Not to say that I’m psychic, or have any special talent for spotting future great athletes, but I had a feeling years ago that Briana Shook could be something special in long distance running. Our family was involved in cross country through our oldest son a few years ago, when Briana was beginning to make her mark on the sport in her early high school years.
I was still the Sports Director at WTTF at the time, as well, so we had occasion to see her perform.
Turns out I was right. She is something special. The Seneca East graduate made us all proud last weekend when she won the steeplechase at the U.S. Track and Field Championships. She not only won, she won big.
Shook won in nine minutes, 44.71 seconds. It was the fastest she has ever run the event … the second fastest time ever by an American woman … and the third fastest time run by a woman anywhere in the world this season.
She beat her closest competitor by nearly three seconds after leading the entire race.
Steeplechase (for people) is that race you see from time to time where the runners hop up onto a beam and jump off into the water. It also involves flat running and hurdles.
Attending the University of Toledo, Shook completed her college career in the cross country and indoor track seasons since last fall, but was red shirted for the outdoor season this spring. That means she was not on UT’s outdoor track team, so, she can attend next spring and have another year of eligibility in outdoor.
What the move actually does is allow her to prepare for national and international competition this summer … perhaps even an Olympic bid. That level of competition is much more high pressured and intense than the college level of the sport.
Congratulations also are in order for athletes from the Seneca County School of Opportunity. They came back with one team gold and two individual gold medals at the 32nd annual Ohio Special Olympics.
The Arrows modified volleyball team won the State Championship. Team members include Paula Blackford, Dean Ferguson, Charles LeGrant, Lori Lutes, Susan Mull, Kelly Myers, David Rose and Damien Schaade.
Also taking a Special Olympics title was Lisa Krauss in singles tennis. Ron Koby won a silver medal in singles tennis and Pat Moore a bronze. Kelly Adams and Ruth Greenwald took silver in doubles. Jennie Berman, Adams and Greenwald finished fourth in singles and Berman, Koby, Krauss and Moore had fourth place finishes in doubles.
Janice Smith brought back gold in the 100 walk.
Israel Lopez won silver and Ryan Herr the bronze in the 100 dash. They then teamed with Floyd Forwalder and Nathan Forwalder to take silver in the 4x100 relay.
The silver in the long jump went to Floyd Forwalder and the bronze to Lopez.
Cheryl Rubel took fourth in the 100 walk and the softball throw. Nathan Forwalder was fourth in the long jump and Floyd Forwalder in the 100 dash.
Congratulations to all.