Not just distance Dogs: Wooridge boys track used whole team to win Metro Athletic Conference
PENINSULA — Every local track fan knows about Woodridge's prowess in distance events, but it takes more than long-distance runners to win track and field titles.
The Woodridge boys proved that Friday. The Bulldogs' sprinters and hurdlers were pivotal in the Bulldogs winning the Metro Athletic Conference title at Mercer Family Track.
Woodridge won the boys title with 158 points as Field was second with 131 points. In the girls team race, Cloverleaf won its fourth straight MAC title with 171 points to Woodridge's 152.5.
"Our sprinters all had a good meet," said Woodridge coach Scott Mercer. "We probably should have won all three [sprint] relays, but Taysear [Williams-Clay] hurt himself a bit. Johnny Howard is a bit banged up, but we should be good going forward.
Williams-Clay had a big impact on the meet, despite tweaking his hamstring the 800-meter relay. He won the 100 in 11.02 seconds and then anchored the Bulldogs' 800 relay, which took second despite his injury.
Fighting through it, Williams-Clay anchored Woodridge's winning 400 relay in 42.75 and then gutted out a fifth-place finish in the 200.
"The goal is to take it more easy on our bodies moving forward and let the times drop this postseason," Williams-Clay said. "I keep cramping up. My goal is to go in and relax better in my 200."
While Williams-Clay seeks a return to the state meet, Woodridge might have new star rising in sophomore Connor Hons, who missed his freshman year with a hip injury.
Hons scored meet records in both hurdles event, winning the 110 high hurdles in 14.72 and the 300 hurdles in 38.98. He won despite hitting multiple hurdles in both races.
"The 110 was a sloppy race. I'll figure it out," Hons said. "It was just one of those day. I was concentrating on my arms the whole race. I'll clean up. I'd love to get to the state meet with the team. We have a good shot at winning it this year."
Hons provided an exclamation point for Woodridge in the 1,600 relay.
Running the anchor leg, Hons went step-for-step with Field's Evan Pruszynski down the stretch into a photo finish. The Bulldogs won the race in 3:27.46 — just .01 seconds ahead of the Falcons.
What about Woodridge's distance crew? They did what they usually do.
Woodridge clinched the team title thanks to a 1-2 finish from Xavier Griffiths (9:37.99) and Ben LeBay (9:42.62), both of whom broke the meet record.
Woodridge's Sam Su had a great race in the 1,600 with Norton's Ryan Erhler, which Erhler won in 4:17.88, just .03 seconds head of Su.
Su bounced back in the 800, winning in a personal-record 1:58.8.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Woodridge boys track takes MAC title with sprinters in the lead
