High school track: Whitmer girls surprise; Sandusky boys prevail

5/13/2001
BY DONALD EMMONS
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

FREMONT - Whitmer's girls team was not considered the frontrunner to win a Great Lakes League championship this year.

But led by hurdlers Julie Hunter and Sarah Knapp and freshman distance runner Betsy Marlow, the Panthers pulled together to claim their first girls league championship in seven years.

Hunter won the 300-meter hurdles in a GLL record time of 47.20 while Knapp claimed victory in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.50. Marlow accounted for Whitmer's other individual first-place effort by winning the 1600 in 5:28.50.

Knapp and Hunter teamed with Letoya Green and Jennifer Collins to win the 800 relay in 1:47.90.

“We were considered underdogs to Fremont Ross,” Whitmer coach Harry Will said. “We were not expected to win. It was a total team effort. We had a lot of people who came through for us and scored points.”

The Panthers finished with 126 points. Findlay placed second with 106, followed by Fremont Ross with 105.

Ross sprinter Fallon Bailey figured in on three GLL records, winning the 100 in a record 12.0.

She was second in the 200. Sandusky's Tamala Perryman was declared the winner by officials, although both were given record times of 24.7.

Bailey also ran on Ross' winning 400 and 1600 relay teams. The 400 team posted a league-record 49.90.

Findlay's Amanda Wittenmeyer won the 400 in 1:02, Jenn Spieldenner won the 3200 in 11:54.40 and Ariel Koch took first in the high jump at 5-0.

Sandusky's Durond Clark swept the 100 and 200 boys races in record style to lead the Blue Streaks to the championship with 144 points. Whitmer placed second with 122 followed by Ross with 69, Findlay 67, Clay 45, Fostoria 33, Admiral King 12 and Southview 4.

Clark equaled the GLL record of 10.6 seconds in the 100 before breaking the record in the 200 with a 21.60. Ross sprinter Kelly Lytle, who was considered a favorite in the sprints, pulled out of the competition with an injury after running in a 100 preliminary heat.

Ross coach Cathy Esposito said Lytle has been slowed recently with a leg injury that became aggravated during the preliminary race.

Findlay's Brian Roberts swept the boys 1600 and 3200 with times of 4:28.60 and 10:15.70, respectively.

Clay's Matt Warner won the high jump by clearing 6-2.

Whitmer's Matt Calhoun took top honors in the shot put (49-3) and teammate Tony Schue claimed first in discus (156-1).

Fostoria's Lee Vitte cleared 13-0 to win the pole vault.