the Internet home of high school track

DyeStat Page 1

• DyeStat College Choices list grows to 550

• Ale Barrientos grabs another US#1 in 2:09.35 

• Jamaican championships offer Penn Relays challenge

• Kansas Relays feature Jenks OK girls, Lockhart TX boys 

Penn Relays Preview

Relay events: San Lorenzo Valley girls - 
St. Malachy boys - and a lot of Jamaicans

by John Dye

It's the relays, stupid.  To paraphrase candidate Clinton's 1992 political strategist, look to the relay events for the high school action at Franklin Field, Philadelphia, this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.  The best US milers of the season--Alejandra Barrientos and Alan Webb--will be there, but they will be running for their relay teams.  (You can't do both DMR and the open mile at Penn.)

It's the relays anyway that get the juices flowing at Penn, that turn 40,000 fans into a flag waving frenzy, that crank up the "W-O-O-O-O-O" quotient to a perfect 10.  To the champions goes a victory lap, proudly waving their country's flag.  

The international competition brings out the passions.  There are always the Jamaicans, with their stadium rattling 5,000 followers, and this year there are also the Irish.  

So let's look at what to expect.  High School only, please, this is DyeStat.

The highlight of the girls events, and perhaps the entire meet, is the distance medley at 5:40 pm Thursday.  The San Lorenzo Valley CA Cougars (Felton CA, not San Lorenzo) are on the prowl for one of the longest standing US records (11:43.53 by the great Irvine CA University team in 1982). They could get this and not get the Penn Relays record, which is 3 seconds better (11:40.51, Vere Tech, Jamaica, 1992).

Cougar coach Rob Collins has done wonders in 2 years at San Lorenzo Valley. In 1999, jr Alejandra Barrientos burst on the scene with a startling stretch-kicking win at the Arcadia Invitational 1600 meters, which she validated by winning the California state 1600 championship and the US Junior National 1500 meter championship. This year she is the leading 1600m (4:46.6) and 800m (2:09.35) female runner in the US. 

Now, Collins has developed depth with a bevy of talented girls to go with Barrientos.  SLV currently has 8 girls running the 800 meters under 2:30 and five under 2:20.  The four that run the distance medley (1600m anchor Ale Barrientos, freshman sister Raquel Barrientos at 1200 meters, Lindsay Scharborough at 400m, and Shiloh Whiting at 800m)  have the US#1 time of 11:55.68, and that included a 1600-meter time for Ale Barrientos that is 10 seconds slower than her best (she ran the DMR at the Arcadia Invitational April 8 two hours after winning the open 1600 in US#1 time). SLV's Arcadia time is 15-25 seconds better than the next best teams in this race: Conestoga PA, Middletown MD (with another sister act, Randy and Emily Buzzell), Villa Maria PA, and Haddonfield NJ (with 1999 US outdoor mile champion Erin Donohue), . Other teams who could get an announcer's call are perennial power Manchester Central NH, Warwick Valley NY, and Lake Braddock VA.

The Cougar girls with the flaming red singlets can get the record without running their personal bests.  And if they don't get it now they have plenty of time -- none of them are seniors. 

The boys distance medley at 5:10 pm Friday will feature St. Malachy, the pride of Belfast, Ireland, who ran a Penn Relays record 9:59.84 in winning the 1999 edition.  The US indoor record setting Gloucester MA team (9:59.94 at the National Scholastic Indoor in New York in March) is not entered.  So the task of picking up US pride falls to teams like Cardinal O'Hara PA, St. Anthony's NY, Christian Brothers Academy NJ, Bishop Loughlin NY, and the Alan Webb-led South Lakes VA -- solid teams, but not likely to topple St. Malachy.

Other Relays

Girls 4x100

Vere Technical of Jamaica has won four years in a row and is favored to make it five.  They just won the Jamaican championships in 45.37, which is slightly better than their winning  time at Penn last year.  But before it's over, they will have to put down Berkeley CA.  Coach Soupie B's talented girls were US national champs last year at San Lorenzo CA and have won everything in sight this year in California -- Stanford, Arcadia, and Oakland relays.  Their best is 46.42.  Another possible contender  is Largo MD, who are unbeaten this year in the East, with a best of 46.8.

Boys 4x100

The crown should return to Jamaica for the 8th time in 11 years (Potomac VA won last year).  The top five finishers in the Jamaica championships are here, headed by Wolmer's Boys 41.19 and Jamaica College 41.22.  The leading US teams (read Texas) are not entered, leaving Suitland MD 41.5 US#14 as the highest ranking US team on hand.  

