H.S. TRACK: Lions are right on track

By John D’Onofrio<br><a href="mailto:donofrioj@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail John</a>
Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

LOCKPORT May 20, 2008 11:29 pm

— Making giant strides towards dual Niagara Frontier League track championships this season, the Lockport Lions boys and girls teams defeated visiting Lewiston-Porter on Tuesday at Max D. Lederer Field.
With their 111-30 victory over the Lancers, head coach Tim Tolli’s boys team improved to 5-0 this season. The Lady Lions downed the Lady Lancers, 99-42, improving to 4-1 in the league.
Tom Ciccone (110, 400 hurdles), Carlos Roman (shot, discus) and Justen Person (long, triple jumps) were double individual winners for the Lockport boys, who also swept the meet’s three relays.
“Our boys have really stepped up this year,” Tolli said. “They proved today that they’re the team to beat at the upcoming league championships.”
Roman said he was pleased with his two first-place finishes, but feels his effort in the discus was a disappointing one for him personally.
“My spin was good on the shot...I lifted up, I yelled and it flew,” said the senior stalwart.
“My technique in the discus was bad. My footwork was off, my release — I just couldn’t seem to get into the right spot. My best is 130 feet and I threw it 120. I know I can do at least 10 feet better.”
Other individual winners for the blue and gold were Travis Stover (800), Brynell Middleton (100), Drew Perilli (1,600), Alex Krull (3,200), Adam Wright (400) and Brendon Deil (200).
Earning relay wins for Lockport were the quartets of Nic Dye, Alex Lennert, Perilli and Stover (3,200), Daryl Hawkes, Person, Jim May and Brendan Cain (1,600); and Middleton, Javeon Tomlinson, Devon Parrett and Deil (400).
Head coach Rick Sweeney’s young Lancers (0-5) were led by winners Eric Tower (pole vault) and Robby Seyler (high jump).
“Tower’s been steadily improving the last two-to-three years and now he’s really excelled in the long and triple jumps. We might get beat each week, but Tom’s always getting a huge chunk of our points for us,” Sweeney said.
“Seyler’s a good athlete who did very well the last weekend competing in the pentathlon. He was just 170 points from automatically qualifying for sectionals and he did poorly in his two best events — the high and long jump — so we know what he’s capable of.”
On the girls’ side Lockport’s Erin Miller (shot, discus) placed first in the two events she has dominated throughout the past two seasons. The other LHS double winner was Kelci Yousett (long, triple jumps).
Other individual winners for the Lady Lions were Kelsey Fraser 800), Amanda Campbell (100 high hurdles), Caroline Tolli (1,500), Mary Rachel Robbins (3,000), Anna Robbins (400); and Becky Fabbiano (pole vault). Earning a three-way tie in the high jump (4-10) were Lady Lions Emily Donovan, Heather Rhodes and Campbell.
LHS also won two of the three girls relays with Maggie Russell, Renee Solly, Kelsey Fraser and Emilee Petti winning the 3,200 and Taylor Groff, Shaquilla Brinson, Ashley Jones and Codi Hall winning the 400.
“The NFL championship is going to be decided at the league meet and our girls know that their one loss means nothing. We plan on improving and making a big push for the title,” Tolli said.
The green and white were paced by highly-touted senior Bobbi Jo Tenke, who sprinted home to wins in the 100 and 200 dashes.
“Bobbi Jo’s one of the great leaders that I’ve had in my 27 years of coaching track at Lew-Port,” said Mark Johnson.
“She’s got an outstanding work ethic and has fun doing it She sets the right kind of example to all of our other athletes.”
Alexis Nichols of Lew-Port won the 400 hurdles and teamed up with Amy Roemer, Stephanie Lozzi and Tenke to win the girls’ 1,600 relay.

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