High school football coaches will tell you that, unlike at the collegiate level, they prefer speed to size because speed “kills” at that level.  For the Massillon Tigers, speed is one asset they’ve had in abundance over the past few years and is one of the major reasons why they have achieved so much success in the playoffs at the state level.  But it also demonstrates the untiring work these young athletes have put in to excel in life.

The past year’s team is no exception and their talents were amply demonstrated at the recent District track meet, as they came away with four first places in the sprint events.

• 100 meter dash – Sophomore Freddie Lenix clocked in at 11.01 seconds to place first, following by junior Austin Brawley, who placed third.
• 200 meter dash – Again it was Lenix in first with a time of 21.94 seconds.  Freshman Ta’Shaun Smith came in third.
• 4 x 100 meter relay – Placed first with a time of 42.83 seconds.  Runners included Lenix, Brawley, sophomore Ardell Banks and junior Javontez Bradford.
• 4 x 200 meter relay – Placed first with a time of 1:28.51.  Runners included Lenix, Brawley, Banks and Smith.

All will advance to the Austintown regional meet.  Overall, Massillon placed 7th in the meet standings.  Interestingly, all of the Massillon winners are underclassmen and will return next year.

The 8th grade group, on the heels of an outstanding 8-0 football season, recently captured the junior high state track title.  The final rankings were as follows: (1) Massillon – 27 pts; (2 tie) Bellbrook, Pickerington Ridgeview and Ironton – 20 pts; (5) Canal Winchester – 18; (6) Pickerington Lakeview – 17 pts.  Here are the results:

• 100 meter dash – JaMeir Gamble placed second with a time of 11.55.  The winner had 11.49.
• 200 meter dash – Mylen Lenix took fourth with a time of 23.75.  The winner clocked 23.57.
• 4 x 100 meter relay – Massillon took second with a time of 45.37.  Runners included Braylyn Toles, Lenix, Gamble and Jalen Slaughter.  Pickerington Lakeview won with a time of 45.12.
• 4 x 200 meter relay – Massillon took ninth with a time of 1:38.64.  Runners included Slaughter, Tyler Hackenbracht, Lenix and Gamble.  The winner had 1:36.13.
• Shot put – Michael Wright placed third with a toss of 47 feet, 10 inches (about two feet short of his season best).  Andrew Brumfield placed 23rd.  The winner posted a toss of 48 feet, 5.5 inches.

Junior High State Champs: Front row (L-R) Braylyn Toles and Jalen Slaughter; second row (L-R) Coach Greg Corsale, Coach Becca Moore, Mylan Lenix, Tyler Hackenbracht, Jameir Gamble and Coach Bridget Parkins.  Not pictured: Andrew Brumfield and Mike Wright.  (Photo by Massillon City Schools)