Girls 4x400

US girls have won this event 4 of the last 5 years, ending Vere Tech's string of 9 straight years for Jamaica.  This year may be Jamaica's turn again as Holmwood Technical won their country's championship in a blistering 3:37.05.  That is US record territory and the US record holder (Long Beach CA Wilson) is not entered.  Best US hopes for the finals are Menchvlle VA 3:47.33 US#6, Berkeley CA 3:47.5 US#7, Long Beach Poly CA 3:51.02 US#12, and Largo MD 3:53.14 US#19.  After Holmwood, Jamaica brings the rest of their top teams including St. Jago 3:40.56 in the Jamaican championship and Vere Tech 3:42.13.

Boys 4x400

The top 7 Jamaican championship teams are entered, and they have some frightening times: Munro College 3:10.73, Jamaica College 3:11.95, St. Jago 3:12.40, Wolmer's Boys 3:14.83, and Kingston College 3:15.29.  All of these times are better than the best US teams entered, Long Beach Poly CA 3:15.63 US#4 and Heritage VA 3:16.29 US#7.  The US has won 3 of the last 4 years, but don't have anyone this year in the class of Northwestern MD and Pasadena CA Muir.  

Girls 4x800

It has been 15 years since a US team won this race (State College PA 1985).  Since then 14 Jamaican teams have walked away with the title; they hold every position on the Franklin Field top 10 all time list.  

US outdoor times have not come down yet.  Leader Long Beach CA Wilson 9:17.44 is not entered, but US#2 Villa Maria PA 9:22.3 is, along with indoor leaders Boys & Girls NY 9:07.56 and William Penn PA 9:08.  Top Jamaican teams on entry times are Edwin Allen 9:08 and St. Jago 9:10.

Boys 4x800

Tough event to analyze.  None of the 2000 outdoor DyeStat Elite teams (under 8:00) are entered.  Based on entry times and 2000 indoor times, here are the leading contenders:  Cherokee NJ 7:51.87; Gates Chili NY 7:54.33; Calabar JAM 7:54.56; St. Jago JAM 7:54.5; John F. Kennedy NY 7:55.11; and Jamaica College JAM 7:55.6.  St. Malachy IRELAND is entered with a 8:04 mark, which may be conservative.  

Jamaica won this race 11 straight years until W. Springfield VA and Boys & Girls NY won in 1997-98.  Then Jamaica College returned the title to Jamaica last year.  

Click for more DyeStat previews of Penn, including rundowns of the Individual Boys and Individual Girls events, Conrad Haber's analysis of the boys distance events, and what to watch for each day.

DyeStat will be on-site, of course, with results, highlights, photos, and Donna on the Side. 

DYESTAT ELITE 
National Rankings as of 4/21
More than 1,600 performances from 346 meets are now included in the unique 100-deep national rankings for the 2000 outdoor season.  

DONNA ON THE SIDE IN MOBILE
Southern hospitality - azaleas - seafood - athletes and parents - Richmond Flowers and son - live oak archways - races under the stars

See DYESTAT COLLEGE CHOICES for 550 decisions  (list has been updated with information received through 4/26).

Jamaica Championships - Jamaica sends a formidable delegation to Penn every year.  When their relay teams get going, Franklin Field rocks with the cheers of a 5,000-strong following of Jamaican fans, all waving green and gold flags.  If the recent Jamaican national championships are any guide, the Jamaicans will have plenty to cheer for this year.  Consider three boys 4x400 relay teams at 3:12 or better, three girls 4x400 relay teams at 3:42 or better, and a total of 94 DyeStat Elite level marks.
Complete Results

THIS WEEK

Alphabetical by State - 
Click on meet name for details

• 4/22 Weekend review by Jim Spier - best marks from Volunteer Classic, Father Judge, Davis Inv, Kansas Relays.

• CA - CCS Top 8 Classic - San Lorenzo Valley girls set 7 school records; Ale Barrientos, already the US leader in the mile, wins 800 in US#1 2:09.35, leaving 1600 to little sister Raquel 5:06.93; Maggie Vessey 55.68; Matt Bates 1:55 and 4:13.6; Neil McDonough 9:14.51; Elzunia Lamb 19-6.5 US#1 tie.  Marty Kruger's story and pictures.

• KS KANSAS RELAYS - The renewed  Kansas Relays (1st since 1997) saw some thrilling races throughout the 2 days, with 58 DyeStat Elite level marks recorded.  

