'13 State Track Feature: History Maker
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
When anyone thinks of high school running at Fairfield High School in Leesburg, there is one name that should be spoken before any other … Michael Mangus.
The junior runner became the first track and field athlete from FHS to earn a spot in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships, as he'll race in the 3200-meter run this Saturday around 11:30 a.m. at Jesse Owens Stadium, located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Mangus is no stranger to state meets, as he's a two-time qualifier for the OHSAA Division III State Cross-Country Championships, placing 14th at the championships this past fall.
[[In-content Ad]]"It is exciting, and I'm ready to see how I compete against everybody else at the next level," Mangus said of being a state qualifier. "I hope maybe now others will get more excited about track, and maybe we can get more participation, and hopefully others can make it to state."
Mangus also spoke about the differences of qualifying for state and cross-country, as he begins his training for the track season a few weeks following the cross-country season, no matter what the weather is like outside in the winter months.
"It's a lot harder to qualify for state in track because there are only 16 runners who make it in an event," the junior said. "In track, there are shorter events, with a lot faster pace. It is a different sport, for sure.
"The training is a lot different, too. You have to do faster, harder training. In track, the idea is you need to run as much as you can at race pace. I try to practice by running as fast as I think I would run at the race. It's basically less quantity, more quality."
Bill Mangus, Michael's father and assistant track coach, said that since FHS doesn't have a track for Michael to practice on, they improvise the best they can.
"We measure off a quarter mile on a dead end road, and also, we run on the cross-country course," Bill Mangus said. "Sometimes, we are able to run on East Clinton's track, or we'll make the trip to Wilmington College and run there."
Making the state track and field championships is a bit of redemption for the junior distance runner, who came up three spots short of qualifying for state last year at regionals with a seventh-place finish at 10:15.01.
"Last year, my goal was to qualify for state, but I didn't," Mangus said. "This year, I was a lot more focused to get in the top four of regionals.
"We learned a little from last year to make adjustments in the training. The week before regionals, we took a look back at what worked well and what didn't and fine-tuned the process, and we got it right this time. We reduced the volume of work the week before regionals but increased the intensity. Last year, we had the volume a little high and weren't as fresh as we'd like to be."
That was last year, though, and 12 months later, Mangus has been on a tear in the Division III track and field scene, running a time of 9:45.91 at this year's Lancaster regionals, good enough for fourth place and one of 16 spots in the state championships. His time at regionals was also a personal best.
At the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Championships, Mangus ran a time of 10:25.3, and a week later, he had a time of 9:59.8 in the district meet at Oak Hill.
"Michael is mature enough to give up the instant gratification and realizing there is a long-term goal at the end," Bill Mangus said of Michael improving his times throughout the season. "Michael struggled with a couple injuries early in the season that we had to adjust to. We made a few adjustments to the training, cutting down the volume. He had a stress fracture in his foot and other issues he had to get through.
"It is an honor and a thrill, both as a father and as a coach, to watch the development of a young man. Seeing all his hard work pay off is special. Michael is an extremely focused young man who never shies away from hard work."
One race where Mangus raced to prepare for the regionals was at Youngstown in the Austintown Fitch Optimist Meet on May 4, where he raced against some very tough competition, collecting a time of 9:46.17 for a fifth-place finish.
"We planned that race out for a long time," Mangus said. "We came into the season with the goal of finding a race that could simulate regionals and state best as possible, and it worked."
This season, Mangus has finished the 3200m run in under 10 minutes six times.
The junior isn't just an athlete, but he's just as successful in the classroom, earning Academic All-Ohio for his performance in the classroom and earning a spot at the state championships.
"Academics are just as important as sports, probably more important, and it's something I'm proud of," Mangus said.
With the refining of his training this year, along with having that extra year of experience added to his resumé, Mangus is looking forward to one thing this Saturday … the challenge of the state championships.
