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Show i APRIL 27, 1983 400 Meters Especially Talent Abounds le Falcons Lames - CLEARFIELD Franco and Hershel have gained their glory by tearing it up from goalpost to goalpost, but when focusing in on the Utah prep track and field scene, none come any better than names like Bubba Conley, Stephanie Clements and others in a complete race around both of those football goalposts. 4-- A THE 400 meters, w hich is one complete lap around the track, has certainly put itself in the limelight w here such races as the 100 and 200 meters have existed for many years. With no doubt, its been the running of a number of talented Clearfield 400 meter specialists that have made the race as exciting as it is. WITH CONLEY and Clements in the ranks, the Falcons stand a very good chance of sweeping top honors in the event in both the boys and girls divisions. But Conley and Clements may be where they are today because of a serious and strong push they are receiving from their teammates who have been just steps behind them in recent big meets. On the boys side its been Ricky Smith and Jared Martin closing in while Clements has been a few steps ahead of Laura Zaugg. ALL IN ALL, these five runners make the Falcons a powerful force in the 400 meter competition. Conley set a new school record in the 400 just a few weeks ago at the Icebreaker Invitational, a time of 49.88 which bested Brian Wrights previous time of 49.98. BOY, I feel good about everything right now," said Bubba, My workouts have been extremely serious and my frame of mind is right where it should be. Ive just got to go after it. Conley exploded on the scene as a sophomore but a treacherous foot injury cost him the limelight his junior season. The foot injury became so serious that it required surgery and a cast. As John Flint, the head coach stated, Its amazing how he has come back. For some reason everyone is out to beat Bubba Conley this spring which is a definite compliment to him. Hes put his heart into and when it really counts, Bubba is going to emerge. IN THE PAST two major meets, Conley has finished second to Paysons Brad Cook both times. This weekend he will meet Cook for the last time at the BYU Invitational since Cook is in a school. I want him bad, said Conley, I have been taking too big a stride and its been hurting. Ive put some hours into that area and I think Ive got it down. Conley was beaten by Webers Kevin Anderson in the 400 last week which made Bubba so upset that he came back in the 200 meters a few minutes later to run the fastest time (22.84) that any Falcon has run that race this year. ONE OF the brighest spots on the girls track club has to be the emergence of sophomore Stephanie Clements. She owns the school record in the 400 meters and theres no telling what shell continue to do through the rest of the year. It's fun to compete in track. In the 400 I was expecting to do a good job, but I wasnt expecting to run a 58.0, she said. CLEMENTS BROKE her leg last year during a coed softball game and was forced to sit out most of the ninth grade track season. But despite it, just like Conley, she has come back with undeniable courage. "The home stretch is my favorite part of the race, said Clements, which was seconded by Zaugg, Thats where her gas turns on. CLEMENTS has her sights on the state record in the girls division which stands at 57.77. Thats moving she said. saw a lot of action on the football team too. Martin has also been running the 200 meters and a leg of the relay team. "My I to want but are get my time in the high, goals 400 meters down to 50 flat or even somewhere in the 49s, said Jared. FLINT COMMENTED on his three runners also. About Jared he said, Martin is a very strong wheeled athlete and there is a lot of internal competitiveness there. Even though he hasnt been able to do what he's wanted to, hes done a real good job. His performance against Weber in the dual meet was an indication of better things to come. About Smith, Flint said, Hes got to be one kids Ive had in of the most positive-minde- d nine years of coaching. Hes one of the most dedicated kids Ive ever been around. If I asked him to throw the javelin or run the hed do it. I have a lot of respect for Clements also runs in the relays and just about anything that Buhrley suggests. About track she commented, Its great. Im getting addicted to it. 400-met- er IT WAS Ricky Smith, a junior, that was narrowly beating Conley in indoor competition. On the outdoor scene he hasnt been far behind, having a best time of 50.45. Smith finished fourth in the recently concluded Weber State Invitational. In the beginning it appeared that Smith might be used as Flints utility man and be featured in all the relays but not a standout in any one event. Its been hard work and discipline I guess. My speed has picked up which has helped me, he said. That speed incidently makes him one of Clearfields threats in the 200 and 100. two-mil- SMITH LIKES coming out of the blocks in the 400 but his favorite part of the race is e, Ricky. ability this year, he can do just about whatever he puts his mind to. And finally Flint spoke on his senior quarter-mile-r, AS FAR as blasting off the last corner into the straightway. Can Smith beat Conley in indoor meetings? I dont know, but I sure like to. Like I say, my favorite part of the race is the last stretch and thats where Ive been closing in on Bubba, he said. Rickys Bubba Conley. "Hes the backbone of the group. Hes had the most experience and for some reasons hes had the most pressure on him. People just respect his talent and reputation and want to beat him. Ive told him to put it behind him and go out and just have fun. ANOTHER junior Jared Martin, didnt start the season off with the bang like he and others expected but a bad case of the flu took him out for two weeks and a sprained ankle laid