Highlights by Pete Cava

4xMILE: Hillard Davidson (Hilliard, OH) won the seeded heat as three teams
finished at 7:40 or better in Saturday morning’s first race.
Mainland Regional (Linwood, NJ) took and early lead courtesy of 4:20 and 4:21
splits on the first two legs by Greg Hughes and Spenser Popeson. On the third leg, Bill
Keckeis put LaSalle (Cincinnati, OH) into first place, but Ryan Spellman kept Hillard
Davidson in contention in a four-team race.
Spellman handed off to anchor Christian Nichols, who moved into the lead after
two laps and began to separate himself from the pack. Meanwhile, Steve Magness got
Klein Oak (Houston, TX) into second. Magness ran a commendable 4:06.7 anchor leg
(with splits of 56.5, 63.0, 64.2 and 63.7) that sewed up the silver medal.
Hilliard Davidson’s team of Alan Burkitt (4:21.9), Alex Bailey (4:28.7), Spellman
(4:28.7) and Nichols (4:11.3) finished in 17:30.45, the year’s fastest prep time. Klein
Oak was second in 17:37.03, with Mainland Regional third in 17:40.02.
“I was pretty excited,” said Nichols. “I just didnt want to go out too fast and catch
them right away. I just had t pace myself and slowly catch up.”
Nichols said Magness, a 4:01 miler this year, was on his mind throughout. “It
mad me more nervous,” he said. “I kind of liked it, though. It gave me some adrenaline.
I knew that Magness was going to be coming.”
The race was called back twice. With runners pushing and shoving at the starting
line like bargain hunters at Filene’s basement, officials called everyone together and
calmed them down before the race could begin in earnest.

HAMMER THROW: Dan Godin (Coventry, RI) produced a series of 203-1,
207-7, 186-2, 193-4, 178-2 and 205-7 to control the day’s first field event final. Godin, a
compact 5-10, 190-pound University of Rhode Island recruit, finished ahead of Matt
McNamara (Oyster Bay, NY) and Jake Dunkleberger (Smyrna, GA). McNamara
mustered a throw of 192-1 on his first try while Dunkleberger threw 186-2, also in the
first round.
“I was kind of nervous because I ‘ve never thrown well off this circle,” said
Godin. “So I went after it.”
Godin said Danielle Dufresne’s victory Friday in the girls hammer was an
inspiration. “We train together,” explained Godin. “I knew if she did well off this circle,
“I’d do well. We tend to do the same.”
Harold Connolly, winner of the hammer throw gold medal at the 1956 Olympics
in Melbourne, was among the spectators for the event, held under overcast skies and in
sultry temperatures. Connolly evaluated Godin’s performance as “technically very good.” Connolly
offered congratulations, then tendered advice as Godin listened intently.

SPRINT MEDLEY RELAY: Action on the track resumed at 1:45 p.m. with the
sprint medley relay. And Glenville (Cleveland, OH) got the afternoon off on the right
foot with a national record time of 1:28.95.
The Glenville team of Roland Sweet, Daven Jones, Freddie Lenix and Theodore
Ginn trailed in the early going as Trenton Central (NJ) led at the first exchange. Bay
Shore (NY), Transit Tech (Brooklyn, NY) and Ewing (NJ) were all in contention, but
when Ginn got the stick he put daylght between himself and the field.
Bay Shore finished in 1:29.94 with Transit Tech third in 1:30.00. Ewing was
fourth in 1:30.11 with Trenton Central placing fifth at 1:31.25.
The wiry Ginn is one of the leading contenders in the 110 meter hurdles final, set
for 7:05 p.m. On his right bicep are tattooed “God,” Glenville’s winged “G” logo, and
“Ginn.”
“I’m the only senior,” said an elated Roland Sweet. “We’ve got a junior (Ginn), a
sophomore (Lenix) and a freshman (Jones). I’ll be here next year, right in the stands.
Probably coaching.”
Sweet said he and his teammates expected “to do something big. They said the
record was 1:31 and I said, ‘Hey, y’all, we can break that. We go 10,10, 21 and 45, and
it’ll be broken.’ And that’s exactly what we did.”

