Friday, May 25, 2001
N.Ky. girls track preview
Simon Kenton freshman chases regional titles
By Mark Schmetzer
Enquirer contributor
Simon Kenton freshman Samantha Geiger didn't waste any time making her mark on the school's track record book.
Geiger, in her first year with the track team, has set school records in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. In the eyes of her coach, Gerry Scaringi, she also has established herself as somebody who could challenge Notre Dame junior Meghan Crowe in the 1,600 at the Class AAA Region 4 meet, which starts at 4:30 p.m. today at Scott High School.
“The only thing I'm afraid of is the pressure of her racing against juniors and seniors,” Scaringi said. “I think she can go to state in both the (800) and the (1,600).”
The Class A Region 3 meet and AA Region 5 — which includes Highlands, Lloyd, Newport and Pendleton County — meet started Thursday at Scott and Russell high schools, respectively. All three meets are scheduled to conclude Saturday. The Class A meet is scheduled to continue at 8 a.m., with the AA meet at 10 a.m. and the AAA meet at 12:30 p.m.
Bishop Brossart's girls, who've won three consecutive Class A state championships, are the defending regional champion. The Fleming County girls team is the defending Class AA Region 5 champion. Scott won the the Class AAA Region 4 title last season.
The top two in each event qualify for next week's state meet at the University of Kentucky's Shively Track in Lexington. The top four finishers in each event around the state who don't earn automatic berths also qualify.
Geiger beat the region's defending 800 champion, Scott's Jennifer Wilson, to win that event in last weekend's Scott Classic Invitational. She has yet to beat Crowe in the 1,600 or 3,200. They won't meet in the longer event at the regional meet after Geiger recently was dropped to the 800 and added two relay events to her schedule.
“She started with a 5:45 (1,600), and she's got that down to 5:30,” Scaringi said. “She started with 2:35-2:36 in the (800), and she's got that down to 2:23.”
Crowe, a junior, won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter regional championships last season.
“She's improved, mostly, as far as training,” Notre Dame coach Michele VanLaningham said. “She's got that extra year of experience, and she had a nice season running cross country. She's building on her experience from last year, and she's gaining more strength.
“I think what Meghan does is focus really well. She starts focusing early in the week.”
VanLaningham believes Region 4 will feature strong competition between her team, Simon Kenton, Boone County — led by senior Christine Jones, who will be defending three championships — and Scott.
“I'd be surprised if Boone County doesn't challenge,” she said. “Christine Jones can score 40 points in a hurry.”
The opposite is true of the Class A meet, which St. Henry coach Sandy Padgett expects to be dominated by Brossart.
“If anyone has a chance at making a run at them, it's us,” said Padgett, whose team won the Class A division title at the Scott Classic. “But they're so loaded right now. Realistically, if we want to have a chance, we have to run exceptionally well and something has to happen to them.”
Any run by the Crusaders will include junior Julie Armstrong, who is the defending state champion in the 100 hurdles. Padgett believes Armstrong can add the 300 hurdles state title to her list of accomplishments after finishing second last year.
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N.Ky. girls track preview
