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No one told Woodmore sophomore Andy Shrewsbury he wasn't supposed to win two open sprint events and one relay at last week's Division III district track and field meet at Eastwood.
Shrewsbury earned victories in 100- and 200-meter dash, then teamed with seniors Brian Alexander and Cody Curry and freshman Malachi Brown to win the 4x200 relay.
“I was happy,” Shrewsbury said. “I don't want to say I wasn't surprised, because I'm not the type to brag or rub it in your face. I would say I knew I had a chance.”
Woodmore boys track coach Mike Moreno said he expected Shrewsbury to do what he did at districts – next year, not last week.
“That's pretty incredible,” Moreno said. “I expected him to advance (to regionals) in both events, but I didn't expect him to win both. He won the 100 by a good five feet. He just pulled away. He got out to a good start and everybody else had to catch him. He's really fast. His technique needs some work, so I'm expecting bigger things next year.”
Shrewsbury earned victories in the 100 and 200 after clocking in at 11.48 and 22.89, respectively. The 200 time was a PR – he ran 23.18 earlier this season – but his 100 time fell short of the 11.35 he ran at the Oak Harbor Invitational three weeks ago.
Alexander, Curry, Brown and Shrewsbury won the 4x200 district crown in a school-record time of 1:33.40, breaking the previous mark by two seconds. Shrewsbury will run the 100, 200 and 4x200 relay at this week's regional meet in Tiffin. The top four placers in each event advance to the state meet June 3-4 in Columbus.
Shrewsbury said he had high expectations of making it to regionals this season.
“I knew I had a great chance to make it out of districts,” he said. “I want to go to the regional finals and I want to go to state. I know I have the opportunity and I want to make the most of it. I worked hard preparing and I knew I had that chance. My No. 1 goal was to advance. I wouldn't have been upset if I didn't get first, but you've still got that competitiveness.”
The 5-foot-10, 160-pound Shrewsbury has been competing in the 100 and 200 since the eighth grade. He played football in middle school, but he said his first love has always been basketball. Shrewsbury was the starting point guard for coach Brad Sander's Wildcats last winter.
“He grew up a little bit last winter playing varsity basketball,” Moreno said. “That coach had a lot of confidence in him and I think that carried over into track. He takes losing hard and he kind of builds off that. If he has a disappointing race in the 100, he'll come back and run a great leg on the 4x200. He's very modest; he's a leader, but he doesn't know it. Other kids have a lot of respect for him.”
Shrewsbury, who trains with first-year Woodmore sprint coach Ken Morrisette, said it has always been his dream to compete in Columbus.
“On a scale of 1-10, it's probably 11,” he said. “Ever since I stepped on the track, I always wanted to run at state. It's the best of the best and it would be an honor to run there. You have to have a little obsession to get there. I wouldn't beat myself up if I didn't make it, because I'm only a sophomore, but it would be real nice.”
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