Girls track team looks for another LEL title this year

Email To A Friend
Printer Friendly
Comments

---

The 2008 season for the Maple Heights girls track team begins with Mustangs looking to continue their recent dominance of the Lake Erie League Erie Division.

The coaching staff is made of third year head coach Scott Barwidi, who will focus on coaching the jumpers this season. He is assisted by Ricky Watters, who will coach the sprinters and help with hurdlers. Lisa Litzinger is returning to coach the shot put and discus. Also assisting this year is India Ford, who will coach the distance runners, and Richard Richey, who will assist Watters.

"I am fortunate to have a staff that is knowledgeable and works extremely hard to prepare our athletes," Barwidi said. "Their hard work and dedication to the athletes is unparalleled."

According to Barwidi, the team's top goals this season are capturing their fifth straight LEL title and advance some athletes on to the state podium.

Maple graduated six seniors last season, but Barwidi is optimistic his young runners will step in and replace them.

Maple has five seniors this spring including, Brittany Davis (3,200-meter relay, 1,600 and 3,200) and Leslie Stanard (3,200 relay, 1600), who will lead the distance crew. They are both All-LEL performers and are working on their fourth varsity letter.

Returning state qualifier Tiffany Jones will anchor the sprints (100, 200 and 400). She will anchor the Mustangs 800-meter relay that qualified to states last season.

Felisha Johnson is returning in the pole vault. She is looking to improve on a season best of 7-feet-9 last year at the district meet. Senior is Monica Glenn returns after a two-year hiatus. She will provide depth in the sprints and hurdles.

The junior class is a deep class lead by Ariel Arnold and Lauren Campbell. Arnold was a regional qualifier in the 800 and 1,600 relay last season. She is currently rehabbing an injury.

Campbell will run both hurdle events, sprint relays and also long jump. She was a regional qualifier in long jump and 400 relay and state qualifier in the 800 relay. Among the other juniors, Taylor Sardon and Shantell Wilson will provide depth in the sprints and relays. Leah Jones and Andrea Dammons will compete for spots in the distance events and 3,200 relay.

The sophomore class is lead by two outstanding athletes. Sprinter Andrea Arnold is poised for a big season after she was a state qualifier in the 800 relay, and a conference champ in the 400 (57.0) and 200 (24.99) last year.

The second sophomore is Bianca Dennis. Last season she was sixth in the high jump at the district meet with a jump of 5 feet. This season, she will add pole vault and long jump to her repertoire. Other sophomores that will contribute are Michelle Black (distance), Dorothy Bowser, Shatwonna Moore and Janell Boston (sprints) and Tiffany Dizard (jumps).

The freshman class is lead by throwers Nichole Thomas and Ariel Love. Two others who may help as the season progresses are sprinter Sierra Stozier and distance runner Zacari Lewis.

Mustangs open
with strong showing
at St. Edward

On April 5, Maple finished third out of six teams at the St. Edward Invitational.

Leading the Mustangs was Tiffany Jones, who was first in the 100, 200, 400 and 1,600 relay. She was named the meet MVP for the second consecutive year.

Following her and nipping at her heels was Andrea Arnold. She was second in the 100, 200 and 400. She was also part of the winning 1,600 relay.

Other strong performances were turned in by Dennis in the high jump. She jumped a personal best of 5'4", four inches better than last season. She also was fifth in the long jump.

The 4x800 relay was second with a time of 10:19. The team of Stanard, Black, Leslie Jones and Davis ran well.

Davis was also fourth in the mile and sixth in the 3,200, while Black took second in the 800. Leslie Jones and Stanard were also part of the winning 4x400 relay.

-- From staff reports

E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113