This Monroeville team right on track

MONROEVILLE — Monroeville High School will hold its Hall of Fame induction Saturday. The program begins at 4:30 p.m. in the cafeteria and the doors open at 4. Tickets are $20 and include dinner. They can be purchased in the athletic office during school hours. Tickets must be purchased by 3 p.m. Wednesday. Being inducted this year are: • Elizabeth Tyler — alumni • Richard L. Palmer — alumni / community member • 1971 state runner-up mile relay team — team The following is the bio provided by the school for the 1971 state runner-up mile relay team. 1971 state runner-up mile relay team It all started in the Spring of 1970. I (Don Graham) was hired as the Head Track Coach. The problem was we did not have a track that was suitable for practice let alone to hold a home track meet. With the help of the track athletes, their dads, and many other volunteers we were able to build a 6 lane track. The distance around the track could not be the standard 440-yard lap. So, we had to make the track and inform our opponents that 440 yards (1/4 mile) was more than 1 lap and that all longer races had to adjust accordingly. We were able to schedule home track meets for the first time in years. The track was shortened to 4 lanes when Route 20 was expanded thru town. Our shop teacher made our hurdles, and our custodians helped us to line and mark our track. The reason that I shared this information is to show where the program started and how much these five athletes had to overcome to achieve the greatness that will forever be remembered by the induction into The Monroeville Eagle Athlete Hall of Fame. Track is both an individual and team sport. As a track coach, I felt that if I trained all sprinters to run the 1/4 mile that I would be able to not only have athletes to compete in all races 440 yards and less but also have athletes to compete in both the 1/2 mile and mile relays as well. The interval 440 laps in practice were hard and it took everything these athletes could give. They believed in each other and wanted to achieve success. They put in the work! In preparation for getting to the State of Ohio High School Track Meet these 5 athletes had to qualify by winning the district and regional races. They set school records with every race and qualified to compete in Columbus. They ran a great race in the qualifying race and made it to the finals with a time of 3 minutes and 30.9 seconds. Dennis Smith, Bob Ackerman, Tim Christman and Al Meyers with Dan Alderman as their alternate had a great race in the finals placing second to Cleveland Cuyahoga Heights by inches with a time of 3:30.9 to 3:30.4. This accomplishment today stands as one of the best in Monroeville Track History.