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This isn't your typical track meet

The Central Bear Relays provide an alternative to the events commonly held.

By GREG AUMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 9, 2001

BROOKSVILLE -- The Central Bear Relays offer an unusual lineup of events you don't normally see at a track meet.

Events like the shuttle-hurdle relay and the co-ed mile relay aren't standard fare. In a meet Thursday that had more disqualifications than most, Central and Ridgewood's girls teams were tied with four events remaining at press time, and the same schools' boys teams were within striking distance of first-place North Marion.

"This is a meet that can show the depth of a team," said Ridgewood girls coach Sue Vien, whose team won last year's meet. "A team can't just have one or two stars. It's an entire team that's going to win this meet."

Ridgewood picked up victories in four early relays. Lizzy Leigh, Lizzie Sheridan, Steve Mann and Jim Vitale ran 4 miles in 21 minutes, 22 seconds, and Vien said she was impressed by the depth shown in the 110-meter shuttle-hurdle relay, in which Jen Hayes, Nancy Edwards, Jessica Penokie and Dawn Bryce finished in 1:08.04. "I have four very good hurdlers, and it was nice to be able to bring them all together," Vien said.

Central kept up with the Rams, getting victories from Leiko Munford, Tiffany Mobley, Alaya Smiley and Jaimie Costanzo in the 4x100 and sprint medley relays.

One of the meet's unique events is the co-ed weight person's relay, in which teams form a 4x100 relay using competitors from the discus or shot put.

Central won handily with the foursome of Andrew Centella, Bobby Vasquez, Christine Roe and Kay Furman. Vasquez hadn't so much as practiced a handoff until Thursday, but it didn't show. Pasco's boys and Ridgewood's girls won the discus, and Central's girls also won the 4x800. There were several disqualifications. Vitale was called for stepping on the grass as he passed a lapped runner in the distance medley relay, and Central and South Sumter were disqualified in the 4x800, as were Pasco and Ridgewood entries in other events.

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