GlenOak's Tommy Rice hopes regional title leads to a glorious finish to high school career
AUSTINTOWN — This is what Tommy Rice needed the most.
Talent likely was going to help the GlenOak distance runner close out his high school career at the state track and field meet. Rice wanted more, though. He wanted to win the race he won in Columbus a year ago. Trying to do so in recent weeks has been challenging and sometimes frustrating,
It felt like old times for Rice in Friday's Division I regional meet at Austintown Fitch. His win in the 3,200 meters in 9:09.47 helped lift the Golden Eagles to the boys team championship. It's a win that could make a world of difference going into next week as he chases a state title for the second straight year.
"Being able to finish that strong and that well definitely gives me a confidence boost going into the state meet," Rice said. "I'm really pumped about that how it all turned out today. I'm just blessed to me in that position."
This was Rice's first individual win at an invitational-style meet since early May when he swept the 1,600 and 3,200 titles at the Euclid Relays. Since then he has been battling a talented group of fellow Federal League distance runners.
Jackson's Eli Ilg won the 3,200 at the league and district meets. Hoover's Noah Johnson beat Rice in the 1,600 earlier Friday and at the league and district meets.
Friday's 1,600 may have been a sign of things to come for Rice. He and Johnson broke the meet records. Rice's time of 4:14.09 broke the school record he set earlier this season.
Rice walked away from this meet feeling a lot different.
"It has been a little bit of injury, a little mix of things," said Rice, a University of Tennessee signee. "Stress, emotions, getting ready to college ... all of the above.
"It has been a little while, so this was good."
Rice doesn't know if he will run both races at state or if he will just stick with one.
"That's to be determined," he said. "There are weather factors. You want to look at times the other guys ran. I just want to analyze that and talk with my coaches. I run the 4-by-8 as well, and we made it out."
No matter what Rice chooses to do, he has a shot to end a great high school career in style.
"It would be very special and very meaningful to finish my high school career on a high note and then move on to the next chapter," Rice said.
Rice's win gave the Golden Eagles a seven-point cushion over second-place Solon heading into the final event. Both teams were in the 1,600 relay.
Solon finished second, while GlenOak came in fifth. Although the Golden Eagles did not advance, they did enough to clinch the team title.
"They ran a season-best time," GlenOak head coach Scott Ferrell said. "When you come in and run a season-best time, you just got beat.
"That's what sports are about. You do the best you can. There's no defense in track and field. You put it all out there and give what you have. We did.
"We had an amazing meet as far as hitting our peak right where we wanted to. That was another event where it was evident."
Reach Mike at mike.ppovich@cantonrep.com
On Twitter: @mpopovichREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Tommy Rice helps lead GlenOak boys track and field to regional title
