6/13/98 at American River College, Sacramento CA
Golden West Invitational
Results
Detailed results: BOYS - GIRLS
DyeStat's GWI home page - GWI
Meet's home page
Highlights by John Dye
The triple jumpers stole the headlines as the 39th Golden West Invitational played out
on a beautiful California day (3 p.m.temperature uncharacteristically cool 80 degrees
thanks to El Nino) before an appreciative crowd.
First, Carlene Cummings (Englewood NJ senior), the last jumper in the last round,
leaped 42' 1 to overtake leader Jodi
Schlesinger (West Nyack NY junior), who had posted a 41' 0.25 mark in the fourth
round. Then Greg Yeldell (Spencer NC senior) unleashed a monster 53' 3.25,
which was announced as the sixth best boys high school triple jump of all time. Wind
was legal (+1.9).
All three boys distance races ended in stirring, come from behind victories.
Local favorite Jon Stevens (Fremont CA), who doubled at 800-1600 in the California State
Meet a week before and then went to a senior prom Friday night, upset higher touted
Easterners in the 800. The race seemed to belong to 1997 national champion Moses
Washington (Miami FL senior) when he opened a huge lead on the backstretch of the anchor
lap, but Jason Van Swol (New Lenox IL senior) collared Washington on the turn and Stevens
passed them both in mid stretch. Stevens' 1:48.65 time was .26 seconds better than
Van Swol and also knocked Van Swol out of the 1998 national lead. Washington was
third in 1:50.03.
Another favored Illinois runner was beaten in the 3200 as US leader Mark Pilja
(Naperville IL senior) was passed by Josh Rohatinsky (Provo UT sophomore) and Justin Wood
(Grass Valley CA senior) on the last lap. But native American Anthony
Francisco (Tucson AZ senior) uncorked a blistering kick on the far turn to win by nearly
five seconds in 9:03.95.
The boys mile ended the evening as Chris Miltenburg (E. North Port NY senior) caught
Steve Slattery (Mt. Olive NJ senior) in the stretch in 4:09.39, just over a one second
margin.. Slattery and the next two--Nathan Robison (Provo UT senior) and Keven
Carroll (Gresham OR senior)--were only one more second apart.
Texas boys ruled the sprints, hurdles and pole vault. Amar Johnson (Ft. Worth TX
senior) doubled in the sprints (10.35 and 21.09). Jermaine Cooper (Giddings TX
junior) was a clear 13.51 winner in the 110 meter hurdles, and Billy Threets (Grand
Prairie TX senior) avenged his 300 meter loss to Michael Smith (Abilene TX senior) in the
Texas State Meet, 36.50 to 36.78. The Texas pole vault contingent warmed up in new
Superman t-shirts and then lived up to their own hype by claiming the top four spots and 5
of the top 6. Jimmy Autenreith (Houston TX senior) won the pole vault at 17-0,
but was injured trying for 17-6 as he stopped short of vertical and fell into the
box. He left the meet in an ambulance, but walked under his own power to catch his
flight back home on Sunday.
Quiande Moore (Zion IL senior) was a triple threat as he upset US leader Shaun
Kologinczak (Conroe TX senior) in the high jump, 7-2 to 7-0, to go with his 23-5 long jump
(4th) and 51-7 triple jump (2nd).
California and US leaders suffered losses in the throws. In the boys shot put,
Chris Sprague (South Eugene OR senior) toppled Van Mounts (Bakersfield CA senior) with a
throw of 67-11, a personal record by two feet. In the discus, Lucas MacKay (Hughson
CA junior) won with 194-1, almost two feet better than Reedus Thurmond (Gardena CA
senior).
Canadian Dylan Armstrong (Kamloops BC junior) smashed the GWI hammer throw record by 20
feet with his heave of 234-1. Nick
Welihozkiy (Springfield VA junior) also bettered the old record with his 219-11.
In the girls competition, Kendra Reimer (New Braunfels TX senior) showed off her
heptathlete talent by winning the javelin (154-7) and 100 hurdles (14.04) and placing
third in the 300 hurdles (42.95) and sixth in the long jump (18-1.75).
Meet records were set by throwers: Mandy Borschowa (Snoqualmie WA senior) discus 178-10
and Maureen Griffin (Pocatello ID senior) hammer 187-2.
California girls claimed the top four spots in pole vault. California state
champion Tracy O'Hara (San Diego CA senior) slipped to third behind winner Brooke Lankard
(Visalia CA senior) and teammate Kathleen Donoghue (San Diego CA senior), who both cleared
12 feet.
Top rookie of the meet was Michelle dela Vina (Merrillville IN freshman), who won a
steady 3200 in 10:35.49, two seconds ahead of Sara Gorton (Phoenix AZ sophomore).
