Friday, March 31, 2000
N.KY. GIRLS TRACK PREVIEW
Brossart presses on without Schwegman
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
Bishop Brossart could still win a fourth consecutive girls Class A state track title, but its odds have grown longer.
The Mustangs are the top team in the Enquirer's coaches poll, but Brossart's hopes soured when junior Katie Schwegmann blew out a knee March 9 in a basketball tournament game.
|
COACHES POLL
|
1. Bishop Brossart (3) ....... 95
2. Notre Dame Academy (4) ....... 93
3. Scott (3) ....... 77
4. Boone County (1) ....... 69
5. St. Henry ....... 65
6. Highlands ....... 37
7. Ryle ....... 23
8. Dixie Heights ....... 21
9. (tie) Ludlow ....... 16
10. (tie) Newport ....... 16
Others: Beechwood 14; Newport Central Catholic 11; Campbell County, Dayton 10; Bellevue 8; Holy Cross, Holmes 7; Conner 6; Walton-Verona 2.
|
Track coach Dave Schuh knows what effect her absence will have.
“Three people made a huge difference on the (1999 title) team: Cara Kopp and Cheryl Gerde graduated, and Katie was left,” Schuh said. “Without those three, we're kind of starting over, rebuilding.”
Brossart would not have won title No. 3 without Schwegmann. She accounted for 17 of Brossart's 99 points by winning the 800 meters, finishing fifth in the 1,600 and being part of the 3,200- and 1,600-meter relay teams.
The Mustangs' lineup this year looks strongest in the sprints. Junior Sarah Smith and sophomore Stephanie Dierig are the leaders.
Schwegmann's basketball teammate, senior Emily Phillips, and sophomore Megan Uebel are the top returnees in field events. Phillips and sophomores Celia Dischar and Holly Johnson expect to compete in middle and long distances.
“You never know what's going to happen, who's going to develop,” Schuh said. “We've got a lot of time, a couple months to figure out who can fill what holes. I don't want to try to predict the future.”
Notre Dame coach Michele Van Laningham said three proms in April make her life difficult because many of her runners won't be available on weekends. Sophomores Meghan Crowe and Abby Ochse, however, should brighten her mood.
“(Crowe will) help us with the distance; she was eighth in the state in cross country,” Van Laningham said. “At the Mason-Dixon games in February she was third in 1,500 and 3,000. I think she's just gotten stronger overall.”
Ochse set school records in long jump and 300 hurdles last year.
Scott will build around middle-distance runners. Sophomore Jennifer Wilson was second in the 800 at the AAA state meet, and Wilson, senior Jessica Biedenbender and sophomore Mary Ragsdale were three-fourths of the state champion 3,200 relay team.
Also, senior Elley Fisk placed sixth in the discus.
“Our main weakness as a team is a lack of sprinters,” coach Jerry Mohr said.
Boone County has one of the best sprinters in the state. Junior Christen Jones won last year's regional 100 and 200 dashes and finished second in the state AAA 300-meter hurdles, and in the Mason-Dixon Games in Louisville last month her time of 7.05 seconds in the 55-meter dash was fifth-best in the nation at the time.
“My only problem with her is to decide what she is going to do,” coach Tim Schlotman said.
Six returnees — senior sprinters Carla Tabeling and Laurie Franks, junior Bethanne Murphy and sophomores Julia Armstrong, Megan Steffen and Chrissy Cummings — will lead St. Henry.
“We won the region and came in second at state,” coach Mike Young said. “Not much room for improvement, but we will try.”
Ryle junior Susanne Funken returns to defend her AAA high jump title. She was the only Northern Kentuckian to win an individual gold medal.
Sports Stories
Nine runs don't worry Neagle
Reese gets scare
Blue Jays 11, Reds 4
Dayton's new team already a winner
Reds teams also hot in Louisville and Chattanooga
For Reds, the house never wins
