THURSDAY, MAY 18, 2000

Prep track

Columbian boys holding down lead at districts

FOSTORIA -- Columbian will have the inside track to a district championship when action starts Friday, leading the field by 12 1/2 points after the first day of the Division I district at Fostoria.

The Tornadoes have 32 points after through four events, outdistancing Sandusky (19 1/2), Defiance (17) and Lexington (14). Bowling Green has 11 points, followed by Fremont Ross (10), Ashland (10), Findlay (9), Mansfield Senior (9), Mansfield Madison (7), Celina (4 1/2), Napoleon (4), Lima Senior (4), Wapakoneta (3) and Shelby (2).

The highlight for TC was a 1-2 finish in the pole vault. Dan Picciuto went 13-6 to win the event and Richie Martin was second with 13-0 as both qualified for regionals. Todd Focht is also a qualifier, placing third in the long jump with a leap of 20-6.

Dan Moyer, Ryan Hinke, Eric Hall and Drew Hanley qualified for regionals in the 4 x 800 relay. The team placed fourth with a time of 8:11.5. Matt Thompson missed qualifying for the regionals, but placed sixth in the shot put with a toss of 46-3 3/4.

"Given what we've done the last five weeks, I think we've thought seriously about a district championship," Columbian coach Craig Snyder said. "I was happy that our 4 x 800 qualified. We're capable of running much better than we ran, and the kids know that. But if you're going to have a bad day this is the place to have it. We qualified, and that's the important thing."

Brett Krupp and Chris Brooks qualified for Friday's semifinals in both the 100 and the 200, and Hanley and Hall are in the finals of the 800. Hall, Hinke, Greg Hoke and Hanley will compete in the 4 x 400 finals.

Brewer earns ticket to regional for Lakota

OAK HARBOR -- Lakota's Ken Brewer earned the right to compete in next week's regional at Lexington by placing third in the pole vault at the Oak Harbor District.

Brewer's pole vault was 12-6, and Troy Halfhill qualified for the finals in the 1600 with a time of 4:48. Nick Smith ran the 800 in 2:02.8, also making it to Friday's finals. Kris Stafford (46-1) was eighth in the shot put.

Lakota's girls' 4 x 200 team of Erin Filliater, Sonia Schumaker, Jessica Allen and Amber Young are in the semifinals Friday after crossing the line in 1:55.6. Allen qualified in the 100 with a time 14.1, and Schumaker is in the semifinals of the 200 after running it in 28.5.

Megan Ewing qualified for the semis by running the 100 high hurdles in 18.5, and Rachel Munoz will run the 800 again Friday after finishing the prelims in 2:36.