"I want to see how much I can improve on my time, and I guess my goal Saturday is to finish in the top eight," Mangus said.
The junior runner became the first track and field athlete from FHS to earn a spot in the Ohio High School Athletic Association Track and Field Championships, as he'll race in the 3200-meter run this Saturday around 11:30 a.m. at Jesse Owens Stadium, located on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.
Mangus is no stranger to state meets, as he's a two-time qualifier for the OHSAA Division III State Cross-Country Championships, placing 14th at the championships this past fall.
[[In-content Ad]]"It is exciting, and I'm ready to see how I compete against everybody else at the next level," Mangus said of being a state qualifier. "I hope maybe now others will get more excited about track, and maybe we can get more participation, and hopefully others can make it to state."
Mangus also spoke about the differences of qualifying for state and cross-country, as he begins his training for the track season a few weeks following the cross-country season, no matter what the weather is like outside in the winter months.
"It's a lot harder to qualify for state in track because there are only 16 runners who make it in an event," the junior said. "In track, there are shorter events, with a lot faster pace. It is a different sport, for sure.
"The training is a lot different, too. You have to do faster, harder training. In track, the idea is you need to run as much as you can at race pace. I try to practice by running as fast as I think I would run at the race. It's basically less quantity, more quality."
Bill Mangus, Michael's father and assistant track coach, said that since FHS doesn't have a track for Michael to practice on, they improvise the best they can.
"We measure off a quarter mile on a dead end road, and also, we run on the cross-country course," Bill Mangus said. "Sometimes, we are able to run on East Clinton's track, or we'll make the trip to Wilmington College and run there."
Making the state track and field championships is a bit of redemption for the junior distance runner, who came up three spots short of qualifying for state last year at regionals with a seventh-place finish at 10:15.01.
"Last year, my goal was to qualify for state, but I didn't," Mangus said. "This year, I was a lot more focused to get in the top four of regionals.
"We learned a little from last year to make adjustments in the training. The week before regionals, we took a look back at what worked well and what didn't and fine-tuned the process, and we got it right this time. We reduced the volume of work the week before regionals but increased the intensity. Last year, we had the volume a little high and weren't as fresh as we'd like to be."
That was last year, though, and 12 months later, Mangus has been on a tear in the Division III track and field scene, running a time of 9:45.91 at this year's Lancaster regionals, good enough for fourth place and one of 16 spots in the state championships. His time at regionals was also a personal best.
At the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Championships, Mangus ran a time of 10:25.3, and a week later, he had a time of 9:59.8 in the district meet at Oak Hill.
"Michael is mature enough to give up the instant gratification and realizing there is a long-term goal at the end," Bill Mangus said of Michael improving his times throughout the season. "Michael struggled with a couple injuries early in the season that we had to adjust to. We made a few adjustments to the training, cutting down the volume. He had a stress fracture in his foot and other issues he had to get through.
"It is an honor and a thrill, both as a father and as a coach, to watch the development of a young man. Seeing all his hard work pay off is special. Michael is an extremely focused young man who never shies away from hard work."
One race where Mangus raced to prepare for the regionals was at Youngstown in the Austintown Fitch Optimist Meet on May 4, where he raced against some very tough competition, collecting a time of 9:46.17 for a fifth-place finish.
"We planned that race out for a long time," Mangus said. "We came into the season with the goal of finding a race that could simulate regionals and state best as possible, and it worked."
This season, Mangus has finished the 3200m run in under 10 minutes six times.
The junior isn't just an athlete, but he's just as successful in the classroom, earning Academic All-Ohio for his performance in the classroom and earning a spot at the state championships.
"Academics are just as important as sports, probably more important, and it's something I'm proud of," Mangus said.
With the refining of his training this year, along with having that extra year of experience added to his resumé, Mangus is looking forward to one thing this Saturday … the challenge of the state championships.
"I want to see how much I can improve on my time, and I guess my goal Saturday is to finish in the top eight," Mangus said.