  Jenks OK girls and Lockhart TX boys invaded the Jayhawk state with a flourish.  Jenks captured both distance relays, the 4x800 in 9:37.04 and the DMR in 12:29.29.  Lockhart won the 4x800 in 7:53.32, and their ace Juan Cardenas won the 1600 in a thriller by one hundredth of a second over Matt Tegenkamp, Lee's Summit MO sr, 4:13.96 to 4:13.97.   Tegenkamp won the 3200 easily in 9:03.48.

  Good doubles were turned in by: Richard Barber, Topeka KS sr, 24-1.75 and 47-9.25; Naomi Williams, Northeast KC, 12.13 100m and 56.53 400m; Janell Wright, Topeka KS sr,  5-8 HJ and 13.62 100H (prelim); Drew Anderson, Kearney NE sr, 14.24 and 38.53; and Julie Curtis, Manhattan KS so, 43.05 300H and 13.92 100H (prelim).

  Alice Schmidt, Elkhorn NE sr, who won the 1999 Foot Locker National Outdoor 800 meter title, switched to the 1600 here and won in 5:03.1.  Joe McNair, Bartlesville OK sr, won the 800 in 1:54.28;  Amanda Pape, Olathe KS sr, won the 3200 in 10:44.8.

• LA District Meets - Ahmad Jasmine gets two district records with 10.3h and 47.3h.

• PA Father Judge - results and highlights by Don Rich, publisher of DyeStatPA

• TN Volunteer Classic 
  Boys: Germantown Houston 55 (Charlotte Vance 52.50); Tyson Gay, Lafayette KY, 21.27; Adam Abdi 4:17.96; Chris Elder 9:19.59; Jermaine Williams, Sumter SC, 14.37; Orangeburg Wilkinson SC 42.44; Deep Creek VA 1:28.6; Joe Marucheck 47-2.75; Quentin Mathews 6-8.
  Girls: Centerville 58.2; Jihan Trone 12.24; Latasha Pharr 14.18 (Trone 14.19), 18-8, and 40-1.5; McEachern GA 47.85 and 1:41.67; Josie Hahn 5-6; Sonya Bell 137-5.

• UT Davis Invitational - Most valuable performers were Jake Garlick (14.10, 37.41, and 21.55w) and Candice Workman (all time Utah best DT of 160-10 US#2, 45-9.5, and 140-10 JT 2nd);  

GREAT AMERICAN 2000 - Sept 21-24
Race of Champions team entries announced by meet director Rick Hill for big meet in Charlotte in September - Race of Champions, Open, Invitational, and Small School. See DyeStat Great American home page.

UPCOMING

Dogwood Classic resumes  April 29 at the U. of Virginia, the 29th running of this meet, but the first since 1993. Schools from VA, MD, TN, SC, GA, WV and DC are invited.  See Dogwood Classic home page for entry forms.

18th T.C. Williams Invitational VA May 6 to draw from 10 states - entry forms & details on TCW home page

Don Mitchell Roosevelt Memorial meet in Dayton May 6 will attract 2,300 athletes from 7 states and Canada,  Entries due April 14
see Meet Home Page for info and entries

Golden West Invitational
June 10 will give San Francisco side trip to first 90 entries - see complete GWI information on DyeStat GWI page.

FOOT LOCKER OUTDOOR Track and Field Championships - June 16-17, Raleigh NC - Complete meet information, entry guidelines, and entry forms are available on 
Dyestat's FLO home page.

Brian Turner ran back to his sophomore days with a 4:10.8 1600m at the Millard South Invitational 4/25 in Omaha NE.

Neil Philpott of Norton KS echoed his big Kansas Relays performance with a 58-2 (SP), 163-8 (DT) 179-3 (JT) triple at the Scott City Relays 4/20. (Tony Bozarth)

Neisha Bernard had a fine day at the St. John's Classic 4/16:  2:09.96 US#7, 54.41 US#4, and anchoring her Tilden NY 4x100 relay team to a third place 48.45 finish.

Triplets 1-2-3  Has anyone ever heard of triplets in track?  Jeff, Chris, and Nick Santana are juniors at Benicia CA High School. On 4/19 they finished first (42.0), second (42.8), and third (42.9) in the 300 hurdles in a dual meet against Las Lomas. (Keith Conning)

Kyle Odvody's 7-1.5 at Platteview Inv 4/18 is all-time Nebraska best high jump.

New Pole Vault Leaders: Corrie Drakulich 12-6.25 at Clackamas OR dual 4/20;  Kevin Opalka 17-1 at the Moore OK Relays 4/18.

Big 67-7 throw by Florida's Vincent Wilfork at Palm Beach County championships - 2 feet longer than one of the oldest Florida state meet records and US#2.  Wilfork competes for Santaluces FL.

