Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District recently issued the following announcement.
Heights High is proud to call Ohio’s fastest 400-meter runner one of their own. Senior Marius Coleman won the Division 1 400-meter dash at the Ohio Indoor Track State Championship at Spire Institute on Friday, March 4.
His impressive time of 48.58 set a new Heights indoor record and was nearly half a second faster than his previous best. Marius’ victory topped off a successful night and season for the Heights Tigers, whose boys’ team finished the State Meet ranked 8th out of 68 teams from across Ohio. Qualifying in five events, every Heights competitor clocked a personal best to close out the indoor season.
Freshman Jane Mueller competed in the girls’ 1600-meters, knocking seven seconds off her time while senior Braedan Gallagher finished 13th in the state in the boys’ 1600-meter with a personal best of 4:24.
And two boys’ relay teams, both consisting of Marius, junior Jacob Rice and seniors Keonshae Boyd Bey and Jeremiah Dillard, had impressive races, with the 4 x 400 coming in third overall. But it was the boys’ 4 x 200-meter relay that really motivated Marius in his individual race. In that event, Heights boys crossed the finish line third in the fastest heat, but quickly learned that two teams from other heats had beat their time by less than eight one hundredths of a second.
“I had anger in me … and drive,” said Marius. “I didn’t like how we lost that 4 x 200 and I felt like I just had to get this win.” He spent the time between the two races jumping rope and listening to soft music to clear his mind. “I relaxed and just blew that event away.”
When it was time for his signature event, he was ready. “As soon as I got off the blocks, I felt confident.” He took control of the race halfway through and there was no stopping him. “When I came down that final straightaway and saw the clock, I knew the race was mine.”
“To be a champion, you have to have physical ability and mental toughness,” said Heights head track coach Scott McNulty. “Marius has both. He is representative of all that we already have at Heights, a validation of who we are and who we can become. For Jane to be just 22 seconds away from the fastest girls’ mile ever as a freshman, and for Braedan to have offers from Division 1 running programs, and for our relay teams to be beating some of the best programs in the state … the future of Heights running is extremely bright.”
Marius is ready to be a part of it. “I just want to win everything,” he says of the upcoming outdoor season.
Heights High will host the 38th annual Weingart Relays on Saturday, April 9 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the high school track. With an inaugural Weingart Junior meet for middle school teams starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8. Tickets for both events are available to purchase; $8 for both meets, $5 for either meet, and free for those 12 and under.
The two-day event, one of Northeast Ohio’s premier track meets, is an opportunity for the community to come out and cheer on some of the best runners in the state of Ohio, including one who’s already stood at the top of the podium.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up