BEDFORD —
Quintin Ratliff is Pymatuning Valley’s utlility player.
And, he’s representing the Lakers at next weekend’s state meet in Columbus.
The PV junior jumped 21 feet, 10.25 inches to take third at Thursday’s Division II Bedford regional track and meet in the long jump.
“He can do anything,” PV assistant coach and jumps coach Ryan Shontz said. “He’s the best we have in almost every event. We kind of moved him around this year. He even tried the shot put and discus. He’s done everything.
“He’s taken a liking to this and heás pushed it quite high this year.”
Ratliff’s best jump was 21-11.5 when he won the district title at last week’s meet at Lakeview High School.
Thursday, Ratliff liked his progress in his three preliminary jumps, but did not like what he saw in finals.
“My three jumps, I kept progressing,” Ratliff said. “By finals, it didn’t turn out so good.
“I’m still going to state.”
Ratliff began jumping when he was a freshman, almost by a fluke.
“I didn’t know if I was any good at it,” he said. “I was good at the high jump.
“I was jumping 20s without form. I didn’t know that was good. My coach was like, ‘That’s crazy.’ I just put it all together and let it all happen.”
Ratliff knows when he it all comes together as a good jump.
“When I get that long-short (stride toward the long jump pit) in, I pop real high,” he said. “That’s when I know it’s going to be a good jump.”
Ratliff hopes he can finish second or third in Columbus.
“I have to put it all together and we’ll see what happens when I get down there,” he said.
Shontz said Ratliff has the physical tools to succeed.
“I’m worried about his nerves,” Shontz said. “We’re going to get there early, going to walk through everything just a bit.
“He’s got the legs and body to do anything he wants.”
And, this year’s state meet might be a precursor of what’s the come for the PV sophomore.
“He’s going to be down there two or three more times (including this year),” Shontz said.
The Bedford regional meet concludes Saturday, starting at 11:30 a.m.
Vargo is a sports writer for the (Warren) Tribune Chronicle.
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