2005 Regional Championship

Paper: Courier-Journal, The (Louisville, KY)

Title: Trinity boys, Assumption girls capture team titles

Date: May 28, 2005

Tom Whitus

Special to The Courier-Journal

Amaka Omenyinma and Alfonso Smith, both of Waggener, and Shelby County's John Hinkle had strong performances in the Class AAA, Region 3 track and field meet last night at Male High School.

Eastern, meanwhile, was well represented by hurdler Davin Atkins and distance specialist Chani Clark. All will compete in multiple events at the State Meet next Friday and Saturday at the University of Kentucky.

Trinity won the boys' team title with 153.5 points, with Waggener second at 77. The girls' title was won by Assumption with 147 points to runner-up Eastern's 83.

Boys

Smith, a speedster bound for the UK football program, won the 100 meters in 10.88 seconds, then anchored Waggener's winning 400 and 800 relay teams.

He came up just short in the 200, however. Aaron Parker of Trinity won in 22.22, with Smith 0.02 behind. The race was so competitive that the top four finishers will advance to the State Meet, two as automatic qualifiers and the others based on a time standard.

The high level of competition was no comfort to Smith, who was looking to sweep the sprints.

"I need to be faster," he said . "I want to break records - I will be faster."

Relying more on form than speed, Atkins won the 110 high hurdles in 15.25 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 39.25. In the latter he edged Atherton's Rudolph Stone, who stumbled over a hurdle in the stretch.

"It helped me figure out where he was," Atkins said of Stone's stumble. "He is probably a better sprinter, but my form was better."

One of the strongest efforts of the meet was Hinkle's victory in the 1,600 meters. The senior pulled out to a huge early lead , then held off Trinity's Pat Daly to win in 4:22.03. Daly was timed in 4:26.34.

Hinkle used a different strategy in the 800. He stayed with the leaders and made his move late to win in 1:56.44. Trinity's Kenny Minogue finished second in 1:57.01.

"In the 1,600 there really was no pace; I had to set it," said Hinkle, who is headed to Yale this fall . "In the 800 there were other guys setting the pace . "

The most competitive race of the day was the 400 . Duke Cole of Seneca wo n in 50.49, with less than a half- second separating the top five finishers. All five will go to the State Meet.

Girls

Omenyinma, a junior, won the long jump on Monday, then won the 100 in 12.48 and 200 in 25.78 last night. In each of the sprints, Ballard freshman Lutisha Bowen finished second .

Clark passed Sacred Heart's Leah Ryan in the final 200 meters to win the 1,600. In the 800 she finished third to Assumption's Laura Armstrong and Ryan. Clark also was a member of Eastern's winning 3,200 and 1,600 relay teams.

Author: Tom Whitus

Section: SPORTS

Page: 06C