him up for a while, all of which took him out of it for awhile. From there it was a long road upward. Martin had a fairly respectable sophomore year but his times werent coming down like he wanted them to. It was darn tough. I started out with a 54.0 in the first meet and have gradually got it down to 52.3. Its starting to come, said Martin. MARTIN, WHO is also a fine baseball player, gave that avenue up for track. Last fall he the tougher he THE MORE meets he has, 'aU ForLaura'zaugg. a junior, she claims hlrftork a wphon,ort is s.amng .0 pay ,he pc most consisTHE HIGH jump was Zaugg's Fishburn tent event last season with Tracy has put she that pushing her, but its this spring her into running concentration much more where she events including the 400 meters Weber at the finished second to Stephanie State Invitational. year Its funny how I got into the 400. atLast last the relay the into medlay I got thrown time first the was minute and ran the 400 leg. It She Id run it and I loved it," said Zaugg. of rest the in that relay a incidently earned spot in the mile is running this and year the year relay also. COACH (Roger) Burhley is great, we love em. Things turned around quite a bit last year in girls track here, but after this year I dont think anyone will forget us," she continued. Zaugg's only sport is track and field. Last year she participated in the high jump, long jump, 100 meters and a leg of the medley. Its this year shell concentrate on high jump, long jump, 100 meters, mile relay and 400 meters. Zaugg will try to qualify in as many events as possible for state. SERVICEllStOURiMIDOLEtNAME Special! Pre-Seaso- n COOLEK SALE ARVIN - Formerly ARCTIC CIRCLE Cools up to 1300 sq. ft. Roof mount year warranty, parts and labor 1 Expert installation d to prevent rust Well-coate- cabinet warranty ar Davis High $57900 Track and Field 4500 CFty Invitational (Normal Installation) iSSw.w.wfc To Be Held Compart Quality Bafora Buying May 6, 7 at Davis High ece CtfeaMkp School Cltarfiald it S E R V J CEaSlO U R1MJ D D I EIN 520 So. Stata 773-483- 6 AM SNAPPY FREE Attachments Worth up to $000 Purchase a 21 " mower at the regular retail price and receive your choice of a FREE Thatcherizer, Mulcherizer, Snapperizer or Kit. The Thatcherizer easily removes thatch and vacuums it away with little effort. The Mulcherizer chews up clippings and deposits them Hi-V- ac self-propell- ed Bag-N-Bla- The Clearfield Falcons are blessed this season with a There is hardly a school in the state that can match this kind of line-utalented 400 meter crew that includes (1 to r) Bubba Conley, Laura Zaugg, Jared Martin, Stephanie Clements and Ricky Smith. Both Bubba and Stephanie own the respective boys and girls school records. p. de back into the lawn to become lawn food.h$napperizer can save you Hfc time this Fall as an efficient leaf shredder. Finally theres the convenience of the extra Kit. Visit toSNAPPER dealer your day. Buy and save now. Bag-N-Bla- de cut qpzjia Dtacovwr Th Mfferwte Comm Top Notch Again R. BLODGETT News Editor By GARY BOUNTIFUL - Just got it horses mouth (so to speak); put your money on BYUs football team next season. Thats right, place your bet on the Cougars winning the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) championship. from the SO WHO says? Coach LaVell Edwards, thats who. Coach Edwards did a little off the cuff predicting the other day at the monthly Bountiful Area Chamber of ComAnd he merce placed his Cougars right at the top of the heap. dinner-meetin- g. WITH A little reservation, that is. You see, according to Coach Edwards the Air Force Academy or New Mexico or Utah could come out as 1983 grid champs. He says all WAC teams are good enough to win it all, but BYU, New Mexico and the Academy have got to be favorites. DONT LAUGH when I place Air Force as a top contender, he says seriously. The Academy has a darn good team. They beat us soundly last year and they are going to be back flying high with the same outstanding quarterback and several turning lettermen. re- He said things seem to go in record cycles. We had an 3 last year and some fans thought we had a bad season. I just hope we're as bad this year as we were last. COACH Edwards admits his Cougars are going to be sound in all departments, except the offensive and defensive lines (so whats left?) BYU will lose seven of the starting eight inside linemen from last years championship team. Outside that, LaVell, smiled We have an excellent quarterback, three outstand- some good running backs and a very good secondary defense." THE ONLY starting lineman returning, however, is Bran-de- n Flint, former Layton High star. Steve Young is going to be just super, maybe even better than Jim (McMahon) and he will have some topnotch receivers (even running backs) to throw to, the coach said. We should be improved in the offensive backfield and an outstanding punter in Lee Johnson who can kick 70 yards - although not always straight down the field. He needs to work on his control. Coach Edwards told why many "blue chip high school players are not selected for the major colleges. HE SAID recruiting coaches look at all the best players they can either in person or on film. They then evaluate the talent and base their selections on (a) can he play college football? (2) how does he compare to existing players? and (3) does he have the height, quickness and character to make the Q n S THATCHERIZER Q Retail Value $59.95 - team? LAVELL EDWARDS ing receivers, overall have a good, solid offense. HE SAID the defensive line is inexperienced but the secondary is strong. "And we have This Weeks Baseball SNAPPERIZER MULCHERIZER Retail Value $44.95 Retail Value KIT Retail Value $39.95 $44.95 Fridays Games Weber at Layton Davis at Highland Skyview at Clearfield 'V iwgayyawR G2C 4WU 11 HURRY! OFFER ENDS SOON McEnttire Hilton 285 N., Main, Clearfield 825-227- 1 |