Paul
Heyse | The Chronicle-Telegram
It’s been a tough stretch
lately for the Westlake girls, who have been without the services of sophomore
distance star Sophia Kopasakis for most of the season.
“She strained a hamstring before our spring break,” Westlake assistant Travis Haselswerdt said. “She ran through it for about two weeks.
We were finally forced to shut her down. She’s been out about five weeks now.”
Kopasakis was the 2007 Amherst Division I district champ in the 1,600 meters
(5:21.64) and played a key role in the Demons’ Southwestern Conference title
run.
“She’s currently rehabbing and working back into condition,” Westlake girls
head coach Duane Miller said. “We’re hoping that she’ll be running Saturday at
the Westlake Relays.”
The Southwestern Conference meet is May 15-16 at North Olmsted High.
King girls excel
The Admiral King girls
lack the depth to compete for meet titles, but have done a nice job competing in
the sprint relays, particularly the 400- and 800-meter relays.
Sophomore Sheral Robinson, freshman Tiara Ammons, sophomore Jasmine Garcia and junior Christi Bolinger again performed well at Saturday’s rain-soaked Jim
Reynolds Relays at Avon Middle School. The quartet clocked a season-best time
of 50.8 in winning the 400 relay. The same four had a time of 1:51.1 in
capturing the 800 relay.
“It feels so good,” Ammons said. “Our goal is to beat
Southview, and we did. I knew I was going to get it
(anchoring the 800 relay). Our coaches told us to go after it, and we got it.
The weather slowed us down a little, but we got it.”
In the shot put, freshman Shaniqua Ogle and sophomore
Destiny Harbin, who are cousins, won by over 6 feet with a combined distance of
65-4¾.
Dixon at Trials
Meet clerk Larry Dixon
has been chosen to officiate at this summer’s Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.,
which will be held June 27 thorugh July 6.
Dixon, 55, an Elyria resident and former Midview
coach, has been a track official for 23 years. He served at the 2004 Olympic
Trials in Sacramento, Calif.
Ex-’Cat sets record
Former Keystone runner
Amanda Winslow won a pair of Class 5A titles on May 1 at the high school state
meet in Albany, Ga.
A junior at Collins Hill High, Winslow won the 1,600 meters in a state-record
time of 4:48.353. She later won the 3,200 in a time of 10:45.22.
Nationally, Winslow’s ranks No. 4 in the 1,600 and No. 32 in the 3,200 on the
prep track Web site www.milesplit.us.
Winslow’s efforts helped the Eagles win their third straight team title.
Upcoming meets
The North Coast League
meet is today and Saturday at Padua High School. Field events start today at 4
p.m. The 3,200 relay is the only running final of the day, starting at 4:45
p.m. On Saturday, the field events start at 2 p.m. and the running events at 3
p.m.
• The 34th annual Bulldog
Relays are Friday at Olmsted Falls High School. Joining the host Bulldogs are
Fairview, Firelands, Gilmour Academy, Keystone, Midview, North Royalton and Parma. The field events start
at 4:30 p.m. and the running events at 4:45.
• The 33rd annual Bell
Invitational is Friday at Rocky River High School. Field events and running
events are at 4:30 p.m. Bay, Kenston, Lakewood,
Lutheran West, Midpark, Normandy and Valley Forge
join the host Pirates.
• The 35th annual
Vermilion Invitational is Friday. Field events are at 4:30 p.m., running events
at 4:50. Admiral King, Brookside, Clearview, Lake
Ridge, North Ridgeville, Open Door, Regina (girls only), Southview
and Wellington join the host Sailors.
• The 43rd annual Westlake
Relays are Saturday. Admiral King (girls only), Avon, Avon Lake, Elyria,
Garfield Heights, Hudson (boys only), North Olmsted and Strongsville join the
host Demons. Field events are at 11 a.m. and running events are at 12:15 p.m.
• The third annual Patriot
Athletic Conference meet is May 13 and 15 at Brooklyn High School. Field events
start at 3:30 p.m. and running events start at 5 p.m. on both days.
GIve us a call
High school coaches are
encouraged to submit times for the weekly track and field honor roll.
Times and distances can be submitted via e-mail to phheyse@aol.com. Results
should be submitted no later than 9 p.m. on Tuesday.
Coaches are also encouraged to submit athlete-of-the-week nominations no later
than 8 p.m. on Sundays. Coaches should provide statistics (times and
performances) along with a brief athlete bio of their nominations to
phheyse@aol.com. Athletes of the week receive a Chronicle-Telegram T-shirt for
their achievement.
Paul Heyse covers high school track and field for the Chronicle-Telegram. He
can be reached at 329-7135 or phheyse@aol.com.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Drew Ebersole,
Midview
YEAR: Senior
LAST WEEK: Won the shot put at the Margaretta Invitational with a meet-record throw of 58
feet, 11¼ inches, topping his old school record by more than 18 inches. Also
won discus with a toss of 178-4, missing the meet record by only 5 inches.
OTHER SPORT: Football
BIO: Threw the discus a
school-record 183-3 April 16 at Fairview. Ranked No. 14 in discus and No. 26 in
shot put nationally. Is undefeated in the regular season since last year’s Avon
Lake Invitational.Through May 1, leads Midview in scoring with 152 points. Finished third in
discus at last year’s Division I state meet. Plans to attend Kent State on an
athletic scholarship in track. Has a 3.3 grade-point average.
PARENTS: Ray and Pam Ebersole
Alexa Katrinchak,
Midview
YEAR: Freshman
LAST WEEK: Finished second in the
100 hurdles (16.45) and third in the 300 hurdles (49.75) at the Margaretta Invitational.
OTHER SPORT: Volleyball
BIO: Middies’ leading scorer
with 120 points. She set school records last year as an eighth grader for the
100 hurdles (16.2) and 200 hurdles (34.4). Plays trumpet for the concert band,
marching band and jazz band and also plays the piano. Is a recreation softball
player during the summer. Has a 4.0 gpa.
PARENTS: Joe and Carolyn Katrinchak