CCHS athletes to compete at state meet

Central Catholic’s Cade Minton had a goal to qualify for the state meet after missing the cut despite a great race at regionals a year ago.
Samarick Paul just wanted to get back someway after an injury in August that wiped out much of his 2015-16 sports season.
On the eve of Friday’s Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Track & Field State meet for classes 1A and 2A and para-ambulatory — the last meet of the season — both have achieved their goals in Class 1A.
Minton will compete in the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200-meter run Friday at Bernie Moore Track Stadium, while Paul, a long jump champion a year ago, bounced back and advanced this year in a different event: the 100-meter dash.
“At the (state) meet, it doesn’t matter where you’re seeded,” Central Catholic track coach David Fuhrer said. “Just … run your best at state and let it fall where it may as far as the place goes, and that’s always been my goal with the kids.”
Fuhrer said Minton was motivated after missing state last year despite a solid performance at regionals. He also was motivated after watching Central Catholic standout runner Sal Grizzaffi a year ago work hard and achieve success, Fuhrer said.
In the 3,200-meter run, Minton is seeded seventh in the nine-man field after recording a regional time of 11:06.02.
Scott Maggio of St. Mary’s in Natchitoches has the top time entering state at 10:27.78.
Minton, a sophomore, is seeded eighth in the nine-man competition in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:59.74.
Antonio Imbornone of St. Martin’s is the top seed with a time of 4:35.38.
“His goal was to become better this year and make it to the state meet, and he accomplished it,” Fuhrer said of Minton. “He ran really well at district.”
Minton set personal records at the District 7-1A meet in the 1,600-meter run and 3,200-meter run. He clocked in at 4:59 in the 1,600-meter run and 10:55 in the 3,200-meter run.
Paul, a junior, is seeded sixth in the nine-man field in the 100-meter dash with a regional time of 11.17. Emile Trahan of Central Catholic’s district opponent, Vermilion Catholic, is the top seed with a time of 10.77.
While Fuhrer said Paul likely could have jumped this year after recovering from a knee injury he suffered in August during football season, he did not compete out of caution.
Instead, Paul, who also was a sprinter a year ago but did not advance to state in the running events, focused on running this year and again returned to state — this time on the track.
“He was fortunate enough to make it to regionals out of district and then had a really good day at regionals,” Fuhrer said.
Fuhrer said Paul has improved during the last month.
“He wanted to go back,” Fuhrer said. “He wanted to make it, and he was determined. … (I’m) just very proud of him for finding another way to get there.”
Paul’s season-best was his regional mark of 11.17.
Friday’s field events will begin at 1:30 p.m., while running events will commence at 5 p.m.