×

Back on track

Bandy returns from injury to lead talented Fitch sprinters

AUSTINTOWN — Tyrese Bandy hasn’t heard his feet make the sound of meeting an all-weather track since late March.

He felt that twitch no sprinter wants to feel, his hamstring pulling. It’s a feeling which cost the Austintown Fitch High School sophomore about a month of the 2019 outdoor track & field season.

Saturday was his debut, running the Division I 400-meter dash at the Mahoning County Meet.

He came around the 300-meter mark, only 100 to go.

Bandy has been running this race since age 9. He paced himself throughout the whole lap around the Austintown Fitch track with no thoughts other than finishing.

“Just fight through it,” Bandy said. “Be a good teammate.”

He won in 51.10 seconds, edging out Chaney High School junior Marquan Herron (51.19).

The exhaustion came quickly. It was the first race for the Fitch sophomore since stepping foot on the Reilly Stadium track in Salem at this year’s Cope Invitational.

Bandy was helped off the track Saturday by an athletic trainer, taking a couple of minutes to catch his breath. His head and legs were in pain as he sat on the steps leading to the east stands.

“So hard coming out of the backstretch,” Bandy said, while catching his breath. “I could barely run.”

Fitch boys coach Seth Steiner admits he’s been cautious with Bandy, holding him out this long.

“End of the season is the goal,” Steiner said. “We don’t want to do anything to risk that. He’s a stud. He’s not really trained that much over the last 30 days. He’s running on natural talent today.

“We have about eight weeks left in the season. We think we can get him where he needs to be, finishing out in May, June.”

The state meet is May 31 and June 1 in Columbus. Bandy is bound to be part of a state-bound Fitch group in Division I.

The Falcons boys and girls edged Boardman in the Division I portion on Saturday. The boys won 167-138, while the girls won 160.50-153.

Bandy is one of many talented sprinters the Falcons have in their midst. Seniors Ralph Fitzgerald, Isiah Tarver and Drew Bretsik are part of many fast runners Fitch features.

Fitzgerald and Tarver are leading the way.

“There’s a lot more fast people on our team,” Bandy said. “Our relays are going to be very good. Didn’t go to state (last year). Want to place in the top three in the state with this team.”

Fitzgerald is an experienced sprinter, taking his work on the track very seriously. Tarver is a new to track, playing football last season.

“Didn’t even know he ran track,” Steiner said. “He came out and said, ‘Coach, I’m pretty fast. I’d like to run.’ I said, ‘Let’s see what you got.’ It’s a pretty nice little experience for me and him. It’s worked out for the both.”

Steiner was waiting for Bandy to return to have his full team together. Bandy’s return to the sprints has to wait for another meet or two.

“We have not had our full team together for four weeks. We’re working our a way to unleash the full squad,” Steiner said.

That lasted until the 200 when Tarver went down after crossing the line with a hamstring issue. He finished second with a time of 22.61 seconds. Bretsik ran 22.84 and took fourth. Steiner said Tarver might be out for two weeks, just as a precaution. The injury is not as severe as Bandy’s.

Bandy is on the mend to bring Fitch’s boys team back to Columbus.

A month from now, it’ll be much better for the Falcon sophomore — especially in the 400.

“I’ll improve, working out with the team, conditioning,” he said. “I’ll start working harder, bring my 400 times down.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
     

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today