'Dogs set to make some noise

By T.J. Turrisi

May 13, 2008 11:41 pm

— Last season the boys and girls 3,200-meter relay teams brought surprising gold medals home to Meadville.
At this year’s Class AAA District 10 Track and Field Championships there is plenty of room for more upsets as action gets under way at 3 p.m. today at Harbor Creek High School.
Last season, nine Bulldogs qualified for the state meet. This year, there is four top-seeds for Meadville. They are Andrew Geist (800), Elesia Wilson (3,200), Tarra Frantz (javelin) and Caitlin Hancox (400).
Overall, the Meadville girls team has completed the 2008 season with a spotless 8-0 dual meet record.
The chance of topping No. 1 McDowell is there, but the Trojans’ sheer numbers will be tough to overcome.
“That’s the 64-million-dollar question,” head coach Carl Roznowski said. “I do believe that the girls will be in the top three. How close we are to McDowell will depend on who has a better day.
“I always give the edge to McDowell because they have great depth. In a couple areas we do have three (athletes), but it’s gonna come down to who has more athletes in different events.”
Leading the successful girls squad is senior Hancox.
She holds the team record in the 400 (1:00.7) and has a chance to make it to Shippensburg for the PIAA meet in four different events.
She will compete in the 400- and 800-meter runs as an individual, and also in the 4x400 and 4x800 relays.
“On the girls side I think Caitlin Hancox has a good chance in the 800 and as part of the 4x800 relay team,” Roznowski said. “McDowell is ahead of them on time, but the girls are working hard.”
There is a good chance Roznowski will make some moves on his relay lineups as he did last season.
But Hancox is mostly looking forward to the individual races.
“I’d really like to make it in both the 400 and 800,” she said.
All of the middle-distance girls are ready to make some noise in the relays as well.
“We’re pretty excited,” Hancox said. “We hope we have a shot. We’ll definitely give them a run for their money.”
Junior distance runner Wilson qualified in 2007 as part of the 4x800-meter relay team. This year she has a good shot at adding the 1,600-meter run and/or the 3,200-meter run.
Her personal best in the 1,600 is 5:24; in the 3,200 it is 11:30. She will also compete in the 800 with a PB of 2:34.43.
Senior Tarra Frantz is the only Bulldog to already become a two-time state qualifier.
She heaved the javelin 132 feet, 11 inches last year to place second in the event and take an automatic qualifying berth.
This year she tossed a 129-02 to make it in with an automatic berth.
She also returns for the triple jump, shot put and discus.
“She’s gonna be pouncing on the door for the shot put,” Roznowski said.
Rounding out the girls’ biggest hopefuls is senior Lauren Dalton.
Dalton will take part in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles as well as the high jump.
She is seeded second in the 300 hurdles and the high jump.
“It’s gonna depend on how that day is,” Roznowski said. “I am watching the weather and it keeps changing. If it’s a rainy day it will be a test of the skills.”
For the boys, Geist is a returning PIAA qualifier in the 1,600 and 3,200 relay.
“Andrew Geist is gonna be a contender,” Roznowski said. “Richard Peterson has a shot. James Harvey is another one.
“They’re gonna either win it outright or make a qualifying mark. I know for James Harvey, he needs to make a qualifying mark.”
Peterson will be the No. 3-seed in the 3,200.
Harvey is a distant second behind Dan Kwiatkowski of McDowell in the shot put and discus but has already hit the mark in the shot.

T.J. Turrisi can be reached at 724-6370, ext. 276 or by e-mail at tjturrisi@meadvilletribune.com.