BOARDMAN BOYS TAKE GOLD AT MAHONING COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS

AUSTINTOWN, OH- This past Saturday marked a momentous occasion for Boardman High School as they clinched the Mahoning County Track and Field Championship, a feat they hadn’t achieved since 2010. It was a spectacular end to fourteen years of waiting, with the Spartans toppling the defending champions, Austintown Fitch, by a narrow 6-point lead, 171 to 165.

Senior Aiden Berg was a standout performer, earning MVP honors after winning the 400 meters and taking third in both the 100 and 200 meters. His efforts were crucial in helping Boardman rally from a 26-point deficit to capture the title.

The Spartans set the tone early, grabbing a first-place finish in the 4×800 relay thanks to the efforts of junior David D’Altorio, senior Ethan Boots, sophomore Adam Nigro, and freshman Jonathan Burgos-Perez. The momentum continued with freshman Ethan Timblin securing sixth in the 110H, and the Spartan 4×200 relay team placing seventh.

Brock Farris shined in the middle distances, winning the 1600 and later the 800, with Boots and Nigro also snagging top spots in their events. In the sprints, besides Berg’s heroics, Sava Crnjak took fourth in the 400 meters.

The field events also saw Boardman athletes excelling. Robrick Taylor won the high jump, while Kayant Fontanez-Waid and Santino Radjukovic made their marks in the long jump and discus, respectively. The younger competitors also showed up big, with sophomores like Ahmed Mohammed and James Mitchell and juniors like Isaiah Doyle and Chase Conner making significant contributions.

The championship was ultimately sealed in the final event, the 4×400 meter relay, where Boots, Nigro, Crnjak, and Farris dominated, winning by a staggering 10 seconds.

Head Coach John Phillips couldn’t contain his pride, stating, “I am so proud of the effort from our kids, and the leadership from our seniors. We didn’t start off very well today, but the team held it together—that’s a huge credit to them and to our coaching staff. We are putting a lot on the shoulders of freshmen and sophomores this year, and those young kids really stepped up today in big moments. I am so happy for our seniors, they deserve this. This was fun and we will enjoy it, but we have a lot to improve on so it’s back to work this week.”