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gwoc track and field divisional championships
Rival hurdlers keep each other motivated
Thursday, May 15, 2008
SPRINGBORO — With four wins, Miamisburg's Michael Willey definitely showcased his talent in the divisional portion of the Greater Western Ohio Conference track meet.
But his performance Wednesday, May 14, was just a warmup to what looms Friday — two head-to-head matchups with Sidney's Jordan Goffena in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles.
Extras
"Goffena and I are best friends from last year," Willey said after earning GWOC South titles in the 110 hurdles (14.86 seconds), the 100 (11.13), the 300 hurdles (38.59) and the 200 (21.86). "We're all-out rivals. We get along so well, but when it comes to hurdles, it's our way of challenging each other. We've got the same goals."
Willey is the defending Division I state champion in the 300 hurdles and took fourth in the 110s. He won both matchups against Goffena at an earlier meet this season.
Goffena — who took GWOC North titles Wednesday in the 110s (14.77) and 300s (38.70) — didn't make the longer race at state and tripped over a hurdle in the 110s in Columbus last year. This year, Goffena wants to stand on the podium with Willey.
"I thank him for pushing me," Goffena said. "We both push each other. It's going to be a showdown. It's going to be THE showdown. That's what my parents are calling it and his parents are calling it."
North, Central and South division championships were at stake Wednesday, with the 800 and 3,200 to be competed Friday. The top two from each division Wednesday and the next best two performances round out the eight-person field for Friday's invitational, all-division scoring.
Runnin' Rams
Trotwood-Madison sprinter Michael Shaw didn't run. T-M coach John McKinney said last weekend he's been told to hold Shaw out in conjunction with an Ohio High School Athletic Association inquiry.
"We try to keep a positive attitude," Rams senior Chris Burrows said. "With him not being around, it just makes us work harder."
Without Shaw in the 100, the Rams didn't cash in like usual. Burrows had the day's seventh-best time (11.47), while Derricus Purdy (11.62) did not make Friday's finals.
South vs. North
Before the meet, officials recognized that the GWOC track meet was the final regular-season contest between Springfield South and Springfield North. The schools will merge this fall.
"It hasn't really hit me yet, but I'm excited about the new school," said South junior Shanay Portis, who won her division in the 100 with a 12.46. "I'm looking forward to (merging). It's kind of strange, but we'll get used to it."
Portis also won the long jump (16 feet, seven inches) and the 200 (25.45).
Quick laps
• The finish of the day came in the boys North Division 400 relay where Piqua nipped Trotwood 1:43.314 to 1:43.318.
• Wayne's Tommy Marks set a GWOC meet record with 15-0 in the pole vault.