200 METER PRELIMINARIES: Among the missing from Saturday afternoon’s
heats were Texans Ivory Williams and Willie Hordge. Williams scratched from the meet
Friday after failing to make his flight and Hordge, the winner of the 100 meter title
Friday, has been dogged all spring by a cranky hamstring.
With Williams and Hordge out of the picture, national leader Xavier Carter
(Melbourne, FL) looms as a strong favorite in the final, which takes place at 7:15. Carter
cruised home in 21.04 for the first heat. Michael Grant (Stone Mountain, GA) won heat
two in 21.24 and Carey LaCour (Humble, TX) took the third heat in 21.79 with Darius
Acker (Atlanta, GA) right on his heels in 21.80.
Rounding out the field for the final will be Adian Anderson (Ewing, NJ), Terrence
Wheatley (Richardson, TX), Anthony Wiseman (Temple Hills, MD), Terrance Burton
(Chesapeake, VA) and Kevin Okolie (Dix Hills, NY).

400 METER HURDLES: Kerron Clement a native of Trinidad who lives in Texas
and will enter the University of Florida, claimed the intermediate hurdles in 50.96. The
lanky Clement overtook fellow Texan Jason Richardson (Cedar Hill, TX) at the midway
mark and cruised home a few clicks off the year-old meet record time of 50.55.
Richardson’s time was 52.25.
“I tried to run it like a 300 meter hurdles race,” said Clement. “It felt hard, said
Clement, I’m happy with my time. It’s not a 49, but that’s okay. I think I stepped on like
one hurdle, number eight. Still, it feels good, though. I just had to step up and race, so
I’m happy with it.”
Clement, from LaPorte, Texas, has dual citizenship but is still undecided whether
he’ll run for the United States or Trinidad and Tobago in future international
competitions.

4x100 METER RELAY: With high hopes for a sub-40 race, 36 runners took their
places on the track. In lane four was Winslow Township (NJ), winner of the 4x200
meter relay race less than 24 hours earlier.
At the final exchange it was very close, with Winslow Township and Bowie
(Arllington, TX) neck-and-neck. Antraye Miles ran an excellent anchor to give the New
Jersey squad the lead and the win in 40.92.
DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) passed the Texans for second with a time of
41.08. Arlington settled for third in 41.14.
“Our exchanges were good,” said Antraye Miles. I was able to build up my speed
at the right time and was able to catch them.”
Antraye said Winslow Township will be ready for the 4x400 meter relay,
scheduled for later in the day. “We’re going to try for that third,” he told Ricky Quintana
of National Scholastic Sports Foundation.
The Winslow Township lineup consisted of Anthony Miles, Reuben McCoy,
Mulmin Sellars and Antraye Miles. Anthony Miles, Antraye’s twin, collected his third
gold medal of the meet. He ran on Friday’s victorious relay and repeated as the long
jump champion.

DISCUS THROW: Andy Fryman (Maysville, KY) became the meet’s first
doubler with a third-round heave of 192-6.
Fryman, winner of the shot put on Friday, fouled on his first attempt. He followed
with throws of 184-2, 192-6, 170-4 and 173-7. He fouled again on his last attempt.
Finishing second was Westley Stockbarger (Port Charlotte, FL) at 183-1 with Joe
Hover (Stevensville, MI) at 181-0.
“Am I really?” said Fryman when told about his double. “Wow! That’s
something I didn’t know. I was wondering about that last night, like, ‘Who else has won
doubles?’ I like that!”
An intense competitor who paced along the sidelines during the competition,
Fryman wasn’t completely satisfied with his performance. “I was about two feet short of
a PR,” he said. “I was a little tired from last night’s competition.”
Fryman is a compact 6-2, 220 pounder who’ll attend Kentucky this fall, where he
plans to major in kinesiology.

