The 2008 outdoor track season is under way and county runners have already begun making an impact.
For the first time in 15 years, Central High School was able to host its annual Falcon Invitational meet on Saturday.
The track at Central had fallen to such a decrepit condition in recent years that the meet was held at other sites. Central coach Ed Bowie was pleased with the event’s return and the turnout of participating schools.
‘‘It was very nice. I think the day went very well and it was great to have the meet back at our school,” Bowie said.
Girls’ event winners were: long jump (Vernetta Biggs, Friendly, 17 feet, 10 inches); 1,600-meter run (Nicolle Franklin, Largo, 5 minutes 41.1 seconds); 400 hurdles (Sharon Plummer, Laurel, 1:10.8); shot put (Vanessa Henry, Fairmont Heights, 43 feet-2.50 inches); triple jump (Brittany Abraham, Crossland, 36 feet, 11 inches); 3,200 (Elizabeth Cauno, Parkdale, 13:24.38); 800 (Deiona Frenche, McNamara, 2:31.1); 100 (Tanisha Wells-Owens, Largo, 12.3 seconds); 300 hurdles (Taylor Butler, McNamara, 46.2 seconds); 100 hurdles (Butler, McNamara, 14.7 seconds); 3,200 relay (Largo, 10:12.7); 800 relay (Central, 1:47.2); 400 relay (Friendly, 49.50 seconds); 1,600 relay (Largo, 4:02.4).
Boys’ event winners were: 400 hurdles (Jermiel Perry, Central, 1:01.1); long jump (Carven Kromah, Parkdale, 19 feet, 7 inches); triple jump (Jerome Couplin, McNamara, 39 feet, 2 inches); 1,600 run (Sebastien Narcisse, Laurel, 4:41.1); 300 hurdles (Mark Davis, Central, 40.9 seconds); 200 (Lamaar Thomas, Friendly, 21.4 seconds); 3,200 (Caleb Mersha, DuVal, 10:57.5); 100 (DaSilva Awosika, Fairmont Heights, 10.7 seconds); 100 hurdles (Nigel Crawley, McNamara, 16.4 seconds); 800 (Anthony Boone, Frederick Douglass, 2:03.5); 1,600 relay (Frederick Douglass, 3:24.2); 400 relay (Central, 43.7 seconds); 3,200 relay (DuVal, 8:48.7); 800 relay (Central, 1:30.9).
Banneker recap
Suitland had an impressive showing at the Benjamin Banneker Invitational Relays March 22.
On the girls’ side, the Rams’ team of Marie Campbell, Shanita Mitchell, Tara Young and Seaun Johnson took second in the 3,200 relay (11:31.64). The Rams’ team of Ericka Butler, Johnson, Cambell and Young claimed second place in the distance medley (2:03.95). Mitchell won the 400 hurdles with a time of 1:25.67.
Central’s girls had a strong meet as the team of Tierra Collins, Marketa Salley, Andrea Thomas and Amber Owens won the 400 relay (51.52). The same Falcons foursome won the 800 relay (1:49.56). Central also won the sprint medley (1:58.39) with the team of Oloumachi Ebringa, Salley, Collins and Owens.
The Falcons also were competitive on the boys’ side as Ronald Exum, Theodore Edwin, Tyrone Rushing and Jermiel Perry took second (9:03.51).
On the schedule
Central High will host yet another big meet on its new track as the 2008 Falcon Relays will take place Wednesday. The action starts at 3:30 p.m.
Central coach and athletic director Ed Bowie said usually about three-fourths of the county’s public school teams show up, and he expects no less than 14 teams to participate.
Charles H. Flowers High will play host to the Seventh Annual Jaguar Invitational April 19. Flowers coach and athletic director Carl Rose said he expects about a dozen teams to participate.
E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.
