kjacobsen@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG - A bout with mononucleosis last year prevented Jeravin Matthews from competing at the Washington-Greene County Coaches Track Meet.
The Canon-McMillan High School senior, competing on his home turf, more than made up for it this year.
Matthews won all four events in which he competed - the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes and the long jump - to easily win the Overall MVP and help Canon-McMillan to its 10th straight team championship. His distance in the long jump (22-9) was a new meet and school record.
Matthews, a Northwestern University football recruit, is believed to be the first four-time individual winner at the County Coaches Meet this decade. Canon-McMillan's Katelynd McElhany, who graduated last year, won three events and was part of a winning relay team in 2006.
"I fell behind last year (because of mono) and I wanted to prove to myself that I could still do it," said Matthews. "I didn't expect to do this well but I knew I had it in me."
The Big Macs swept the boys awards, as Nick Hanley won the Field MVP and Teddy Mathis was the Track MVP. Canon-McMillan earned 265.5 points, easily winning the boys title over Peters Township. Bentworth, at fourth overall, was the top finishing Class AA team.
During the long jump event, Matthews, on his next to last attempt, jumped 23 feet but fouled. With one last jump, he made the most of it with the winning distance of 22-9.
"It was the last chance I had," Matthews said. "The record is what I was going after."
The 200 dash - Matthews' favorite event - came right after the long jump finals. Matthews, still energized by his record jump, defeated Mathis by seven-tenths of a second for his fourth gold.
His time of 22.7 could have been better, according to Matthews.
"I was a little weaker because of the jumps," he said.
Mathis earned the Track MVP with three second-place finishes - all behind Matthews. He was also part of the winning 400 relay team. The other members of that team were Will Glendenning, Sonny Billingsley and Jon Pozonsky.
Mathis didn't mind finishing behind his good friend Matthews.
"It's been like that since we were little kids," said Mathis. "It's all about the team. I just wanted to do well. Why run if you don't go all out?"
Hanley had a strong day for the Big Macs, winning the shot put (42-7) and the discus (128-3).
Canon-McMillan and Peters Township won every event except two. Washington's Tom Kelly won the high jump and Nick Patton (Waynesburg) won the pole vault.
The Indians earned gold in four events. Matt Courter took first in both hurdles, Christian Brandstetter won the 800 run and the 1,600 relay team of Courter, Hunter Brade, Brandstetter and Andy Blandino finished in a meet record time of 3:21.4.
Canon-McMillan's other winners were the 3,200 relay team (Kyle Gibson, Julian Rankin, Luke Alauzen and Matt Gregory); Gibson in the 1,600 run; Chris McClellan in the triple jump; Rankin in the 3,200 run and Zane Zebrasky in the javelin.