Staff photo / Brian Yauger McDonald’s Ryan Henry gets ready to hurl the shot put during Friday’s state track meet in Columbus. Henry overcame ankle and pectoral injuries to place third in the event.

COLUMBUS — An ankle brace didn’t stop him. A strained pectoral didn’t stop him. It might not have exactly been the performance McDonald’s Ryan Henry wanted, but the Blue Devil hurler overcame plenty to get as far as he did.

Despite the disappointment, Henry still placed in the top eight in both the shot put and discus at the state meet in Columbus on Friday, placing third in the shot put and seventh in the discus.

“I really wish I could have done better. I’ve done better earlier in the season, but I sprained my ankle eight days ago and I tried so hard to heal up for this. (Thursday) was the first time I threw shot put in a brace. It’s really tough, but I got it over 60 (feet).

“This is, I think, my fourth-best meet of the year, which is okay, but on a day like this, at a meet like this, you always want to do your best. Unfortunately, given my current situation, I tried really hard but it wasn’t quite what I wanted.”

Henry’s best was a 61-2.25, which he threw on his fourth attempt.

In addition to working around a brace that’s typically not there, due to the surface, the throwers’ ring also provided little help.

That being said, it was just another thing Henry wanted to power through.

“I just tried to be as resilient as I can,” he said. “Try and fight. I’m here today. Most people are in crutches by now. I’m trying really hard. In my senior year, I felt like I had no other choice but to fight.”

Taking the top spots of the shot put were the pair from Creston Norwayne of Dillon and Colby Morlock.

Just outside of the top three was another Blue Devil. Fellow senior Dante Mediati threw a 59-4 on his third attempt to take fourth place. He also took fourth in the discus.

Mediati was tense for most of the afternoon trying to perfect his throw. On his last throw of the discus — the last throw of his high school career — he hurled a 170-9.

All that tension eased away when he hit that mark.

“I have to thank my coach Mary Domitrovich, because through thick and thin she’s always trying to pump us up,” he said.

The pair have etched their names into an already historic legacy at the McDonald track and field program. Henry and Mediati are the latest, but likely far from the last.

“It’s huge for us to make it here because of our history of throwers,” Mediati said. “They put a lot of pressure on us. It’s just exciting to be here.”

In the field events Friday, Mineral Ridge’s Olivia Booth placed ninth in the discus, throwing a 119-8.

Crestview’s Ryan Emch placed eighth in the long jump with a 20-9.

Jameel James of Fitch will be competing in the shot put and discus today. D.J. Williams, also of Fitch, will be in the discus as well.

The distance finals are also today, with McDonald’s Megan Hipple running in the 3200 and Lowellville’s Sophia Yon running in the 1600.

The track at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium primarily was occupied by preliminary events Friday.

The top nine finishers qualified for the finals, which are held today.

Logan Thompson of Boardman highlights the crowd, qualifying solo as a part of the 110-meter hurdles, and will be a part of two relay events along with Cameron Thompson, Ben Alvarico and Trey Depietro in the 4×200 and 4×100.

Rhiea Ann Gordon of Chaney will be running in the 100-meter dash after placing seventh with a 12.21 qualifying time.

In Division II, Ursuline’s Clancy Chrystal will be running in the 110-meter hurdles. Girard’s girls’ 4×200 relay team consisting of Mia Malito, Olivia Coman, Seyhan Dede and Sieasia Triplett will be competing as well.

The area is well represented in Division III.

Springfield’s Brungard qualified in both the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles.

The Springfield girls’ 4×200 team of Emma Sanders, Bella Brown, Ava Vecchione and Graciella Ebert qualified.

Liberty’s 4×200 team also qualified for the finals. Aaliyah Foster, Demi Watson, Jordan Banks and Teiarra Triplett make up the roster for the Leopards.

McDonald is sending its 4×200 and 4×400 relay teams to the finals as well. Brian Fisher, Nathan Gilligan, Michael Woloschak and Oniah Russo are running in the 4×200, with Woloschak, Russo, Fisher and Juan Villanueva running in the 4×400.

Gilligan qualified in multiple solo events as well, running in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

The 4×400 has three qualifying teams from the Mahoning Valley — one from each county.

McDonald’s team will be in the finals as well as Lowellville’s team of Giovanni Docherty, Vinny Ballone, Jim Clinton and Michael Ballone, and Crestview’s team of Jack Yerkey, Ryan Emch, Matt Deniro and Mitchell Auer.

Michael Ballone also qualified on his own in the 300-meter hurdles.

Columbiana’s 4×100 team of Alexia Stoy, Julia Rapp, Tomi Ross and Ellie Jackson will also be competing. Rapp qualified solo in the 200-meter dash.

Events start at 9:30 a.m.

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

LOS ANGELES — Richie Palacios hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the 10th inning after Anthony Gose escaped a jam ...

PITTSBURGH — Carlos Rodon scattered two hits over eight sharp innings and the San Francisco Giants edged the ...

Copyright © The Vindicator | https://www.vindy.com | 240 Franklin Street SE, Warren, OH 44482 | 330-841-1600 | Terms of Service