Two Wyoming girls at 2:12 - National distance star Alicia Craig, Campbell County WY, ran 2:12.8 in the 800m at the Western Nebraska Twilight Track Meet held in Scottsbluff NE on April 20th-- and took second! The winner was Becky Hammitt of Cheyenne WY East , who over took Alicia in the last 100m and ran 2:12.2. She is the Wyoming defending champion in the 800m. The weather was great with temperatures about 70 degrees and no wind. What a great race! Alicia earlier had run a 2:16.6 split on the winning 4 x 800m relay team that ran 9:37.3. (from Orville Hess)

Josh Spiker returns!
Ventura CA star, who went down with a severe stress fracture just after winning the Mt. SAC cross country title in brilliant fashion last October, returned to the track Saturday at the Mt SAC track and field relays.  He was running the second leg of 4x1600 relay, and he was hoping for about 4:20.  Wrong!  Josh came from way back to give his team the lead with a 4:12.5 leg.  Afterward,  a relieved Spiker told SoCal track writer Rich Gonzalez he thought he was back.  But he will concentrate on the 1600 and not double because he doesn't have the base training for the 3200.  (15-mile weeks have been his limit as he made a cautious rehabilitation).   

Olympia soph Adam Midles became the first Washington hammer thrower to top 200 feet when he heaved the 12-pound implement 201-3 at the Pasco Invitational 4/14.

Tracy Argo is first girl to hit 40 feet in triple jump in Nevada and found the experience painful.  She sprained her ankle landing 

LAST WEEK

• AZ Glendale Invitational - Chris Kahn 172.5 DT; Cassandra Reed 56.12.

• CA Mt. SAC - Brilliant performances at 44th Mt. San Antonio College Relays in California:  
  Boys: Don Lugo 7:45.55 US#1; Rhuben Williams 63-0.25; LB Wilson SMR 3:30.26; Chris Morgan 14.04; Bennie Robinson 10.47; Vista DMR 10:18.76 US#4; Jerry Thornburg 37.92; Chris Wells-Anders 1:53.46; Calvin Redden 21.15; Aaron Fisher 3:55.87 and 8:37.63 (1500/3000); LB Poly 3:15.87.
  Girls: Long Beach Wilson 9:17.44 US#1; Mojave 47.06 4x100 (LB Wilson 47.17, Berkeley 47.22); Sara Bei 4:30.43 1500m US#1 (Anita Siraki 4:32.30); Daneeka Torrey 13.99; Porchea Carroll 11.60 US#3 (Monique Henderson 11.61); Berkeley 1:42.08 800m SMR; Berkeley 1:37.63 US#3 (LB Wilson 1:39.90); Shantae McKinley 2:14.83; Aisha Margain 23.10 US#1 (Monique Henderson 23.16); Sara Gorton 9:36.24 3k; Morningside 4x400 3:50.81.  See list of 108 DyeStat Elite performances at Mt. SAC Relays 

• CA Hampton-Phillip Track Classic - Silver Creek High School, San Jose CA.  Complete Results

• ID Nungester Invitational - Firth HS - from Leadore ID High School, which has 54 students in grades 9-12, comes junior H. Tyler, who doubled in girls throws with marks of 45-6.5 (US#6) and 121-3.  

• KS Kansas Weekend - three meets getting ready for the Kansas Relays, compiled by Tony Bozarth - Larry German 23-0.75; Naomi Williams 11.78; Delissa  McClain 140-8 DT; Denita Miller 159-0 JT.  

• LA Louisiana Weekend - Baton Rouge sr Fred Townsend, newly signed to attend South Carolina, was the star of the Baton Rouge meet with an outstanding meet record triple: 6-8 HJ, 23-0.25 LJ, and 14.0 hurdles.  The host Catholic boys won the team title with 147 points.  Baton Rouge girls beat Southern Lab 138 to 119.5.  

• MD Capital Beltway Classic - Long Reach HS MD - now Complete Results
  Sidwell Friends frosh Nana Meriwether turned heads with a 55.98 win over veteran 400m runners.  
  Boys: Norristown PA 71 (E. Roosevelt 53); Ernie Terrell 10.91; Unyime Akpan 14.40; Luqman Kolade 54.80 400H; Allen Simms 23-1 and 49-4.25; Norristown HS 42.32 and 1:29.25;  Vikas Gowda 55-0 and 168-0.
  Girls: Trenton Central NJ 64 (Long Reach 59); Teyarnte Carter 11.92 (Sharronda Boone 12.09); Nana Meriwether 55.98 (Tiffany Bradley 56.04, Antoinette Gorham 56.37, Renee Clark 57.89); April Mullen 4:56.09 1500; H. D. Woodson HS 48.34; Eleanor Roosevelt HS 1:41.65 and 3:54.44 (Camden NJ 3:57.25).

