HARPERSFIELD TOWNSHIP —
What a difference a year makes could be the motto for Jonathan Gears, who went from a school with no indoor track program to a National Intercollegiate Athletic Association All-American in 12 months.
Gears, a Pymatuning Valley High School graduate and a sophomore at the University of the Cumberlands, took another five seconds off his best time Saturday afternoon to finish eighth in the 3,000-meter run at Spire Institute. Although he is a sophomore in school and cross country eligibility, he is only a freshman as far as track eligibility.
Gears bear hugged Tony Noxon, his cross country coach at Pymatuning Valley for several years, before posing for a picture with his family dressed in red T-shirts spelling out his name.
“It was rough. It was pretty quick,” he said of the pace set by 12 runners seeking a shot at winning the race of becoming an All American. There definitely was no pacing. It was just keep it up.”
The pack of 12 stayed together for a good portion of the race. The first major move came with about a lap and three quarters to go.
Cumberlands track and field Coach Floyd Stroud was all smiles after the race.
“Every race he runs, he drops his time,” he said.
Stroud said the race was a blistering pace and when several runners began to move out, he checked his watch and realized Gears was running faster than goal pace. He said the up-and-down pace of the race is hard for any runner to maintain.
“He just gutted it out for that last place (eighth and final All-American),” he said.
The 8:27 is probably equivalent to a sub-nine minute two mile outdoors, Stroud said.
Robert Gears, Jon’s father, credited the coaching staff at PV and Cumberlands for bringing his son to this place this early in his career.
“God blessed him (Jon) with a lot of talent,” Robert Gears said.
The ironic connection to Spire Institute was not lost on Gears mother, Melissa.
“Tony brought him up here (Spire Institute) and it sort of spearheaded his love of track,” she said.
Still more...
Four weeks of collegiate track at Spire Institute came to an end late Saturday afternoon, but high school track fans can continue to enjoy their sport Friday evening from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. with a regional competition.
Stanley Kasserman, a track official from Painesville, has worked area meets for decades and is happy Spire Institute is hosting so many meets.
“This is a fantastic facility (and) I don’t have to travel as far (to officiate indoor meets),” he said.
Kasserman, who was working the pole-vault competition Saturday, said the Spire facility is so spacious it leaves plenty of room for the competitors and officials.
“They (the vaulters) have room to run up and down and we’re (the officials) not in anybody’s way,” he said.
The facility has also made a difference for local high school teams, according to Edgewood girls coach Beth Simpson. She was a volunteer for the meet and helped run the shot put event.
“I just volunteer,” she said. “It’s a good view of the competition.”
She said the facility has helped the indoor program because facility use is a challenge at the school.
“We are in the halls and kids get shin splints,” Simpson said.
She said going out to Spire Institute once or twice a week helps get her athletes ready for the season.
“They feel so much more prepared for the season,” Simpson said.
Sports
Shifting Gears
Former PV standout, now running at Cumberlands, drives to NAIA All-America status
- Sports
-
-
Give him an Oscar!
For the first three years of his football career with the Grand Valley Mustangs, offensive lineman Alex Oscar said he viewed playing football as more of a job than a fun sport to play.
Then, during his senior year, the Mustangs finished 7-3 and won a Northeastern Athletic Conference title under first-year coach John Glavickas and Oscar suddenly started viewing the game as fun again. -
Goal: Be a Pioneer... literally
Jefferson graduate Ariann Barile doesn’t have plans to rule the world — yet. She has, however, put herself on a path to accomplish that goal if she so decides, by choosing to attend Marietta College and play softball for the Pioneers in the fall.
-
A Don McCormack column: TD Club announces its Class of 2013
Paying a visit to the variety store...
-
Love of the game
Even though Roy Brashear was born two years before James “Farmer” Burns, it was the latter who beat the former in terms of becoming the first man born in the city of Ashtabula to reach the majors.
-
Help wanted...
Loyal Readers, I ask your assistance.
If anyone knows of relatives or information on the following individuals, please contact me at the email address that appears at the end of this brief: -
A Don McCormack column: Blashinsky very much in the game
Dave Blashinsky wears more than one hat, these days.
-
2013 North Coast Road Racing Grand Prix:
n July 4 — Ashtabula YMCA Firecracker 5K, 8:30 a.m., 263 W. Prospect, Ashtabula,
Director: John Bowler 997-5321 -
Farmer Burns — Ashtabula’s first major leaguer
Third of a series...
Two weeks ago today, one of the first man born in the city of Ashtabula to play in a Major League Baseball game celebrated his 137th birthday.
Then again, odds are, he wasn’t around to blow out the candles at such an age, but no one is sure.
For while we know James Joseph Burns was born on June 2, 1876 in Ashtabula, there is no record of his death.
Anywhere. -
Shootout returning ‘home’
The Westside Shootout is returning home.
-
Tribe lets one get away
It could have been an uplifting victory. Instead, it was a frustrating loss.
After having his at-bat prolonged by an error on a foul ball, Anthony Rendon took advantage by hitting his first major-league home run. - More Sports Headlines
-
