Boys track set to go the distance

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 19, 2007

It’s business as usual this spring for the Niagara-Wheatfield boys track team.

The Falcons have fair numbers - about 50 or so athletes - including some very strong runners and proven veterans. Veteran coach Dick Bartha needs to see how his newer, younger runners fit into the picture before he can tell if his team is in any position to make a serious run at the Niagara Frontier League title.

And Mother Nature is not making it easy for him.

“The weather has been absolutely ridiculous,” Bartha said. “We’re still trying to see who works best in what events and on the relays, but we think we should have a pretty decent team.”

Senior Aaron Foote is back again as the Falcons’ top distance runner, and Bartha says he’ll run anything this year from the 800 up. Foote went to last year’s state championship in the 1600 and wound up seventh overall, and he’s also gone to the last two state championship meets in cross country.

Bartha thinks that Foote, who will attend the U.S. Naval Academy next year, can shave even more time off his best finish.

“We think he can get under 4:20 this year,” Bartha said. “That will be good enough to win around here, but he’ll have to get down around 4:10 if he wants to win a state title. But he can definitely do it, so we’ll see what happens.”

Junior hurdler Carl Caughell is another returning sectional qualifier, and he also will handle the high jump. Also returning are senior Joe Silluzio and junior Dan Heberle in the distance events.

Senior George Todino, also a standout on the Falcon soccer and swim teams, is the team’s top sprinter. Freshman Christian Warchocki also can sprint but figures into the 400 for sure.

Bartha has senior Josh Mueller and freshman Jim Donner for the shot put and the discus, while junior Josh Cirrito returns in the pole vault. Senior Darren Sneed, who bounced back from injury and went to the state qualifier in wrestling two months ago, is back now in the long and triple jump events.

The coach is still trying to put together the pieces for his relay teams. The 4x800 looks pretty solid with the stable of distance runners returning, but he’s still trying to figure out how to replace the 4x400 relay team that placed third in the sectionals last year. Foote is the only returning member of that unit after Byron Mulkey and Adam Flemming graduated and senior Nick Folino went down with an injury in football season.

Foote and Warchocki will run that relay, along with Rich Burr and perhaps Josh Gilmore.

Bartha says the key to success in track is no mystery.

“You have to be self-motivated if you want to succeed in track,” he said. “There’s only one of me, so you have to be willing to do the work on your own. If you can’t do that, you won’t make it”