Friday, April 16, 1999
LaSalle's Feiglein fueled by new attitude
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
Dennis Feiglein, a senior sprinter and long jumper for the La Salle track and field team, is trying to take advantage of a costly miscue made last season.
“I let the opponent get to me which is what they wanted to accomplish,” Feiglein said. “They were yelling at me during a relay and when I finished the race, I gave them an obscene gesture.
An official noticed the finger pointing and after a brief discussion with the coaches, Feiglein and La Salle's 1600 meter relay team was disqualified from first to last place.
The miscue ended up costing the Lancers the championship of the the Greater Catholic League Relays.
“I let the team down and it was very disappointing,” Feiglein said. “Last year, I goofed around a lot last year during practice and I wasn't serious enough.”
One of the three fastest sprinters in the the 100 and 200 meters during the season, Feiglein came up short at the district, finishing fifth in both running events and also in the long jump.
Several weeks after the incident at the GCL relays, La Salle's sprint (1600 meter) medley relay (200, 200, 400, 800) team ran a national qualifying time of 3:41.3 at the Roosevelt Relays.
Feiglein teamed with Chris Hoeffer (800 meters), Andy Jones (400) and Chris Ryan (200) to take tenth in 3:35.9 at the National Scholastic Track and Field Championships at the University of North Carolina in June.
This was the turning point for Feiglein.
During the winter, Feiglein was a diver for the Lancers while also working hard for indoor track and field season.
During an indoor meet at the University of Cincinnati, UC coach Bill Schneir noticed Feiglein and later offered the 18-year-old senior a grant-in-aid.
“Running in a national meet felt good and made me appreciate track,” Feiglein said. “I've set goals for myself and one is to qualify to state in four events.
La Salle track coach Frank Russo looks back at the incident as a positive for Feiglein and the team.
“Everyone makes mistakes from time-to-time but we want to grow and improve from them.” Russo said. “We held a meeting to redefine the goals and reset standards for sportsmanship.”
As a senior, Feiglein inherited a leadership role.
“Dennis has to be one of those athletes who comes to the forefront to provide leadership,” Russo said. “Certain individuals must define a team and Dennis is one of them.”
Feiglein has accepted the role. He has improved his grades and works harder in practice.
“The 200 meters is probably Dennis' best event,” Russo said. “He doesn't come out of the blocks especially fast and is the most dangerous during the final 40-to-50 meters.”
Feiglein looks to set three school records this season.
He already has the record in the 100 of 10.6 (hand held) and could break the record of 22.1 in the 200 by Lee Heath and surpass the 22-1/2 in the long jump set by Daryl Eddings in 1984.
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