Thursday, April 5, 2007

Track & Field Insider

La Salle, Mason finish first in Coaches Classic

By Mike Dyer

Withrow coach Darren Braddix couldn’t remember the last time the Coaches Classic was as cold and blustery as it was Wednesday afternoon at Fairfield High School Stadium.

Several coaches were cautious and held back athletes for specific events in order to prevent injury in the freezing conditions.

It was 38 degrees at the start of the 4:30 p.m. event, according to the stadium scoreboard.

“As a coach you have to be smart,” Braddix said. “You have to think long-term and about the future. This is a big meet, but it’s an early meet so it doesn’t hold as much importance as say being healthy into the state tournament.”

Braddix said he is looking forward to being the only Ohio high school team to compete at the Texas Relays on the campus of University of Texas in Austin Friday and Saturday. The temperatures are supposed to be up into the 70s during the weekend, according to Braddix.

Withrow will take six girls to the event this weekend during Withrow’s spring break.

“We want to give them national exposure and national experience and compete against different people,” Braddix said. “The competition is stellar so we want to see how they will do.”

La Salle, ranked No. 1 in the city poll, won the Coaches Classic boys’ title with 110.5 points and top-ranked Mason won the girls’ title with 125.5 points.

CHERRY ON TOP: Moeller senior Ched Cherry, a wide receiver and special teams threat for the Crusaders, has orally committed to play football at South Florida. Cherry won the 110-meter hurdles in 15.61 seconds Wednesday. It’s first season of track and has been working on the hurdles for about four weeks, Moeller coach Kevin Kohls said.

“He’s got the speed, he’s very aggressive and he’s not afraid of the hurdles and that’s a huge plus,” Kohls said. “He’s definitely a bright spot for this team.”

He had 45 receptions for 688 yards and five touchdowns for Moeller last season.

“It’s freezing,” Cherry said during Wednesday’s meet. “…You just focus and once you start you will warm up and be fine.”

NEXT UP: The Colerain Invitational is Tuesday (April 10) and boasts several of the top area teams, including La Salle. The meet begins at 4 p.m.

GOOD REFERENCE: A new Web site, trackstatsonline.com, has articles, photos, rankings and results for area track and field teams.