

“He ran a good race. It was fun.”

Klouda placed second in the 3,200, but won the 1,600. He was disappointed about not breaking the school record of 4:25, coming 3 seconds shy.

He did break 10 minutes in the 3,200, going 9:59.29.

“I’m glad to bounce back and accomplish that,” Klouda said.

HEADS UP: Champion senior Noah Bayus won his second district title Saturday, anchoring the 4×400 boys relay to a win over Grand Valley. Bayus held off Mustangs 400 runner Sam Morris at the end.

“My team got me in a good position before I started,” said Bayus, who won the boys long jump on Thursday.

He, Alex Lagaras, Cole Davis and Carter Mast all wear white Nike Dri-Fit tie headbands. Bayus calls it luck.

“Something special, that’s for sure,” Champion coach John Haug said. “I don’t know what it is, but I like it. I hope they keep wearing them either way.”

RED DRAGON PRIDE: Niles’ Emma Reed, Bella Sergi, Halli Petillo and Kyndia Matlock won the 4×200 relay in 1:50.81.

Petillo came back to take the open 400 in 1:03.00.

OTHER CHAMPS: Hubbard’s Jared Southern won the boys high jump at 6-feet, while Cardinal Mooney’s 4×100 won in 44.62. Garfield’s Cole Dean took the boys shot put (46-9.25).

DOUBLE WINNER: Garfield’s Lauren Jones won the girls discus, surpassing last year’s meet and stadium record with 153-2. She won the long jump as well in 16-1.

Jones moved on to the regional in the shot put and high jump as well. Can she take all four events to state?

“It’s going to be tough,” Garfield coach Jim Pfleger said. “I wouldn’t put anything past her.”

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