Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Cardinal Mooney senior Sammy Rotunno clears the final hurdle to earn the silver medal in the 300-meter hurdles, running a time of 44.31 seconds at the state track meet.

COLUMBUS — The senior duo of Sammy Rotunno and Talecia Huff weren’t strangers to the challenges that come with the state track meet. Both previously helped Cardinal Mooney earn sixth during the 4×400-meter relay in their sophomore campaigns, while Rotunno earned fifth place as an individual competing in the 300-meter hurdles last June.

They were back for their third consecutive state appearance, adding a Division III bronze medal for the girls 4×100 to their resumes, along with sophomores Amira Stevens and SaNiyah Stubbs, at 49.52 seconds.

Following the relay event, Rotunno refocused, ran the 300 hurdles, earning silver with a time of 44.31.

“This means a lot. Last year, I kind of made a commitment to myself that I wanted to place a little bit higher on the podium, and I came through and did that this year,” Rotunno said. “It means a lot, it was my last run, I’m proud of myself. The hard work pays off. It’s nice hearing (your teammates) cheer you on, having your back, but at the same time, it’s chaotic at times and you need to be a little bit more relaxed.

“There’s good and bad to it, but there’s a lot more good than bad. I love every single one of them, and I appreciate their support.”

Huff was the anchor of the third-place relay group, dashing down the track in front of thousands of fans after receiving the hand off from Rotunno.

As a fellow senior, Huff was excited at the opportunity to stand on the podium again.

“We came out here today, we had a good time, we wanted to accomplish something to prove ourselves and place good. It was a hardship with us, losing some of our individual races and our 4×200 dropping the baton at the regional meet,” Huff said. “We just wanted to come out here, prove ourselves, stand up for Youngstown and our school, show what we can really accomplish.

“It was my and Sam’s senior year. We just wanted to take the sophomores on an adventure, and win something, place, because last year they didn’t in the 4×100, so it was just so nice and calm to come out here and place good.”

Last season, the same 4×100 team missed the final auto qualifying spot by .04 seconds, adding some motivation going into this season.

“This year, I’m happy. We got to accomplish something,” Huff said. “All the hard work and dedication proved it. I’m just really excited about it. We went through some hardships with the order of the relay and the dedication and hard work, but coming out here and being able to do it and put the hard work to use, it was nice.”

Stevens, who’s the first leg of the Cardinals relay group, understood the pressure of having to come off the blocks strong, but knowing she had three other runners to support her made it easier.

“It’s difficult,” Stevens said. “We’re all tight, we make sure we pray before every race. I liked it, I know we have a lot of people on our team supporting us. I’m proud of all of us. We did really well. It’s better than nothing.”

Stubbs said the success was due, in part, to the work ethic of the relay team.

“Everybody makes sure, everybody checks on everybody, makes sure they’re OK,” Stubbs said. “It feels like if my teammates can do it then I can do it. It kind of lifts a lot of weight off my shoulders, knowing that my teammates are doing the same things I’m doing.”

After leaving the podium for the final time, Rotunno reflected on her time donning the Cardinal Mooney uniform.

“Those girls worked their butts off. They deserved to be here, just like any other team, and we just had to get our mindset right,” Rotunno said. “Coming into (the relay) and just making sure that we knew that we deserved to be on that podium. They showed up today, worked hard, and that’s all that matters. They’re a special group of people. I’m just proud of myself. I’m just proud that I got this far and that I was able to get some times that I wanted this year.”

CARDINALS IN FINALS

BOYS 4×100: Tony Jackson, Tyon Flowers, Brayden Mahone and De’Andre Riley, ninth, 44.01. … BOYS 4×400: Christopher Clautti, Donovan Whetstone, Brayden Mahone and Gabriel Bettross, ninth, 3:35.35. … BOYS 300 HURDLES: Kingston Powell, 40.44. … BOYS 200-METER DASH: De’Andre Riley, 22.78.

COMPETING IN PRELIMINARIES

GIRLS 100 HURDLES: Rotunno, 15.82. … BOYS 100: Riley, 11.44. … BOYS 4×200: Powell, Flowers, Mahone, Riley, DNF.