Bulldog track team gets to celebrate win

It was a first for Garfield Heights boys track and field coach Bob Caruso.

That is to say, the first dual-meet victory by the Bulldogs during Caruso's four-year tenure as head coach. The accomplishment came in a 71-65 final over Elyria.

"The kids really came around," said Caruso. "We've been close many times, but just were not able to pull away with a team victory at selected duals over the years. The guys managed to record some great firsts and seconds helping us to this big win. We just want these performances to carry over into the conference meet."

Phillip Cowans got the team rolling towards that elusive dual-meet win with a first-place finish in the shot put at 42 feet, 3 inches, while teammate Dontez Warren placed second with an effort of 40-6. Cowans was also first in the discus (119-11) with Warren placing third (85-2).

Alante Goode won the high jump with a leap of 5-4 with Andre Burt came in second at a distance of 5-2. Jabriel Victoria was third in the long jump with mark of 17-8, while the 800-meter relay team of Loren Price, Lauret Price, Terry Austin and Bryan Houston took first with a time of 9:00.

Burt was first at 18.01 in a 1-3 sweep by the Bulldogs in the 110 hurdles followed by Desmond Edison (18.9) and Cortez McGowan (19.3). Marcellus Sullivan was second in the 100 dash (11.1) with Goode third at 11.3. Lauret Price was second in the 1,600 (5:10) with Loren Price third at 5:25.

Kevin Gonzalez captured first in the 400 with a time of 57.1 with teammate Kadeem Hubbard placing second at 57.5. Houston won the 300 hurdles (45.2) with Austin (2:16.5) and Lauret Price (2:16.7) placed second and third, respectively, in the 800.

Gerand Bogarty was third in the 200 (25.9) with Loren Price (11:53) and McGowan (14.19) second and third, respectively, in the 3,200. The 400 relay team of Gonzalez, Austin, Hubbard and Houston took first-place honors at 3:51....