800 METERS: Ohio state champion Derrick Hoye (Columbus, OH) finished first
in 1:50.34 as nine performers finished in 1:52
The unheralded Hoye, a junior, came to the AOC meet with a personal best of
1:50.64 a week ago at his state meet.
Heading toward the 400 meter mark, it was Hoye and Christopher Patrick (Salem,
AL) right together. As Patrick faded, Hoye moved in front without a second thought and
stayed there. John Richardson (Tuckahoe, NJ) came up on he outside for second in
1:50.67 with Jeremy Kruidenier (Champaign, IL) third in 1:51.32.
“I wanted to break 1:50, but what are you going to do,” said Hoye. “I wanted to
be in second coming into the home straight, but it all worked out, I guess, me being in the
lead. It wasn’t a very smart race, but I was able to hold on.”
Hoye said he just wanted to hang on to his lead on the charge to the finish. “Just
hold them of,” he told himself. “Finish line is coming up, so hold them off!”

JAVELIN THROW: Ben Francis (Wilber, NE) opened with a throw of 197-6 that
stood up for the victory.
Francis fouled on his second try, then had throws of 195-0, 195-11, 192-5 and 189-4.
Runnerup Ian Menewisch (Laurel Springs, NJ) was the only other contestant over
190 feet with a throw of 190-2, also in the opening round.

400 METERS: Heading to the midway point, Reggie Witherspoon (Marietta,
GA) was in the lead, easily distinguishable in his day-glo green-and-black uniform.
At 200 meters Xavier Carter (Melbourne, FL), a junior and the year’s fastest prep
at 45.88, caught up with Witherspoon.
Then the X-Man took over. Looking confident and relaxed, Carter cruised into
the lead on the final turn and strode home in 45.97. Elzie Coleman snuck up on the
outside for second in 46.33. Witherspoon, the indoor athlete of the year and another U. of
Florida recuit, was third in 46.39. .
Carter, a strapping lad at 6-3, 195 pounds, said he as happy with his win but not
thrilled by his time. “It’s kind of hot here,” he said. “In Florida, all we’ve been having is
rain.”
Named for basketball star Xavier McDaniel, Carter plays linebacker on Palm
Bay’s state championship team. He says he’d like to switch to strong safety next year,
“so I won’t get beat up as much.”
Carter earned the nickname “X-Man” in 7th grade from a coach who was
impressed by his tenacity.

TRIPLE JUMP: Cerone Burnett, who lives an hour away in Henderson, N.C.,
won the triple jump. Burnett hopped, skipped and jumped 49-8.5 on his second attempt.
Second was Michael Whitehead (Norristown, PA) at 49-3.75.
Burnett went 46-6.75, 49-8.5 and 46-10 for his first three tries, then passed twice.
He fouled on his final attempt.

MILE: In a race described as a “Who’s Who” of high school milers, Sam
Vazquez (Bunnell, FL) emerged as the winner and Jeff See broke through as one of the
event’s rising stars.
Vazquez, an Arkansas recruit, won in 4:03.87 with future Wisconsin runner Chris
Solinsky (Stevens Point, WI) second in 4:05.30. See, from Middletown, Ohio, was third
in 4:06.07. His time smashed the four-year-old sophomore class record of 4:06.94 by
Alan Webb. Webb went on to set the national prep record for the mile, 3:53.43 in 2001.
At the gun, Stephen Pifer (Glen Carson, IL) raced out in front. Steve Magness
(Houston, TX) led the field through the first lap in 60 seconds, followed by Pifer and
Solinsky. At the midpoint it was Pifer, Solinsky, Magness and Adam Perkins (Liberty,
MO) in 2:02.8. Pifer then slowed the pace a bit, with Solinsky content to follow closely.

