Courier-Journal.com

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track and field

Obeng, Soverns are double champs

Sunday, April 16, 2006

By Bob White
Special to The Courier-Journal

Bardstown's Kwasi Obeng was one of two double winners at the Male Invitational track and field meet yesterday, but the senior sprinter wasn't worried about his times.

"I just thank God I'm able to still run fast," Obeng said after winning the 200 meters in 22.9 seconds. "I didn't feel like I was 100 percent because my left knee started showing some pain. I had surgery on it (before the 2004 season)."

Obeng also won the 400 in 50.29 seconds, joining Grayson County's Brian Soverns as a two-event winner. Soverns threw the shot put 49 feet, 7 inches to beat Central's Corey Peters by one inch. He won the discus with a toss of 144-10.

Bardstown tied Male for second place with 96 points. Top honors went to Covington Catholic, which won only the distance medley relay but compiled 101 points.

Assumption won the girls' title, edging Eastern 113-111. The Rockets got first-place efforts from Melissa Connell in the long jump (16-5) plus their distance medley and 800 relay teams.

Eastern freshman Sarah Turi pulled off the neatest win, slipping past Sacred Heart's Katherine Peterson on the inside lane in the final strides to win the 800 in 2:29.63. Peterson was clocked in 2:29.83.

"I wasn't sure I could pass her because she's such a great runner," Turi said. " … I just wanted to do well for the team."

Ballard sophomore Lutish Bowen and Central senior Brittany Davies won the 200 and 400, respectively. Bowen won in 25.24; Davies won in 1:00.75.

"It wasn't my best time, but I got sleepy over there waiting (for her heat to start)," Bowen said. "It was pretty hot, and the sun was draining all my energy."

"I felt good, especially coming home in the last stretch," Davies said. "I had my shot to pick it up on the last turn. I was determined and aggressive."

Seneca senior Britney Chesser won the 1,600 in 5:35.71.

Manual senior Jason Parks took the boys' 1,600 in 4:39.28. Portland Christian's Joel Wellum passed him just before the final lap, but Parks turned it on to win easily.

"He usually kicks early and usually holds it, but it's early in the season,'' Parks said. "As long as he didn't get too far ahead of me, I could get the lead back.''

Male junior Nick Lare liked the hot weather while winning the 800 in 2:05.27.

"At the end I was running as fast as I could," he said.

The 100 was not run at the meet.