'Buttery smooth' handoffs help Huron win 4x200

COLUMBUS — One bad step could've cost Huron. The Tigers made sure their race was perfect, winning the Division III 4x200 relay state championship Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. "Everyone says winning state and winning in general is the best feeling ever," senior Jackson McNulty said. "But, it's no joke. It's probably the best feeling you'll ever feel. There's no better feeling than to do it with your best friends." The quartet of McNulty, Peter Cencer, Austin Brunow and Joe Schaeffer won with a time of 1:28.35, just .03 ahead of Garfield Heights Trinity's 1:28.38. "This being my first year, it's awesome to be able to share it with these guys," Cencer said. "I've done soccer and other sports with Joe and he's a great man to be around. I really appreciate him helping me throughout my track this year." It is the second straight Huron has taken home a state title in the 4x200. Last year, Brunow, Andrew Delaney, Schaeffer and Beau Harkelroad won the Division II race in 1:26.69. Schaeffer went toe-for-toe in his 200-meter anchor leg. He was able to eek out the photo finish, giving Huron 10 points in the team standings. "I trusted that the other three guys would do their job," Schaeffer said. "I had to do mine and bring it home for the relay and for our school and city. I just gave it all I had. There's no point in leaving anything out there." McNulty got the group going in the first leg. Huron ran a 1:28.99 in Friday's prelims and a 1:28.6 at the regional meet last weekend. "I had to do everything I could to get my teammates in the right spot — don't give up any ground and gain as much as I can to set up the other people running for success," McNulty said. McNulty handed off to Cencer for the second leg. "Jackson had a great handoff to start," Cencer said. "It was buttery smooth. He put me in a good position. He handed off early, so I was able to get the baton and start running even before we were out of the exchange zone. I'm really happy about that. My handoff to Austin was good as well." Cencer brought it around to Brunow, who has to really pay attention in his leg before handing off to Schaeffer. "I know that's when the stagger is made up, so I try to catch them on the outside," Brunow said. "I heard the guy in Lane 4 creeping up on me, so I knew I had to go. "I slowed down more than I would have liked, but I knew as long as I got the baton to Joe, we'd win."