With a lap to go it was Pifer, Solinsky and Magness. Solinsky moved briefly into
the lead on the backstretch, and then Vazquez began his charge and moved into first.
Vazquez had a 57-second final lap. “I almost started to give up because a lot of
guys were passing me (on the third lap),” admitted Vazquez. “I just needed an opening to
catch up with the leaders.”
Vazquez said the AOC win is a big boost to his confidence. “I’ve won this big
race,” he said. “Hopefully next week (at the U.S. Junior Championships at Stanfod) I can
do the same.”
Vazquez said he was scared by Solinsky’s move into the lead. “I know he’s a
distance runner and I’m an 800 guy, so I was just going to kick my hardest. It was a big
one for me. I was an underdog.”
See said he wasn’t expecting anything like tonight’s
performance. “I figured I’d be around what my time was at the state meet last week,” he
said, “so I figured I’d be more toward the back.”
The race was See’s last of the season. He said breaking Webb’s record makes
him happy. “Actually, to tell you the truth,” he went on, “it’ll mean a lot more, but . . .”
Solinsky, who ran a career best, sais he tied up the last 100 meters. “Sam ran an
awesome race,” he said. “I just tried to stay as loose as I could.”
Magness, author of the year’s fastest prep time (4:01.02 last month at the
Prefontaine meet), said he “would have had to run a 3:59 or something like that” to catch
Vazquez. “So I just backed off.”
Magness said he was happy with the effort, but said he still hadn’t recovered from
his breakthrough time. “It’s tough coming back after Pre,” he said.

110 METER HURDLES: Less than six hours after anchoring his team to a
natonal record in the sprint medley relay, Theodore Ginn scored one of the meet’s biggest
upsets.
Ginn, a junior from Cleveland’s Glenville High School, won the 110 meter
hurdles with an impressive personal best. He beat defending champion Kerron Clement
(LaPorte, TX), who had won the intermediate hurdles earlier Saturday. Clement was
hoping to become the second double winner in the boys events.
Jason Richardson (Cedar Hill, TX), the national leader at 13.51, stormed out the
blocks quickly. By the midway point, however, it was Clement in the lead. Ginn, on
Richardson’s right, turned it on after the seventh hurdle.
Looking very strong at the finish, Ginn finished in 13.62. Second was Richardson
in 13.64 with Verrol Jackson (Schenectady, NY) taking over third at the finish in 13.85.
Clement came in fifth behind Basil Campbell (Ewing, NJ). Campbell’s time was
14.01 to 14.02 for Clement.

200 METERS: Xavier Carter became the boys’ second doubler, winning the
furlong a little more than an hour after his 400 meter triumph. The junior from Palm Bay
High School in Melbourne, Fla., and the national prep leader at 20.69, won the AOC 200
in 20.77.
Michael Grant (Stone Mountain, GA), third in the 100 Friday, was second in
20.97. Carey LaCour (Humble, TX) finished third in 21.31. The wind reading was a
legal 0.2 meters per second.
After a false start, Grant got off to a great start and lead heading into the turn.
With about 40 meters remaining Carter --- making it look easy again --- cruised into the
lead and raced home first.

HIGH JUMP: Texan Scott Sellers, another super sophomore, pulled off one of
the meet’s biggest surprises with a win over heavily-favored Mike Morrison
(Willingboro, NJ).
Both cleared 7-3.25, but Sellers got the nod on the countback. Sellers broke his
own sophomore class record of 7-2.75, set earlier this season.
Morrison, third here in 2002, came in with a best of 7-3 from the Arcadia meet.
He and Sellers were even until 7-0.5, when Morrison cleared on his first try and Sellers
made on his second attempt. At 7-3.5, Sellers cleared the bar on his first jump, while
Morrison needed a second attempt. Both missed on three attempts at 7-4.5.
Third was Jerome Miller (Stafford, VA) at 7-0.25. Robert Linkenauger (Fincastle,
VA) was fourth with the same height.
Sellers just finished his sophomore year at Cinco Rancho High School in Katy,
Texas. Katy, a Houston suburb, is already celebrating the accomplishments of another
local sports star: New York Yankees pitcher Roger Clemens, who notched his 300th win
and 4,000th career strikeout Friday night against the St. Louis Cardinals.

