Boys Delcos: Relaxed Sherbinko rolls with changes toward silver

GLENOLDEN — With no track or throwing facilities because of the construction of a new high school, Springfield track coaches Barry Foster and Lou Durham have had to get creative with their training techniques.

“We’re practicing at Halderman Field,” Foster said. “We’re practicing in the parking lot. We’re practicing where we can find space.”

The temporary lack of training facilities has been especially tough on the throwers, such as seniors Owen Sherbinko and Christopher Walters, who finished second and third, respectively, in the javelin Thursday during the first day of the boys Delco Track & Field championship at Interboro’s South Avenue Athletic Complex.

“We don’t have any run-ups and with how busy school is, I’m lucky to practice (the javelin) about once a week,” Sherbinko said.

As far as the discus, Sherbinko said he really only gets to work on that in meets. He isn’t complaining, though. It’s been a rough year for the young man who plans to study automotive engineering at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

He was only cleared to start training a month ago following surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder for a broken collarbone suffered in a skiing accident. The injury set him back in his weight training so that just means he has to be on top of his game mentally when he does get the chance to compete.

“I try to be relaxed,” Sherbinko said. “Last year was my big year. This year, with the broken collarbone, I haven’t been able to train like I wanted to so this year is more about having fun and being relaxed.”

He still wants to qualify for the District 1 Class 3A championships and is a little more than four feet from achieving that goal. His best throw of the season in the javelin was a 155-10 at the Viking Invitational nearly a month ago.

Sherbinko’s best throw Thursday was 150-7, which came on his first attempt. However, that was not good enough for a repeat title. Haverford High’s Trey Blair beat him by one inch with a heave of 150-8.

“The one I threw in warmups was 158-ish, but that seems to be the trend,” Sherbinko said. “I throw farther in warmups.”

He has one more chance to qualify for districts at the Central League championships next week.

“I have to work on my run-up,” Sherbinko said. “My farthest throw, I hit the tail of the javelin. My farthest throws always seem to be when I hit the tail of the javelin because it gets my hand in the right place.

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A year ago, Garnet Valley’s Sean Garrett let the heat get to him in the 3,200-meter final. While it was unseasonably warm Thursday, the junior distance runner wasn’t bothered by the conditions this time.

Garrett held off a late charge from Haverford All-Delco Aiden Tomov to win the metric two-mile in a personal best and District 1 qualifying time of 9:38.20. Tomov finished in 9:38.24.

“I knew going into it that he’s an outstanding 800 runner,” Garrett said of Tomov. “He has a great kick and I knew he was going to try to outkick me and be tough.”

Garrett took the lead with a lap to go, but as expected, Tomov made his move in the final 100 meters. Tomov moved slightly ahead as the two headed down the stretch, but Garrett was able to nip him at the finish line.

“I knew he was right on me and I knew he wanted me,” Garrett said. “I just had to hang on.”

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Haverford High had a strong start to the two-day event. In addition to Blair’s victory in the javelin, Chasen Wint was the winner in the shot put (48-6), and Matt Mariani was third overall and first in the national conference in the high jump (5-10).

Garnet Valley’s Larry Coaxum had a good day. He won the triple jump (45-11) and was second in the high jump (5-10). Ridley’s CJ Mills also earned a pair of medals. He was third overall and second in the National Conference in the triple jump (42-9 ½) and fifth in the National Conference in the high jump (5-8).

Chichester’s Zaquan Bruton was the overall and American Conference winner in the high jump (6-0). Chilekasi Adele of Bonner & Prendergast was as double medal winner. He was third in the American Conference in the javelin and shot put.

The championships conclude Saturday starting at 4:30.