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Lake's boys’ and girls’ track and field teams have created a buzz this season,
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Lake sprinter Ashley Timmons
running the second leg of the
4x200 meter relay during district
preliminaries. (Photo courtesy
of Lori Johnson) |
which is making first-year coach Dominick Kaple a very happy man.
Last week, at the Division II district meet at Oak Harbor, the Flyers advanced three individuals and two relay teams to Thursday and Saturday's regional meet at Lexington.
“This is the most events we've had represented (at regionals) in a long time,” Kaple said. “Everyone seems excited about it in the community, which is nice. We're young, too, especially on the girls' side. We're only losing one senior in (thrower) Jessica Albright.”
Jessica Abbey, a junior, qualified to regionals in the 400-meter dash and the 4x200 relay along with freshmen Nichole Henry, Ashley Timmons and Rebecca Boos, who also qualified in the 200 dash.
Abbey's time of 1:02.53 in the 400 was good enough for third place at districts. The top four placers in each event advanced to regionals. In addition, she is trying to break her Becky Abbey’s (Beavers) school record, who just happens to be Jessica’s mother.
“Jessica made it to regionals last year, but she's knocked off over two seconds from last year,” Kaple said. “In track, that's quite a bit, especially in the 400. She ran her best time of 61.5 at the Suburban Lakes League meet, and she's chasing her mom's school record, which is 60.9. For her to get through regionals, she's going to have to break that record and she knows that.”
Lake's 4x200 relay team, which had a season-best time while winning the SLL title, finished second in 1:51.30 at districts.
“All week in practice we were saying we're going to have to run our best times,” Kaple said. “When (anchor leg) Rebecca Boos got the baton, we were probably sitting fourth and she took off. She had a look in her eyes when we got off the bus that she was ready to go. She flew by two people in front of her and almost caught the lead runner. It was pretty exciting to see our three freshmen
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Louis Szilagyi is running the 1600 meter
race at the Suburban Lakes League meet.
At districts, he qualified for the regional
4x800 relay, 1600, and 3200 meter races.
(Photo courtesy of Lori Johnson) |
do that.”
Boos took fourth place (27.60) in the 200 dash. She had the fifth-best time going into the finals.
“I went up to her before the final and said, 'hey, you're going to be fine,' ” Kaple said. “She said, 'No, I'm making it out.' I walked away and let her do her thing. She ran an outstanding 200. She attacks the curves on the track better than any girl we have on the team.”
Lake's boys were led by senior Louis Szilagyi, who qualified to regionals in the 1600 and 3200 and also ran on the fourth-place 4x800 relay. The relay, which included sophomore Riley Breese, senior Zach Powell and sophomore Nathan Adkins, placed in a school-record time of 8:26.60.
“That was a great way to start the district meet,” Kaple said. “Louis and Zach have been the two guys who have brought the distance program to where it is. They are the horses, no doubt. Zach had a foot injury at the beginning of the season and missed a month and a half, and he's worked and worked his way back.
“Nathan and Riley talked with me before the (district) meet. I said, 'you don't want this to be Zach and Louis' last race.' It was neat to watch those sophomores give back to those seniors, who have given so much to our program.”
Szilagyi will compete in the 3200 and 1600 at the regional after placing second (10:11.60) and fourth (4:35.14), respectively, last week at Oak Harbor.
“It was fantastic,” Kaple said. “He was the only person at our district to run the 1600 and 3200, let alone make it out in both. He's been our hardest worker all year long. The best thing about Louis is he's a role model. He and Zach have so much respect on the team, the sophomores didn't want to let them down and it showed.”
Lake's boys could have had another regional qualifier, but senior sprinter Greg Grove missed the district meet with a pulled abdominal muscle. Grove, who was injured prior to the SLL meet, was one of the top 200 and 400 runners in the area.
“He's only lost two 400 races all year long,” Kaple said. “He tried to long jump at the SLL meet, and after that, he was done. He matured so much this year and to have that happen, it's hard to watch.”
Kaple said he and assistant coaches Bob Abbey, Ken Mysinger and Zeb George have high hopes at the regional meet.
“Our first goal is to get out of the prelims on Thursday and, once we get there Saturday, obviously get on the podium,” Kaple said. “Our ultimate goal is to get to state.”
Pic-JessicaAbbey
Lake junior Jessica Abbey during the 400 meter run. (Photo courtesy of Lori Johnson)
Pic-AshleyTimmons
Lake sprinter Ashley Timmons running the second leg of the 4x200 meter relay during district preliminaries. (Photo courtesy of Lori Johnson)
Pic-RebeccaBoos
Lake sprinter Rebecca Boos running the open 200 meter dash at the Suburban Lakes League meet. Coach Dominick Kapel is watching in the background wearing the Lake track shirt. (Photo courtesy of Lori Johnson)
Pic-LouisSzylagi
Louis Szilagyi is running the 1600 meter race at the Suburban Lakes League meet. At districts, he qualified for the regional 4x800 relay, 1600, and 3200 meter races. (Photo courtesy of Lori Johnson)
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