2000 METER STEEPLECHASE: Andres Urbina, a junior from Albuquerque,
N.M., posted a win in 6:00.62.
Ryan Wilson (Wichita, KS) was second in 6:03.71. Wilson took third here a year
ago. Third place went to Miguel Reyes (Haverstraw, NY) in 6:04.38.
Junior David Holliday (Ledyard, CT), the national prep leader for the 3000 meter
steeplechase at 9:25.87, took fourth in 6:04.49.

4x400 METER RELAY: As if the crowd wasn’t jacked up enough for this race,
the tumping tune “I like to Move it-Move it!” began pulsating over the PA system as the
runners moved toward their blocks.
Defending champion Winslow Township (Atco, NJ), already the winners of a pair
of AOC relay titles, was gunning for their fourth. But they were up against Humble,
Texas, author of the year’s best prep time at 3:10.69.
Reagan (Austin, TX) brought a season best of 3:10.78 to the race billed as the
“Gunfight at the OK Corral,” and the crowd --- not to mention the performers were on the
edge.
The New Jersey squad got out quickly and was timed in 48.1 at the first exchange.
Winslow Township briefly gave up the lead on the second leg to Humble, but got it back
within moments.
After the second exchange Glenville, Ohio, took over on the backstretch, thanks
to a demon-like effort by Theodore Ginn. But the New Jersey team stayed close and in
the final 40 meters, anchor leg Antraye Miles put on a burst of speed and finished first.
“I had a vision about them when they were freshman,” said 36-year veteran who
coached Olympic gold medalist Dennis Mitchell during his prep days. “These guys
showed me something. We went to a meet in Summit, N.J., and won five relay races. I
saw something about them at that time, and they’ve worked very hard ever since.”
Bates’s lineup included two sets of twins: Anthony Miles, Dante Freeman, Duan
Freeman and Antraye Miles.
Was Coach Bates expecting a three-for-three performance?
“No,” was his frank response. “I didn’t. The 4x100 was the tough one. We only
ran that race a couple of times.”
Winslow Township’s winning time was 3:10.47, bettering the meet record of
3:12.17 they set a year ago. Glenville, the runnerup team, finished in 3:10.66 with the
Elite Track Club of Newburgh, N.Y., third in 3:12.27. Fourth was Reagan in 3:13.57
while Humble’s anchor leg limped home eighth in 3:15.90.

DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY: Almost an anticlimax after the fireworks of the
4x400, the DMR provided more excitement.
Spirit of Pre Track Club --- a nom de guerre for Saline, Mich., High School, just
south of Ann Arbor --- won in 10:10.69. Second was Liverpool, N.Y. in 10:11.26 with
Cardinal O’Hara of Philadelphia third in 10:13.05.
The Michigan team’s lineup was Neil Atzinger, Kevin Laidlaw, Tim Russell and
Dustin Voss.
Spirit of Pre led for the first half of the race, dropped to third on the next-to-last
leg and moved in front permanently when Voss got his turn. “We were in third place
when I got the baton,” said Voss, a junior. “I sat on the second-place person, and when
he made a move on the leader I went with him. I figured I’d go early, because I’m not a
sprinter. That’s why I run the DMR.”
Voss’s tactic paid off. “I’m not sure if this is a dream,” he confessed. “I’m still
trying to figure it out.”
The DMR contained a story within a story. Meet announcer David Mitchell is a
Saline graduate, and Mitchell coached current Saline coach Brian Boze when Boze was in
seventh grade.
Mitchell called the race, trying with some success to stifle any show of partiality.
“We’re here because of him,” Boze said of Mitchell, who talked Boze into entering the
Nike Indoor Championships last March in Landover. “He walked me through the (entry)
process.
Boze’s crew took second at the NIC. Now they’re the national champs, and Boze
will have Atzinger and Voss back in 2004.

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