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May 29 & 30, 1992 Todd Stadium, Newport News, VA
The Newspaper Headlines say it all
Friday May 29
“2 Top Peninsula Sprinters out of Today’s State Meet”
Alisa Tucker of Hampton High School, Eastern Region Champion in the 100 and 100 Meter Hurdles was seeded 2nd and 3rd in those events at the state meet. But her dream of ending her high school career with two state championships would not happen as she fell victim to a pulled hamstring during the prelims on Friday.
Also missing the state meet was Kecoughtan sprinter, Tony Wheeler. Knee problems would hamper his regional meet performance and keep him out of the state meet. (He would recover and set the 200 Meter dash indoor national record next year)
Saturday May 30, 2012
The weather stole the headlines about Saturday’s finals in what the Daily Press called “the waterlogged state meet”
“Rain hampers efforts of Great Bridge vaulter Johnson”
The only record set at the 1992 AAA State Meet was accomplished by Lawrence Johnson in the pole vault with his 16’0” vault. This was almost three feet higher than his nearest competitors but did not make him happy. Having cleared 17’6” at the regional meet he had hoped to go 18’0” and break the high school national record.
But mother nature had other ideas. Taking a warm-up vault at 9:30 AM it looked like the national record was in store but then came the wind and rain. Several hours of delay followed, and competition did not resume until 4:00 PM with Johnson yet to vault. Finally long after the rest of the meet was over, Johnson having won the event, ended his high school career with three misses at 17’0.” The long delay and a new pole kept him from the national record books.
“A Wet and Wild Day”
The wild part of the Daily Press headline came from the controversy over the disqualification of Monacan distance runner, Matt Zacharias. Seeded second in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, Zacharias stopped during the 3rd lap of the 1600. Officials after much discussion disqualified him not only from the event but from competition in the rest of the meet. They justified this move with the “honest effort” rule.
Rule 4 Section 1 Article 2 Honest Effort
Athletes must participate honestly in all trials and finals of all track or field events in which theyh legally are declared or they will be barred from all remaining events in the current meet. Withdrawl from a multiple event is an exception to this rule and will not affect subsequent participation in an open event. Athletes must compete with maximum effort and/or qualify from trials into the finals.
So Matt Zacharias was denied participation in the 3200.
Unfortunately the rule cited by the officials and found above is only in the NCAA Track and Field Rule Book and does not exist in the National Federation Rule Book for high school athletes. The meet management got it wrong.
“Scary Moment”
The scary moment of the meet came during the girls 3200 Meter Relay. This is how Steven Carlson of the Daily Press wrote of the incident:
“Osbourn Park’s Tisha Springer had just completed the second leg of the relay and stepped into the infield when a gust of wind blew over a 15-foot high scaffolding tower. The tower, which was holding the automatic timing equipment was wrapped in plastic, hit her, leaving Springer motionless on the infield. “I saw her there and went over and said “Tish, Tish,’” said Ginger Brown, the anchor on Osbourn Park’s relay. “She didn’t even blink, I was so scared.”
The race continued as people rushed to the scene to offer assistance, Brown, badly shook, said someone told her to get on the track to complete the relay. “I didn’t even know what I was doing” Brown said.
An ambulance took Springer to Riverside Regional Mecical Center where she was treated and released.”
Following the relay there was a 30 minute delay while the tower and timing system were put back together and working.
To top off the wild day for the girls meet, which had already seen four girls with double wins: Tonya Williams of Norview (Long Jump and 300 Hurdles), Kim Townes of Highland Springs (Triple Jump and 100 Hurdles) Meghan McCarthy of Robinson (1600 and 3200 meter runs – 3rd time) and Janelle Johnson of Bethel (100 and 200 meter dashes) the team championship would be decided in the last event, the 1600 Meter Relay. The Bethel girls, holding just a two point lead going into the race, would repeat as state champions with their victory in the relay.
