LaSalle could go the distance for boys title .j
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BY DAVE SCHUITE ' Enquirercontrihutor If the coaches voting in The Enquirer's preseason boys track poll are on target, La Salle will win a sixth consecutive poll championship. Although coach Frank Russo's Lancersreceivedonlyeightofthe "--~~~..1 21· first Pace l votes, th ey <Ul~ 168 points to edge Princeton (152) and St Xavier (123). . 'There's a lot of parity in Cincinnatiwhichwillmakeforan interesting season," Russo said. ''There's a Iot ofd edicated coach· · es and ·mt erest Is up. " · ~ d to the all of Russo al so pomle the school's feeder programs as "tormajorreasontor · " th erenewed . t t· k m •vn. eres ·m 1rac · · hi h d cy;o ~ ue Juruor g an programs are getting the kids involved at a young age," Russo said. Until La Salle won the city track title in 1993 for the first time, Princeton had a stranglehold on it with 10 consecutive championships. "It's exciting being No. 1 because the coaches are recognizing what the team has accomplishedthepastfiveyears,"Russo said. "We'vechallengeourkidsto continue the tradition." 1. La Salle: As in past years, the Lancers will be strong in the middle distance and distance races along with the field events. Returning state qualifier Derrick Butler (800, 1,600, 3,200) will team with Steve Padgett (1,600 and 3,200) and Chris Hoeffer (400 and 800) to give La Salle three of the top runners in Cincinnati. Inthefieldevents,l.aSallewill rely on Geoff Ziegler (shot put), Brian Phelps (shot put), Dennis Fieglein Oong jump) and Bill Blessing Oong jump). 2. Princeton: Although coach Ken Meibers points to a rebuildingyear, counting the VIkings out ·could be a mistake. · Look for Jason Porter (800), AC. Carter (100, long jump), DamienJenkins (hurdles), Adam Rouse (800), George Stover
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BOYS TraCk 4- ..J-'1~ Coaches Poll 1. La Salle (8) 168 2. Princeton (6) 152 3. St. Xavier (1) 123 4. Moeller (3) 103 5. Colerain 86 6. Elder 79 7. Winton Woods 51 8. Hamilton 49 9. McNicholas (1) 32 10. Middletown 28 Others: Anderson, Sycamore 26,~ New Richmond 25, Harrison 21, Fairfield, Eastern Brown 17, Taylor (1) 14 • Walnut Hills 13· Loveland 12, Clermont Northeastern, Indian Hill11, Wyoming (1) 10, Cincinnati Country Day 9, Lakota East, Finneytown 8, Mount Healthy 7, Hamilton Badin 6, Roger Bacon, Lebanon 5, Hillsboro, Oak Hills 4, Blanchester, Georgetown 3, Amelia, Madeira, Turpin, Kings, Ross 2, Lakota West, Hughes, Mason, Hamilton Badin 1. (3200), Robert Parks (hurdles), Curt Karim (400, 800) and Charles Turk (200, 400) to lead the team. 3. St. Xavier: This team is deep (140 students), has good speed, above-average distance runners and senior leadership. This combination should spell success for the Bombers and first-year coach Mike Dehring. Inordertoremainintopphysical shape for football at Notre Dame, Rocky Boiman skipped baseball and will handle the sprints along with Josh Watkins. 4. Moeller: The numbers may be small but the quality of the athletes should keep the Crusaders competitive. Moeller has four returning state qualifiers: Dante Murray, a two-time GCL Track Athlete of the Year and state qualifier in the 200 meters; high jumper Ryan Fitzpatric, fifth at the state meet in 1997; sophomore Anthony
Munoz is expected to improve :i overlastyear'sfifthplacefinishaLJ state in the shot put and pole! vaulter Drew Walter. , of Cincinnati ! 5 • Colerain: One · "I up-and-coming programs, the Cardinalswillbestronginthedistance, middle distance, sprints 1 and field events. ;1 Sophomore Mason Ward, one of the premier distance runners , in Cincinnati, team with Justin , Hussel and Chris Noelcke in the ; distance events. . _ _. 6. Elder: A lack of seniors (only six) will put much of thel hurd en on the 20 J.uniors and 30 sophomores who should improve~ as the season progresses. •:; Elder should be strong in the distance events with T'':oJ Dohertry, ~om Moore, Brad Hekler, Tim Westrich, Mark Van-r Hook and Mike Shaffer. Zackt Weber will handle the hurdles.: ?. 7. Winton Woods: Coacljl~ Lou Cynkar was disappointed at the Warriors' preseason ranking. The Warriors' corps of sprint:r ers may be second to none with Pierre Wooten, Brandon Mir~.q Wiz White and Danny Miree,:t while Raphael Glover is one ,OlJ the premier 400-meter runners:,2 8. Hamilton: The numbers s are down which will make the Big Blue vulnerable in the dis- 1 tance and field events this season.-{ However, Hamilton is Ioadc:a:~ with quality sprinters. , 9. McNicholas: If the Rockets s come up with several sprinters;.,J they could be tough. .~;b Mike Thompson and Kevl?) Heffernan in the 400 meters ana;; RobertHinesinthehighhurdlesq are three of the team's best afli: letes. : . •t 10. Middletown: Althouglill the Middies lack a proven spririt- 6 er, long jumper and shot putter,~ coach Floyd Horton is optimistic. rf The top performers are expected to be Derek Robinson. i (200,400), Kevin Aldridge (200), Wes Brooks (800, 1,600) Luke Schumacher (discus), Clint ' · Planck (high jump, 400), Mike: · Young (400,800),JamesSpencefj (pole vault) and Derrick WllliamsJ (sprints). ·~1
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