Fri Mar 12 2010
by Michael Leonard
Sports Editor
Columbus -- Tallmadge senior Amanda Bennett admits she's too much of a competitor to be completely satisfied with anything but first place -- even at the state meet.
Looking back on her performance at the Division II state meet, which concluded June 6 at The Ohio State University's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium in Columbus, Bennett has nothing to be ashamed of.
Bennett closed out her track-and-field career with a pair of All-Ohio finishes in the high jump and long jump.
Her efforts gave Tallmadge six points, tying the school with four other teams for 35th in the Division II girls' team race. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy and Columbus Bishop Hartley tied for the team title with 55 points.
Tallmadge head coach Mike Srodawa said Bennett getting two All-Ohio places was the perfect cap to her career, noting she earned five All-Ohio places over the course of her career.
"She's the best overall field athlete the school has ever had," Srodawa said. "We could have put her anywhere -- high jump, long jump, shot put, discus, sprints. She's such a good athlete and such a competitor she would have been successful anywhere."
Bennett, who will play basketball for the University of Akron next winter, said the state meet was probably her last track event.
"I had fun," Bennett said. "It has been a fun career. I think I'm going to miss Srodawa most. He made it fun for me."
On June 5, Bennett was among the favorites to win the high-jump competition.
Bennett had some early misses, but was able to clear 5 feet, 4 inches on her third attempt, leaving her among the final four competitors.
However, none of the final four were able to clear 5-5, though Bennett came the closest on her second jump, She barely grazed the bar slightly, but it fell.
With the top four girls all clearing 5-4, it came down to who needed the fewest jumps to clear it.
Cambridge's Katie Davis took the fewest jumps and therefore won the state title, while Bennett had to settle for fourth.
Bennett had a hard time hiding her disappointment with the placement.
"I'm glad that I placed higher than last year," Bennett said. "I'm more disappointed than anything. I came down here and choked."
"Coming in, we knew it was going to be tight," Srodawa said. "Here again, it's a matter of inches. She's an incredible athlete."
In the long jump June 6, Bennett saved her best jump for last in both rounds.
In the preliminaries, Bennett fouled on her first jump and managed 15-8.5 on her second. Needing a big jump to reach the finals, Bennett busted out a leap of 16-9.25 in her third jump.
That jump put Bennett at seventh place heading into the finals.
Bennett was surpassed by Milan Edison's Cami Shine in the finals, despite a leap of 16-10 in her last jump.
Bennett took eight place.
"I just wanted to place," Bennett said. "I was just trying to do my best."
E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-686-3913
Comments
By Posting to this site, you agree to our Terms of Service Be polite.
Inappropriate posts may be removed.
Tallmadgeexpress.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Login above or Register to comment.
0 Total Comments Home | Back
Copyright Record Publishing Co, LLC. 1995-2010. All Rights Reserved.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Content may not be republished without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Dix Communications