Penguins capture both Horizon League titles
YOUNGSTOWN — Coach Brian Gorby couldn’t be happier.
His Youngstown State men’s and women’s track and field teams won Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships Sunday at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
The Penguin men repeated by amassing 188 points, while Oakland finished second with 157. Milwaukee was third with 108.
The YSU women won their third league title in the last four years by outscoring Milwaukee, 183 to 140. Oakland was third with 138.
Mineral Ridge graduate Ryan Booth won the shot put, Struthers graduate Arnaldo Morales captured his first career high jump title while freshman Tim Holzapfel set a school-record in a winning the heptathlon.
“In all areas, it was a complete team effort,” Gorby said. “We thought our women would be coming in third or fourth. It’s even a surprise to me how these girls have stepped up.
“I’m excited more about this, winning both of them. It’s kind of tough when the men and the women are sitting there and you win women and not men.”
John F. Kennedy High School graduate and YSU sophomore Chad Zallow led the way by winning the 60 dash, the 60 hurdles and the 200 dash.
“He’s a very consistent athlete,” YSU sprint coach David Townsend said. “He trains hard. People wonder how you get that good. I tell them it’s eight letters — hard work. He does great. He’s stepping up for us today.
“To come back after running a 7.61, 20 minutes later and tie a Horizon League record again a testament to his conditioning and competitiveness.”
Zallow, the No. 2-ranked 60-meter hurdler in the country behind Florida’s Grant Holloway, ran 7.61 seconds to capture the title and set a new Horizon League and WATTS record. It is the fourth time this year Zallow ran 7.61. The SEC Champion and Florida freshman Grant Holloway is the No. 1 ranked 60 hurdler. He ran 7.58 earlier this season, but won Sunday’s SEC title in 7.64.
“I ran the same time all four weeks in a row,” Zallow said. “It’s the fastest time in any conference this year. So, I’m feeling confident going into that with nationals.”
The JFK graduate ran a Horizon League record 6.77 seconds in the 60.
“That’s really cool,” Zallow said. “I don’t do that event too much. I definitely have the speed from the hurdles to do that. It was cool to get that record.”
He completed his triple crown with the 200.
“I’m not really used to the team side of track,” Zallow said. “I come from a small school like Kennedy. We never had a team side of it. It was fun to win for my team.”
On the women’s side, Abby Jones (high jump), Jaynee Corbett (shot put), Taylor Thompkins (60), Amber Eles (60 hurdles) and Taylor McDonald (200) won titles.
“I’m speechless, honestly,” Eles said. “I want to come out, run my race and let the times come out as they do. I wanted to execute, run a good race and I did that. I’m very happy.”
Earning league accolades were Elliott (outstanding freshman runner), Chandler Killins (outstanding field freshman), Corbett (outstanding performer in field events) and Gorby was named the coach of the year. Corbett was also named the Alfreeda Goff Athlete of the Year for her performance throughout the season.
“We’re all confident in each other, which what the team is about,” Eles said.
On the men’s side, Zallow was named outstanding performer in running events. Other league honors went to Boardman graduate Brendon Lucas (freshman running performer), Holzafpel (freshman field events), Morales (outstanding performer in field events) and Brian Gorby (coach of the year). Zallow was named the Alfreeda Goff Male Track Athlete of the Year as well.
It wasn’t just those who won league title that helped YSU sweep this year’s team titles. For the men, it was those second-, third- and fourth-place finishes.
Carl Zallow, a JFK graduate and YSU junior, was fighting off the flu and coming off an injury. He went from qualifying sixth in the 60 to taking fourth in the final.
“That’s huge,” Chad said. “He’s not as strong as he was. Coming back from a hamstring injury he worked hard. Now he’s contributing for our team four weeks off a hamstring injury.
“That just shows character.”
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