Friday, May 21, 1999
Mariemont's Vianello eyes 3rd bid to state
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
All-American, All-State and All-Metro. Becca Vianello has earned all these honors during her four-year career at Mariemont. But the 18-year-old senior would like to add one more accomplishment.
“I've gone to state four times in swimming and twice in cross country,” Vianello said. “But I've never made it in track and that's my goal this year.”
Vianello begins that quest Saturday at Amelia High School, site of the Division II and Division III district championships.
Mariemont track coach Jeff Timmers thinks Vianello is one of the best female athletes the Warriors have ever had.
“Becca's record speaks for itself,” Timmers said. “No matter the sport, she's always on or near the top. It's like having an expansion of the coaching staff because Becca is a leader, both vocally and by example.”
Vianello's career includes qualifying to the state swimming meet in four events (100 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 200 and 400 freestyle relays) all four years.
Also a state cross country qualifier as a junior and senior, Vianello was 19th as a junior and ran a personal best 19:29 (3.1 miles) last season to take 19th out of 160 runners.
In track, success has been a little harder.
“I qualified to the regional track meet all four years,” Vianello said. “Last year, I probably should have run the mile (1,600 meters) because the times were slower but I dropped out to concentrate on the 800.”
Vianello's plans for the district meet include running on the 3,200 and 1,600-meter relay teams as well as competing in the 800 and 1,600 meter individual races.
“Right now, Becca is running state times,” Timmers said. “She's already broken the school record in the 800 with a 2:19.5, which is the third fastest in the city. She ran the 3,200 meters in 12 minutes which is also a school record.”
In the classroom, Vianello has compiled a 4.3 grade point average and has accepted a swimming scholarship from Miami University. She also swims year-round for the Cincinnati Marlins.
“Swimming helps my running and running helps my swimming,” said Vianello. “The two sports seem to go together and I plan to run cross country and swim at Miami. The coaches are friends and agreed to let me try it.”
Vianello has dedicated her season to her late uncle, Jim McKee, and Hank Kleinfeldt.
McKee, one of Vianello's biggest supporters, died in December at age 56. Kleinfeldt was instrumental in convincing the Mariemont School Board to provide money to upgrade the track facility.
“Uncle Jim was one of my biggest supporters, along with my parents and two brothers,” Vianello said. “They attend every meet which means a lot to me. Mr. Kleinfeldt had me write a letter about the importance of a new track which was presented to the School Board and later approved.”
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