• MS North Mississippi Region - Tupelo MS - Boys: Deandre Eiland's triple leads Tupelo to 5A title with 176 points.  Eiland: season bests 13.53 in 110 hurdles and 10.61 in 100m dash, plus 37.92 in 300H.2; Tupelo boys 42.18 and 3:20.87; Shantel Glass 24-0.25.  Girls: Columbus 181 wins 5A; Nikita Taylor, Holly Springs,  11.94 and 19-6 (US#2); Ashley Watkins 5-6; Sabrina Norwood 5-6. 

• NY Red Raider Relays - at N. Rockland HS.  Boys: Carlos Bedoya 21.66; Paul Joyce 1:56.09.  Girls: Chinela Davis 24.90 and 18-1.5, Jen Donovan 11:01.2; N. Rockland 9:43.21; Half Hollow Hills SMR 4:10.54; Lindsay Rosales 10-7.

• NV Nevada Honor Rolls - leaders in Northern and Southern Nevada

• NY Big Blue Classic - at St. Joseph by the Sea HS, Staten Island - 
  Girls: Boys and Girls HS wins four relays in outstanding times: 3:53.25, 9:28.84, 12:26.08, 4:15.01; 
  Boys: Mike Mucci 192-11 JT; Dan McGrath 9:57.65 steeple; Corey Thomas 1:56.32; Xaverian SMR 3:33.72; Shaker DMR 10:35.14

• OH Mehock Relays - Mansfield OH - Gary Stanford 14.29, 23-2, and 46-3.25; Jason Caldwell 57-4.75 and 181-0; Andy Marsh 9:17.0

• SC 9th Taco Bell Classic - Columbia SC - Two new US leaders:  Alan Webb 1600m 4:03.42, David Adams 3200m 8:57.21.  
  After being headed by Ricky Brookshire for one lap, Webb took over, running the second 800m in 2:00 and the last 400 in 59 seconds.  Webb's Reston VA South Lakes coach Scott Raczko told the Washington Post that Webb trains to peak in June.  Last year that strategy got him a 4:06.94 sophomore class record at the Foot Locker National Outdoor in Raleigh, breaking the legendary Jim Ryun's record.  This year, who knows - a four-minute mile?  
  Kelley Otstott led Thomas Jefferson-VA Alex to the girls team title by doubling in 2:14.18 and 5:00.69.  Also: Airese Currie 10.55.
  Details

• TX Texas Weekend - complied by Jim Spier - tons of top sprint, hurdle, and relay times
  Boys: Cedric Williams 10.3h; LaKeldrick Bridges 20.8h; Campell, Austin, 47.0h; Steve Maddox 9:14.96; Michael Thomas 13.6h; Jared Bradley 37.0h; Michael Tolbert 60-6.5; Fort Worth O. D. Wyatt 41.1h8; Carter Dallas 3:17.27. 
  Girls: Megan Turner 11.4h; Latoya Phillips 24.5h; Sibley, Everman, 24.5h; Brie Madden 5-11 US#1; Chaytan Hill 40-4.5; Dunbar FW 46.8h; Skyline Dallas 46.9h; Reagan Aus 1:39.98; Kimball Dal 3:52.09.

• VA  PENINSULA RELAYS - hosted by Bethel HS at Darling Memorial Stadium, Hampton VA - DyeStat On-Site Results and Photos

• VA Scudieri Challenge - Sheena Johnson led Garfield to 76-68 victory over Hayfield by winning four events: 18-0, 13.4h US#3, 41.2h US#2, and 23.8h.  Also:  Nikeya Green 2:15.7 and 5:07.8; Largo 46.8 and 3:59.8; Laurel 4x800 9:37.1; India Odum 40-5 SP; Lauren Chaikin 11:22.4; Alicia and Charlotte LaRoche 10-6 PV.  
  Boys: Suitland 86 ( T.C. Williams 80); Rickey Harris 13.3h and 10.7h; Steve Nance 21.6h; Laurel 42.9

Bob Gourley's Weight and Hammer Lists
--3/18 indoor list

Index of Prior Page 1's

This web site is edited and published
by John Dye. For corrections, news,
zany off the wall comments, friendly jibes, hostile pot shots, or welcome praise, send email to John Dye at dye@dyestat.com .

©DyeNet LLC 2000-2001