Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Lowellville senior Drew Modelski takes seventh in the Div. III 200m in June during the state track meet in Dayton.

DAYTON — Drew Modelski is one of the best and most promising athletes in the Mahoning Valley. The Lowellville sprinter has multiple OHSAA state track and field medals on his resume, but a seventh-place finish in the Division III boys 200-meter dash at this year’s state meet in June did not sit well with him.

When it came time to collect his medal and stand on the podium with the other seven 200-meter placers, Modelski was nowhere to be seen. While he eventually made his way to the awards area at midfield of Welcome Stadium, Modelski admitted he was late to the podium because he was upset with his performance.

“It’s disappointing,” Modelski said. “I worked my (butt) off to get here…”

Modelski, who ran a 22.49 in preliminaries and 22.76 in finals, said that he entered the state meet with relatively limited time to prepare due to an injury he sustained following districts.

“I hurt my hip,” Modelski said. “At the Poland Invitational, I messed up my adductor in my back area and my hip. I took a little bit of time off after that, and I just got back right into it.”

While the disappointment from the 200-meter dash lingered, it did not stop Modelski from becoming a state champion soon thereafter.

The Rockets’ 4×400-meter relay team, of which Modelski was a part, took home gold to close the second day of the meet. Modelski said his relay teammates — Michael Ballone, Josh Pazel and Matt Lucido — picked him up and encouraged him after the 200-meter setback, which happened about an hour earlier.

“I had my teammates to help walk me through it, get my mind off it and get ready for the 400,” Modelski said.

As Modelski becomes an upperclassman at Lowellville, he is determined to stand atop the podium as state champion once again — but this time in the 200-meter dash.

“I’m not gonna let my demeanor change,” Modelski said. “I’m gonna keep working hard this offseason. I’m gonna get back here next year and I’m gonna win the whole thing. It’s the only goal I have.”

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