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Show May 14, 1980 Page 1 5 Sun Chronicle, Sun Times, Ben Lomond Beacon, Clearfield Courier IFBSni sttirs Sportstacular imp sparks, ignkes Region One championship By Keith Duncan All the rain in the world and nip- ping cold wasnt enough to damper the spirits of Clearfield Highs Boys track and field team which claimed the 1980 Region One track and field team title last Thursday and Friday on their own home grounds. Rain poured down in droves as officials continued to run the meet Friday. Both boys and girls, despite the cold and wet, continued to show their boldness as each event started and ended. The records set werent all that impressive, but the two day event was officially declared a full meet with the Falcons piling up 155.3 points for first place, followed by Bonneville with 127. Next in line was Sky View with 78.3, Roy was next with 68.3, Weber finished fifth with 65 and Layton brought up the rear with only 31 points. Coach John Flint, who worked day and evening to prepare the Clearfield grounds for the meet, was complimented by coaches and officials all over the region for his efforts in building a championship team and preparing the Clearfield facilities for such an event. Harry Burchell, who acts as the athletic director for Bonneville High and was the official starter for last weeks meet said, I didnt think anyone could get a high school facility that well prepared for a region meet. Coach Flint deserves to be complimented for his efforts. Rao Parker, principal at Weber High commented, If we hadnt of had the rain, it would have been perfect. STANDING OVER THE 1980 Region One track and field championship trophy are the Falcon coaches and captains. Coach John Flint is flanked by Scott Tennis. (Top row) Greg Boarden, Tim Gooch and Mark Carter. Missing from picture is another team captain, Rawn Swallow. Standings Clearfield 155.3 Bonneville 127 Sky View 78.3 Roy 68.3 Weber 65 Layton 31 Coach Dave Brooks, coach of the Weber High team said, Flint is a dedicated guy. I knew hed have this place looking good, but not as good as it was. Memorable Events The Clearfield seniors may have been a determining factor in the Falcons chances for the region title, that according to their own coach. One senior, Mike Lyons, finished second in the 1600 meter race. After a good cross country season, but not anything spectacular, Mike determined to succeeed in the spring. I didnt really expect to take second, I just wanted to stay close enough to get a third or fourth for the team, said Lyons. The Falcon miler stayed right behind Tim Hunter of Sky View through most of the race. Just before the final turn and into the stretch, . Mike fell behind Sears of Bonneville. Sears had beaten me once in a daul meet and I wasnt about to let it happen again, said Mike. Thats when Lyons put it in gear and passed up Sears to take second in the race. Clearfield produced only two individual region champions in Jeff Gorringe and Dan Perkins. However, the Falcons did take each of the relay championships. Tim Gooch, who ran the third leg of We the 400 meter relay stated, needed a great bunch of handoffs to win it. The handoff between Steve Ca:h and Gooch awed the crowd, a handoff which gave the Falcons at least 10 yards in advantage. Cash stated, It was the best when the best had to come. Freddie Cook, the anchor man on the relay stated, It was about time we came through. Gooch, commented about his second place finish in the 100 meter, saying, I knew Id have to get out fast to win. In the first start, I had a great start, but they disqualified the Weber kid and we had to do it all over again. In the second start, I was the last one out of the blocks, said Gooch. Last or first, Gooch gave it the best he had and was just barely nipped by Marvin Ellis of Bonneville at the tape. Perkins, who had a brilliant run in the 800 meters, finished way ahead of race. All he the bunch in the half-mil- e could think about, after the race, were the two runners ranked ahead of him who will be his competition this weekend at the state track and field championships. Greg Boarden, a senior long jumper, couldnt believe how cold it was. When your feet are cold like that, you dont have any spring at all, he said. Boarden had already qualified for the state meet earlier with a jump of 21 feet and 4 inches in the Provo Invitational. His best jump last Friday earned him fourth place in the region meet. Keith Crockett, Roys amazing sophomore, took third in the 100 meter behind Gooch and Ellis, but came back in the 200 to grab the championship. You dont know how bad I wanted to beat Gooch and Ellis, but I finally did it and I believe it now, he said. Stacy Hopper, who for the first time came out to perform on the Clearfield track team, was elated about the mile relay teams victory over Bonneville in the last event of the day. This was the first time I had ever come out for track under Coach Flint. The one thing I couldnt help but notice through all the season, was the team unity we had, said Hopper. Flint Comments About Flint seemed mostly impressed with his seniors, who he claimed led the team all season long. While he talked, Tim Gooch, one of the team captains, mulled over the team trophy that had been won. That really deserved it, said Flint. Commenting about his efforts in preparing the Clearfield facilities for the meet, Flmt said, If you as a coach dont take pride in what you do, the kids wont take pride in competing in their events. All of it works hand in hand, he s'dd. He thanked Scott Tennis his assistant coach, the rest of the region for their efforts and his own school administrators who were always asking if there was anything they could do. Over 100 boys turned out for track and field this spring and 75 of those still were competing when the season fianally came to a close. I always have believed in big numbers in track, thats how you win, he said. Two records were rewritten in the record books, Mark Carters throw in the shot put and Dan Perkins run in the 800 meters. Win Flint was emotional after the victory and a little bit wet too. Soon after the presentataion of the trophy to his team, a few of those big shot put and discus guys took him and dumped him in a big puddle of rain, a little celebration for a big win. Coming into the year, we knew we didnt have all the blue chip athletes that some schools had, but team depth and team unity is one thing we did have, said Flint. With all that team depth and the right combination in their relays, Flint led his team to an undefeated season in dual meets and a region championship that will never be taken away from his kids. Flmt is confident that his team could compete with any team one on one in a dual meet, including powerful Orem which is favored to take the state title this weekend in Provo. Impressed With Seniors JEFF GORRINGE CLEARFIELD'S was one of Clearfield's two individual champions in the region meet last Friday. Jeff claimed a first in the 1 0 meter hurdle race. 1 medlay relay team include Dave Jeff Niedhauser and Steve Cash. Robert Wilcox, Czarnecki, AAEMBERS OF THE 1980 Region One THIS CLEARFIELD taridem sped to the championship in the 400 meter relay. (I. tor.) Brian Wright, Steve Cash, Tim Gooch, and Fred Cook. v 3 ! W o 3$ $ ii l else to relay entry was way to much for anyone Dan Robert Wilcox, includes Hopper, Stacy handle. The first place team Perkins and Jeff Niederhauser. THE CLEARFILD'S MILE SEVENTY-FIV- E Falcons combined to take the 1 980 Region One track and field championship, led by Coach John Flint and Scott Tennis. |