Whiteford grad making grade at Central Michigan

2/27/2008

Whiteford High School graduate George Flanner has not lost a step in his jump from Michigan high school champion in the shot put and discus last spring to becoming a contributing freshman member of the Central Michigan University track and field team.

His early successes in the Chippewas' indoor meets has not been a surprise to CMU track coach Jim Knapp.

"He's a great athlete," Knapp says of the Whiteford grad. "He has a great work ethic. He does a super job in his event and always comes in ready to compete."

"We knew this when we recruited him, so as a coaching staff we're not surprised that he has done so well so early in his collegiate career."

Flanner was an all-state running back on the football team at Whiteford, but he is concentrating on track and field in college. He will be in action along with his Chippewa teammates tomorrow and Saturday in the Mid-American Conference indoor championships at Eastern Michigan

Flanner's accomplishments this season include a second in the Chippewa Open (51.05.50); second in the Akron dual (50-06.75); third in the Simmons Harvey Invitational at Ann Ar-bor (49.00.25); 14th in the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame (49.07.25), and eighth in the EMU Classic (50.07.25).

He had a put of 50.09.25 in his most recent meet, the Jack Skoog Open at CMU where he finished fourth.

TRACK AND FIELD: Toledo-area high school graduates are continuing their strong performances during the indoor season for the Ohio Wesleyan track and field team.

Freshman Jack Schemenauer of Eastwood was a member of the winning 55-hurdles relay team in the North Coast Athletic Conference meet won by the Bishops.

Junior Nathan Osborn of Edgerton won the 100-meter dash, was third in the 400-meter dash, and anchored the winning 800-meter relay team as Ohio Wesleyan won the Greater Columbus meet.

The other member of the Edgerton running Osborn family, Preston, won the 400-meter dash in the Division III All-Ohio championship.

He was joined by Nathan on the 1600-meter relay team that finished third.

BASKETBALL: Archbold graduate Dan Borcherdt had a career high of 23 points to go with a career-high eight assists as Mount Vernon Nazarene University clinched a berth in the American Mideast Conference tournament last week with a victory over Rio Grande.

He grabbed four rebounds and made six three-point baskets in the AMC South Division contest.

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