Elyria Sports Hall of Fame: Elyria West 4x100 relay overcame injury to win state title

From the outside looking in, a Division II state championship for the 1995 Elyria West boys 4x100 relay didn't seem likely as it headed to Columbus. The Wolverines had just lost Rob Woolbright — the relay's No. 2 man — to a stress fracture in his foot coming out of regionals. Terry Pride, Woolbright, Aric Bowens and Del Hardimon finished third in the event (43.58) behind Beloit West Branch (43.24) and Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (43.48). Not the situation or result that inspire thoughts of a state title. The Wolverines never wavered. The Elyria West relay pulled together, found a way to win the state title and will be inducted into the Elyria Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday night. It will join Elyria High grads Doug Foor, Amanda Medvetz and Joe Norton; Elyria Catholic alums Joel Stuart and MacKenzie Tweardy; and the 2009 Murray Ridge state championship basketball team in the Class of 2026. Dr. Dennis Carson will receive the Distinguished Service Award. With Woolbright sent to the sidelines, the Wolverines turned to Duane Hawkins. He had been out for five weeks with a hamstring injury suffered in late April at the Fremont Ross Invitational. "It was eating me up inside not being able to help my teammates," Hawkins said. He had been the anchor for the 4x100 for the first weeks of the season. Coach Darrell Mayne had runoffs among Pride, Woolbright, Bowens, Hardimon and Hawkins to determine the four spots on the relay. When Woolbright got hurt, Hawkins was thrust back into the anchor slot for the state meet. Hardimon moved into the No. 2 position. The switch was seamless. It was the same lineup as the first part of the season. "I was healthy enough to return," Hawkins said. "I was a senior. There was no next season, so I put it all on the line." The Wolverines had the fastest qualifying time in Friday's Division II semis with 43.58, earning lane No. 4 for the final. They took full advantage. Pride, Hardimon, Bowens and Hawkins clocked 43.33 on Saturday, June 3, at Ohio Stadium to win the title in a photo finish. Elyria West beat Delaware Olentangy (43.37), Youngstown Mooney (43.39) and Beloit West Branch (43.42). "We had a 5x100," said Bowens. "We knew that we had the talent. In the prelim we were all pretty nervous but at the same time we knew that we hadn't been touched up until state. We were pretty confident." Mooney was in lane No. 5 as the No. 2 seed with a qualifying time of 43.61. Olentangy was out in lane No. 8 as the No. 8 seed (43.98). West Branch was in lane No. 6 as the No. 3 seed (43.77). "I think we had three practices the week leading up to state practicing our exchanges. We just left it at that," Pride said. "For state finals, the first exchange felt good handing it to Del. I know that I kept the stagger pretty even but I might have broken it a little bit. I think we gained ground as we went. It was close when Duane got the baton but then he just pulled away just enough." The four still cherish the memories. "It was just very cool to be able to run at Ohio Stadium and to just hang out at the hotel at night talking to other athletes," Bowens said. "It was 31 years ago but it's an experience that we'll never forget." The emotion was so great that Bowens missed his call later in the meet for the finals of the 300-meter hurdles. He was the No. 3 seed (39.12). "By that time we had already had our gold medals. It was an exciting moment, kind of a gasping moment," he said. "The fact that I got a gold medal with my brothers made it all worthwhile." The close finish added to the story. "It was kind of surreal," said Pride. "I thought we had won just from my vantage point seeing Duane coming across the finish line. I thought we got it. We were all pretty excited already but just waiting around and them finally announcing it was surreal. "I had run pretty far down the back straightaway after handing off to Del. It was kind of a motivation thing, like 'run, run, run.' But by the time Duane was running I was already jogging back screaming at him to keep going. I was kind of behind him but I thought we had it." Hawkins' anchor leg didn't get off to the greatest start. "Terry and Delmond had a perfect exchange. Delmond and Aric had a perfect exchange," said Hawkins. "Aric and I didn't. Maybe it was the adrenaline of the state finals or maybe I took off too soon, but Aric right before the exchange of the baton yelled 'slow down a little bit.' I had to slow down to get the baton. "It was a photo finish. At the finish line, I remember sticking my chest out to lean at the line. When the race was over, I didn't know the outcome. I looked over into the crowd. My brother Jamie was standing there with the No. 1 sign letting me know we came in first." The accomplishment carried plenty of significance. And still does. No other Lorain County boys team — before or since — has won the 4x100 at the state track and field championships. "It was an amazing moment," Bowens said. "I had a lot of faith in Hawkins. I played football with him. I knew his speed. Hawkins was a sprinter but coming off that injury you never know." Bowens transferred to Elyria West from Elyria High for his senior year through open enrollment after his mother had died. He had been a Division I state qualifier his junior year in the 4x100 and 300 hurdles. His initial reason for transferring was football but quickly was impressed by what he saw from the Wolverines track program. "Hawk never said a lot about it (winning state). His actions spoke louder than words," Bowens said. "He was already a preseason All-American in football. He's never been super vocal. He was always an action kind of guy. We never had any situation where we felt we had any doubt. One went down, one came up. I never heard Duane ever complain. He just got the job done." Bowens said how proud the team was to represent its city and school. The runners also mentioned the influence of Rod Moore and Greg Fluker. Moore was a 1988 Elyria grad and an All-American at Lincoln University. Fluker was a 1978 West grad who worked with the team. "He gave me his spikes that he wore winning the national championship just prior to us leaving for state," Pride said of Moore. "Rod was always very good about talking to us and encouraging us. He was tough and he was a legend. "We took that mentality, that edge from Rod to never allow our opponents to see us sweat, to pant or to put our hands on our knees right after finishing up a race. He reminded us to put our hands on our waist or our hips." The relay was the program's sixth and final boys state championship as the school closed following the 1995-96 school year. Ray Armstrong won state titles in the 220-yard dash in 1978 and '79 and added titles in the 100 yards and 440 yards in 1979. Otis Shannon had the other state title in the 110-meter high hurdles in 1987. Woolbright was an exceptional athlete, becoming an All-American for Lincoln University. The group considers itself a fivesome. "It really was the five of us because any time there was a decision about the process Duane was always included," Pride said. "We were brothers. We were a family first. We were locked in together and we knew what we wanted to do." "We've all tried to stay in touch through a chat," Bowens said. "We're all going to be brothers for life. We all have a bond and this Hall of Fame honor is going to bring us even a little bit more closer together." Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.