Published: May 01, 2008 12:51 pm         

19th Coop Invitational is Sat.

15 teams from the area expected for 2 p.m. meet

By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier

For the 19th consecutive year, the Cooperstown track and field teams will host their annual invitational on Saturday, but this year longtime boys head coach Don Howard will be just a spectator. Howard retired last spring after a more than three-decade run as head coach, and at last year’s invitational it was announced the meet would be renamed the Cooperstown Don Howard Invitational.

Howard’s protege, Joe Kennedy, took over the coaching reins this spring, and the team hasn’t lost a step. Cooperstown will enter Saturday’s 2 p.m. meet with a 6-1 record, and will be looking to start a new winning streak in its own invitational after Bainbridge-Guilford- Afton won the meet last year, the first time in five years the Redskins did not win.

``B-G-A is the favorite again,’’ Kennedy said. ``They have a star in Dustin Ross who we’re happy to have here and is just a privilege to watch perform. If we’re going to win the meet, our balance will have to overcome his star power.’’

Kennedy said Ross specializes in the 400, but will ``probably win every event he enters.’’

Seniors Tirrell Silvera (shot and discus), Ryan Huggins (hurdles, relays) and sprinter Greg Sorin will have to lead the way on Saturday if the Redskins are to win, Kennedy added.

Silvera has already thrown over 130 feet in the discus and 44 feet, nine inches in the shot put this season. Huggins anchors both the 1,600 and 3,200 relay teams as well as running the hurdle events. ``Ryan’s been a horse for us so far,’’ Kennedy said. ``He’s really been carrying a big load early in the season.’’

Sorin has been nursing a hamstring injury and his status for Saturday is 50-50, Kennedy added. Both Alec Silvera and Scott Millea have cleared 12 feet in the pole vault this season, while R.J. Alton has cleared five feet six inches in the high jump and 19 feet five inches in the long jump, which could be good enough to win Saturday, Kennedy said.

``Along with B-G-A, Oneonta, Cooperstown and Sidney will be battling it for the top four spots,’’ Kennedy said. ``This is always a fun meet and we have some great individual talent coming again this year.’’

Cherry Valley-Springfield will return to the invitational for the first time in a few years, and will bring a boys team that returns almost everyone from last year’s Tri- Valley and Section Four Class D championship team.

Milford head coach Dave Prouty said sprinter Mike Foy, who has recorded a time of 11.4 in the 100 and 24.13 in the 200, should be in the mix for a ribbon, as well as shot put and discus thrower Andy Jones, who has a personal best in both events early in the season. Coop girls hope for top 3 finish Cooperstown girls head coach Connie Herzig said she is hoping her young team can finish in the top three spots among the 15 teams competing this year.

``We’ve been showing steady improvement as a team, and individually (hurdler) Anna Weber has been just phenomenal,’’ Herzig said. ``She’s performing above and beyond expectations and is a wonderful role model for our young team.’’ Weber will see some tough competition in the hurdle races from B-G-A’s Bethany Norris and Sidney’s Ashley Mahlmeister, however, Herzig said.

``She probably won’t win, but she is looking forward to the competition and hoping it brings out the best in her,’’ Herzig said. ``That should be a great event for the fans to watch.’’

Other top performers for Cooperstown so far this season have been Laura Resnick in the triple jump and Anna Kieler in the high jump.

``The field events will be the key for us,’’ Herzig said. ``B-G-A, Sidney, Oneonta and Cobleskill are all traditionally strong programs.’’ Milford head coach Dave Prouty said he is hoping both his 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams can place on Saturday. The 4x100 team includes Maria Arnot, Chandler Prouty, Natasha Roseboom and Avalon Ward, while the 4x100 includes Prouty, Roseboom, Krista Krol and Brenna Campbell.

The CV-S girls also won Tri-Valley and Section Four titles last year, and also return a number of athletes, including three-time league champion Laura Kroon in the high jump.