Experiencing the big stage: Mooney 4×400 relay places 6th at states

Jun 7, 2023

Correspondent photo / Robert HayesCardinal Mooney sophomore Sammy Rotunno takes off from the blocks to run the first leg of the Division III girl's 4x400 relay Saturday at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium during the OHSAA state track and field meet.

COLUMBUS — Qualifying for the OHSAA state track and field meet is such a difficult task in any division, more so in multiple events as a relay group.

When it came down to the final event of the girl's Division III meet, Cardinal Mooney knew it was time to shine, after missing the podium in the girls’ 4×200 relay.

With an underclassman-heavy quartet of Sammy Rotunno, My’Kiah Jones, Talecia Huff and Sophia Diorio, the Cardinals clocked 4:03.75 to earn sixth place in the 4x400m with three sophomores and only one junior.

Diorio, the elder of the group, understood that battling for position as the final leg of the race was going to be difficult in such a competitive field.

"I know that I have to finish the race even if we get in a good place," said Diorio. "It's a lot of pressure, but my teammates help me. We do this breathing treatment before we run, the coaches are always supporting us, they’re always around the track cheering us on.

"We talked about it, and we said we’re going to state, but we didn't know if we could do it, but we thought about it the whole year. When we got here and the stands were packed and everyone was so serious, it's our first year here, so it really hit me."

Sophomores Rotunno and Huff, along with Diorio, all play basketball for the Cardinals. Jones only runs track, but the four find themselves closely knit.

Jones was in awe of the experience.

"I was so surprised," she said. "I didn't know we’d even make it past regionals, but I’m so happy we made it here. I’m so proud of my whole team and my coaches. I was so shocked, surprised, happy, too many emotions to even describe just one. Sixth place, it's like a great accomplishment, I’m so proud of us. Our coaching and everything, everybody puts in hard work an equal amount.

"Dream big, dreams come true. I’m hoping I make it back down here every single year left, putting in that work."

For Rotunno, it's about having the prep in place for success as the lead-off runner.

"We practice every day, we show up, we talk before every race, we know what's going on, we’re just a team and we know every one of our weaknesses and strengths, so I think that helps all of us," said Rotunno. "I knew Sophia would get in, she always kicks it in at the end. If we just stayed at our steady pace and we got her there, I had faith in her that she’d finish.

"It's amazing, it shows off our school in front of all of these people and shows that we’re small but we can still represent and place, it's awesome."

Jones cleared 4-10 during the high jump on day one. During the trials, Diorio ran 1:00.61 in the 400 meters. Rotunno also ran in the 300 hurdles and clocked a time of 47.35 seconds.

Whenever an athlete or group of athletes place, however, it's the sum of all the parts.

"It's like a dream that came true. We all worked hard this season, every little meet counted, every little practice," said Huff. "We came out here. We’re from Youngstown, Ohio, a small place in the state, and come sixth in the state. This just shows how big everything is, how much everybody loves the sport.

"It's a great experience, listening to other people's experience with track. We all came here, get to race each other. It gets you ready for next year when we come, and the year after that. We can help our new teammates coming up with the experience."

On the boys side for Cardinal Mooney, senior Zy’Aire Hill competed in the 110 hurdles preliminaries and clocked 15.45 seconds. Hill also teamed up with De’Andre Riley, Tyon Flowers and John Jones in the 4×100 to earn a time of 44.90.

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