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Wharton leaves Pinellas with wins at two meets

By BOB PUTNAM

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 28, 2001

CLEARWATER -- Wharton coach Dave Watson said he figured his team would contend for the title at the all-boys Ed Wells/Kiwanis Invitational.

He just never figured it would be by so many points.

The Wildcats dominated Tuesday's meet at Clearwater's Jack White Stadium with 1221/2 points to beat out runner-up Lakewood by 421/2.

"I knew we'd be favored," Watson said. "But I thought it would be a little bit closer. I was surprised the competition wasn't better. But what can I say? We have some good kids."

Dwight Ellick, a Notre Dame football signee who was a New York state champion in the 100 meters before moving to Wharton for his senior year, was named the MVP. He won the 100 (11.03 seconds) and the 200 (22.22).

Other winners for the Wildcats were: Alex Harris (high jump and triple jump), Bret Galbraith (2,000-meter steeplechase), Stuart Carrico (800) and the 4x800 relay. This was the second big meet Wharton has won. Earlier this month, the Wildcats won the Manuel/Griffin relays. They also took third at the Bob Hayes Invitational in Jacksonville.

"This is good, but it's tough being our first year in 4A," Watson said. "This gets us prepared, but I don't know if we have the depth."

Tampa Baptist's Garrett Johnson dominated the field events. The junior won the shot put and discus.

Lakewood's Dermillo Wise was the other multiple winner. He swept the hurdle events, winning the 100 and 300 to help the Spartans finish second with 70 points.

"I thought we did really well," Lakewood coach Sabrina Herring-Kelly said. "I didn't think we could get second place. Third place was about the best I thought we could finish. We started out slow. But the guys are getting consistent, and we're starting to come around."

Seminole Rotary

SEMINOLE -- Wharton made it an impressive sweep in Pinellas County, romping to victory in the all-girls Seminole Rotary Invitational by 37 points over runner-up Seminole, the defending champion, 110-73.

In its fourth year as a girls-only event, the meet attracted its largest field, 25 teams. Wharton was led by field-events MVP Kendra Smith, a junior who placed fourth at the 3A state meet last year in the 300 hurdles and triple jump.

Smith set a meet record Tuesday in the triple jump at 28 feet, 3/4 inches, and she won the 110 hurdles in 15.43. Teammate Carmen Crespo captured the high jump with a 5-6.

Keswick Christian's Christa Benton swept the mile and 2-mile to earn the running-events MVP. The mile was an even duel most of the way as Benton and Sarasota Riverview's Carling Cookerly ran side-by-side from the outset before Benton surged late to win in 5:25.

"It was a great race," Keswick coach Lance Lipham said. "The other girl had the inside position, and they ran shoulder to shoulder until one of them tired out, which didn't happen until the backstretch of the last lap."

Benton easily won the 2-mile in a meet-record 11:24, beating her 11:31 from last year.

Seminole's runner-up finish was sparked by its winning 4x100 relay of Devon Rich, Brandi Herrmann, Kyra Kasprzyck and Ashley Elliott (50.50). Rich also placed second in the 200 (26.4), and Elliott was fourth in the 100 (13.06).

St. Petersburg sophomore Ashlee Kidd won the 200 (25.87) and 400 (1:01.58).

Third-place Sickles (671/2) was led by Denisha Crawford's victory in the long jump (17-71/4).

"Wharton has some real good athletes. They were very impressive," said Seminole coach John Bordeaux, whose team was without star hurdler Lauren Hatfield, who broke her leg last week practicing cheerleading. "Our girls did a good job, too." -- PETE YOUNG

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