Michael Mangus earns Division III State Runner-Up
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — Fairfield senior Michael Mangus battled mid-80 degree temperatures in the biggest endurance event of the 2014 OHSAA State Track & Field Championships to become a state runner-up in the Division III 3200-meter run, Saturday at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium.
Mangus, who had a goal of finishing first or second in the race, finished with a time of 9.27.17 at the state championships, placing 12 spots better than he did his junior season, as he was 14th overall last year with a time of 9:54.07.
"I just tried to run as even as possible. Seventy seconds a lap is a 9:20 pace. I held that through the first mile, and then I started to fall off a little bit," Mangus said. "I passed people the whole way, and I was happy with my tactics.
"Last year, I was looking at an outside shot of getting top eight All-Ohio. This year, I was looking at getting first or second. It just gave me a lot more confidence, knowing I was a lot faster than I was a year before."
The Fairfield senior ran a methodical and smart race as he ran mid-pack for a few laps before passing runners and maneuvering his way into the second-place spot around the fourth lap before challenging the eventual winner Bobby Johnson, a senior from McDonald, who had a time of 9.22.85.
"Bobby Johnson from McDonald and Michael both were under 9:30, and we expected Bobby Johnson to be a very tough competitor," FHS coach Bill Mangus said. "Johnson was a cross-country defending state champion, and he had the fastest time coming in here.
[[In-content Ad]]"The strategy was just to try to run an even pace, stay as close as he could and have shot at the end. Second place and running 9:27 out here in very warm weather is very impressive. I can recall many years when kids would run slower than 9:30 and still get first place here."
In third was Mycah Grandstaff, a Con. Crestview junior, at 9:32.89.
This postseason, Mangus won the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, district and regional championships. At regionals, Mangus had a time of 9:36.50.
The state track & field championships was the sixth time in his career he qualified for a state championship meet, as he was fourth this fall at the Division III State Cross-Country Championships at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
Coach Mangus (Michael's father) spoke about Mangus' progress throughout his career.
"His progression has improved each season, and that's very nice," Bill Mangus said. "It's very rewarding and very satisfying to see hard work and hard effort and racing smart pay off, because once you get to this level, everybody is very good.
"It takes accomplishment just to get here, let alone to place very high."
Michael Mangus spoke about finishing second overall and thanked all of those who supported him.
"That was the goal, ever since indoor was first or second place," he said. "I'm just glad I was able to achieve that. I'd like to thank everybody that came out to support me from school … administrators and teachers, and my parents and grandparents."
Mangus, who had a goal of finishing first or second in the race, finished with a time of 9.27.17 at the state championships, placing 12 spots better than he did his junior season, as he was 14th overall last year with a time of 9:54.07.
"I just tried to run as even as possible. Seventy seconds a lap is a 9:20 pace. I held that through the first mile, and then I started to fall off a little bit," Mangus said. "I passed people the whole way, and I was happy with my tactics.
"Last year, I was looking at an outside shot of getting top eight All-Ohio. This year, I was looking at getting first or second. It just gave me a lot more confidence, knowing I was a lot faster than I was a year before."
The Fairfield senior ran a methodical and smart race as he ran mid-pack for a few laps before passing runners and maneuvering his way into the second-place spot around the fourth lap before challenging the eventual winner Bobby Johnson, a senior from McDonald, who had a time of 9.22.85.
"Bobby Johnson from McDonald and Michael both were under 9:30, and we expected Bobby Johnson to be a very tough competitor," FHS coach Bill Mangus said. "Johnson was a cross-country defending state champion, and he had the fastest time coming in here.
[[In-content Ad]]"The strategy was just to try to run an even pace, stay as close as he could and have shot at the end. Second place and running 9:27 out here in very warm weather is very impressive. I can recall many years when kids would run slower than 9:30 and still get first place here."
In third was Mycah Grandstaff, a Con. Crestview junior, at 9:32.89.
This postseason, Mangus won the Southern Hills Athletic Conference, district and regional championships. At regionals, Mangus had a time of 9:36.50.
The state track & field championships was the sixth time in his career he qualified for a state championship meet, as he was fourth this fall at the Division III State Cross-Country Championships at National Trail Raceway in Hebron.
Coach Mangus (Michael's father) spoke about Mangus' progress throughout his career.
"His progression has improved each season, and that's very nice," Bill Mangus said. "It's very rewarding and very satisfying to see hard work and hard effort and racing smart pay off, because once you get to this level, everybody is very good.
"It takes accomplishment just to get here, let alone to place very high."
Michael Mangus spoke about finishing second overall and thanked all of those who supported him.
"That was the goal, ever since indoor was first or second place," he said. "I'm just glad I was able to achieve that. I'd like to thank everybody that came out to support me from school … administrators and teachers, and my parents and grandparents."