Crashing Tower and Tisha Springer pics are attached:
www.milesplit.com/static/54657/e
www.milesplit.com/static/54658/e
The Newspaper Headlines say it all
Friday May 29
“2 Top Peninsula Sprinters out of Today’s State Meet”
Alisa Tucker of Hampton High School, Eastern Region Champion in the 100 and 100 Meter Hurdles was seeded 2nd and 3rd in those events at the state meet. But her dream of ending her high school career with two state championships would not happen as she fell victim to a pulled hamstring during the prelims on Friday.
Also missing the state meet was Kecoughtan sprinter, Tony Wheeler. Knee problems would hamper his regional meet performance and keep him out of the state meet. (He would recover and set the 200 Meter dash indoor national record next year)
Saturday May 30, 2012
The weather stole the headlines about Saturday’s finals in what the Daily Press called “the waterlogged state meet”
“Rain hampers efforts of Great Bridge vaulter Johnson”
The only record set at the 1992 AAA State Meet was accomplished by Lawrence Johnson in the pole vault with his 16’0” vault. This was almost three feet higher than his nearest competitors but did not make him happy. Having cleared 17’6” at the regional meet he had hoped to go 18’0” and break the high school national record.
But mother nature had other ideas. Taking a warm-up vault at 9:30 AM it looked like the national record was in store but then came the wind and rain. Several hours of delay followed, and competition did not resume until 4:00 PM with Johnson yet to vault. Finally long after the rest of the meet was over, Johnson having won the event, ended his high school career with three misses at 17’0.” The long delay and a new pole kept him from the national record books.
“A Wet and Wild Day”
The wild part of the Daily Press headline came from the controversy over the disqualification of Monacan distance runner, Matt Zacharias. Seeded second in both the 1600 and 3200 meter runs, Zacharias stopped during the 3rd lap of the 1600. Officials after much discussion disqualified him not only from the event but from competition in the rest of the meet. They justified this move with the “honest effort” rule.
Rule 4 Section 1 Article 2 Honest Effort
Athletes must participate honestly in all trials and finals of all track or field events in which theyh legally are declared or they will be barred from all remaining events in the current meet. Withdrawl from a multiple event is an exception to this rule and will not affect subsequent participation in an open event. Athletes must compete with maximum effort and/or qualify from trials into the finals.
So Matt Zacharias was denied participation in the 3200.
Unfortunately the rule cited by the officials and found above is only in the NCAA Track and Field Rule Book and does not exist in the National Federation Rule Book for high school athletes. The meet management got it wrong.
“Scary Moment”
The scary moment of the meet came during the girls 3200 Meter Relay. This is how Steven Carlson of the Daily Press wrote of the incident:
“Osbourn Park’s Tisha Springer had just completed the second leg of the relay and stepped into the infield when a gust of wind blew over a 15-foot high scaffolding tower. The tower, which was holding the automatic timing equipment was wrapped in plastic, hit her, leaving Springer motionless on the infield. “I saw her there and went over and said “Tish, Tish,’” said Ginger Brown, the anchor on Osbourn Park’s relay. “She didn’t even blink, I was so scared.”
The race continued as people rushed to the scene to offer assistance, Brown, badly shook, said someone told her to get on the track to complete the relay. “I didn’t even know what I was doing” Brown said.
An ambulance took Springer to Riverside Regional Mecical Center where she was treated and released.”
Following the relay there was a 30 minute delay while the tower and timing system were put back together and working.
To top off the wild day for the girls meet, which had already seen four girls with double wins: Tonya Williams of Norview (Long Jump and 300 Hurdles), Kim Townes of Highland Springs (Triple Jump and 100 Hurdles) Meghan McCarthy of Robinson (1600 and 3200 meter runs – 3rd time) and Janelle Johnson of Bethel (100 and 200 meter dashes) the team championship would be decided in the last event, the 1600 Meter Relay. The Bethel girls, holding just a two point lead going into the race, would repeat as state champions with their victory in the relay.
Crashing Tower and Tisha Springer pics are attached:
www.milesplit.com/static/54657/e
www.milesplit.com/static/54658/e