By Robert Hayes
The Youngstown State University indoor track and field team competed at the Akron Zips Invitational at the University of Akron over the weekend. Chad Zallow, Suerethia Henderson and Kaitlyn Merwin where awarded weekly honors by the Horizon League for their performances in the meet.
Senior Chad Zallow won both the 60-meter dash and the 60-meter hurdles with times of 6.73 seconds and 7.72 seconds, respectively.
He’s one of YSU’s top performers this season, as he holds the best time in the league for the previously mentioned events, and the best time for the 200-meter dash. His time of 6.72 seconds in the 60-meter dash on Jan. 18 at the YSU College Invitational broke the school record.
Zallow also holds the all-time YSU record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 7.61 seconds. This is his fourth weekly honor this season.
Coach Brian Gorby is proud of Zallow’s achievement.
“He’s consistent, he keeps doing well, he does the little things, and is never hurt,” Gorby said.
Freshman Suerethia Henderson took home first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 24.26 seconds, which also marked a personal best time for her. She’s one of the top runners in the Horizon League, as she currently holds the second best time for the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash in the league.
Gorby expects big things out of Henderson.
“We knew she was going to be good because she was one of the top recruits in Ohio and was looked at by 18-19 different schools,” Gorby said. “She kinda made her decision (to attend YSU) on watching ESPN3, and watching YSU go one-two-three in the sprints.”
Henderson has the third best time in YSU history in the 200-meter dash, and the eighth best time in the 60-meter dash.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Merwin had a dominating performance in the shot put, as she also set a personal best mark with a distance of 15.26 meters. Her throw was good enough for the top spot in the Horizon League in the shot put, and currently ranks as the second best throw in YSU’s history.
“Kaitlyn right now is just personal besting, and pretty much improved. I think in high school she was a 42-foot thrower, so she’s throwing 50 feet now. That’s seven feet, so credit to her,” Gorby said.
Other Penguins to have been awarded weekly honors this season are Chontel Fils, Jaliyah Elliott, Olivia Jones, and Abby Jones.
“Laser focus right now in regard to just taking care of business, and executing like we’ve done all year,” Gorby said.
Both the men’s and the women’s indoor track and field teams look to defend their league titles this weekend in the Horizon League Indoor Track and Field Championships. The meets starts on Feb. 23 at 9 a.m. and continues onto Feb. 24 at the Watson and Tressel Training Site.
