By Kyle LoJacono
It seemed impossible for the Steinbrenner boys track and field team to claim the first district championship in the program’s four-year history.
The Warriors sat in fourth place and 47.5 points behind Hillsborough at the Class 3A-District 8 meet April 17 at Gaither following the 100 meters, the ninth of 17 events.
That’s when Steinbrenner’s distance program, The Boss Cross, took over.
The Warriors scored 71 points in the three individual distance events while claiming 10 of the 12 regional qualifying spots.
“We came out here to do exactly that and show what we’re about,” said Matt Magee, who won the 1,600 meters (4 minutes, 38.12 seconds) and 800 (1:57.27).
First-year Steinbrenner coach Mike Bosco added, “Those guys are second to none. I’d put our distance runners up against anyone in the state.”
One of the Warriors’ most impressive feats came in the 1,600 by taking all four regional berths.
“We really wanted to all qualify for next week and stay together,” said Zach Lima. “It’s just a blessing to be out here with these guys and showcase what we do each day in practice. … It sounds cliché to say that we’re more than a team, but we are. We’re best friends.”
Seniors Magee, Tanner Biles (4:38.15, second place), Tyler Lima (4:38.17, third) and Zach (4:38.19, fourth) ran out in a pack that led their next closest competitor by five seconds. They scored the maximum 29 points in the event.
Magee, Biles (2:00.95, third) and senior Derek Gebhard (2:01.29, fourth) followed up four events later in the 800. The trio scored 21 points, giving the Warriors 114.5 to tie Jefferson for second and trail Hillsborough by 0.5.
The Boss Cross struck the final blow in the 3,200, the second to last event, with another 21 points from Tyler (9:55.37, first), senior Chris Cerreta (10:02.47, third) and Zach (10:03.17, fourth). The performance put Steinbrenner ahead of Hillsborough by 10.5 points with only the 4×400 relay remaining to clinch the team title.
“Coach (Bobby) McConnell and coach (Bob) Ennis came to us before and told us we were down by about 10 and that we really had to step up,” Cerreta said. “I know we were all thinking about that during the race.”
Steinbrenner coaches had their alternates run the 4×800 relay (8:22.53, second), which gave Magee, Biles, Tyler and Zach a rest.
“We knew our B Team was strong enough to qualify, and that let us just focus on our individual events,” Tyler said. “Next week we’ll do the 4×800.”
Bosco said the distance program is their great strength, but pointed out that all his athletes fought to bring in points for the squad.
“From Day 1 you could tell this was a group of battlers and scrapers who weren’t ever going to give up,” Bosco said. “We told everyone to do it for the next man. Get every second and every point that you can for the team. If you can win the event and get us 10, do it. If you can just get us one point by finishing eighth, we need that too.”
Senior Logan McKnight joined the squad for the first time this season and advanced in both the shot put (45-feet, 3.75-inches, second) and discus throw (125-11, third).
“I’m actually really surprised,” McKnight said. “I know nothing’s impossible, so I was hoping this would happen.”
Steinbrenner totaled 139.5 points. Jefferson finished second (128.5), Hillsborough took third (128) and Gaither was fourth (89) at the nine-team event.
The Cowboys claimed two district titles, the first from pole vaulter Ryan Hagen (11-03). The senior had to beat Steinbrenner junior Greyson Van Osdal in a jump off after each got over 11.
“I’ve been watching for four years, and I’ve been waiting to see a jump off,” Hagen said. “Me and Greyson are good friends, and if I were to have it happen with anyone I’d want it to be him. Before we started I turned to him and said, ‘We should have one of those.’ I didn’t mean for it to happen, I promise.”
Gaither hurdler Matt Williams took third in the 110 (15.68) and won the 300 (40.42), his first district title.
“Season has been a little up and down,” Williams said. “I got a little bit in trouble with my grades, so my dad suspended me from the meet against Steinbrenner, and ever since then I’ve been focused on my grades and getting better.”
The junior took last year off from track and said his goal was to do something he’s never done before when he returned.
“I wanted to be standing on top of the medal stand with a district championship, and I’m so happy I did,” Williams said. “I know next week will be really hard to get to states, but that’s my goal.”
Sophomore Samson Moore finished last year as the state runner-up in the 110 hurdles, but he and his coaches have had him focus on sprints this season to build his speed for the future.
Moore advanced in the 200 (22.41, second), 100 (11.39, fourth) and with the 4×400 relay (3:21.61, second).
“I didn’t even run my PR and I just got second in districts in the 200,” Moore said. “I’m really happy and really excited for regionals.”
The regional meet is April 24 at Leto.
—Follow Kyle LoJacono on Twitter: @Kyle_Laker
