Sunday, June 06, 1999
Vianello's silver highlights local performances
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
DAYTON — So close, yet so far. That's the memory Mariemont senior Becca Vianello will live with following a second-place finish in the 1,600-meter run Saturday at the Division II state track and field meet at Welcome Stadium.
In a day of disappointments for Cincinnati athletes, Vianello was one of the few bright spots.
Despite a personal-best time of 5:09.55 in the 1,600, Vianello had to settle for second place behind Vonnie Downing (5:09.44) of Cleveland Heights Beaumont School for Girls.
“I wanted this badly and I can't believe I came so close and didn't win,” Vianello said. “My strategy was to hang close and then try to win it during the final 200 meters.”
The odds were against Vianello, with Beaumont's two qualifiers running in tandem, taking turns on the lead while attempting to box in Vianello.
“They were elbowing and pushing me the entire mile,” Vianello said. “I've never had this happen, but I knew they were trying to box me in, and that's why I ran in lane three almost the entire race.”
Vianello returned to take eighth in the 800 meters and said afterward the 1,600 had drained her.
Vianello also ran the anchor lap for the 1,600 relay team that took fifth, one position behind Wyoming.
WITHROW 11TH: Overall, the Withrow girls turned in the best performance by a Cincinnati team, amassing 12 points to finish 11th.
The Tigers placed in the 200 meters (Tanea Green, sixth), 1,600 relay (fourth) and 800 relay (fifth).
Green ran on both relays along with Dante Marshall, Stevonne Spivery and Brendye Martin.
NO JUMPING FOR JOY: A third-place finish in the high jump didn't satisfy Desiree Jones, a Wilmington sophomore.
“My personal best is 5-10,” Jones said. “Today I only went 5-7, and it only took 5-8 to win it.”
Also a hurdler, Jones finished sixth in the 300 intermediates in 43.71. Middletown's Sarah Lanham was fifth in 43.57.
“Today was my personal best,” Lanham said. “I felt like I was on vacation running only one event, because I usually run four. Prior to today, my best finish at state was sixth as a freshman.”
AKUBEZE THIRD: Mak ing the transition from Division II to Division I wasn't difficult for Ify Akubeze, a junior long jumper from McNicholas who took third.
“Last year my best jump was 17-4 when I finished fifth in Division II,” Akubeze said. “Today I went 18-41/4, which isn't my personal best. I have one more year to win it.”
ZEINNER DISAPPOINTED: Defending 3,200-meter state champion Alison Zeinner of Colerain finished eighth in 11:19.92, more than 30 seconds slower than last year's winning time of 10:49.07.
“I probably need some time off,” Zeinner said. “I don't know what went wrong this year.”
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