August 7, 2003

SPORTS

Peters named All-American
Yellow Springs High School sophomore Tina Peters earned All-American honors Wednesday, July 30, with her finish at the USA Junior Olympic National Track and Field Championships in Miami, Fla.

Peters, whose specialty during the summer track and field season was the 5,000-meter racewalk, took second overall in the 15- to 16-year-old girls division. It was an extremely competitive field despite the incredibly hot and humid conditions that peaked at 123 degrees during the race. Peters, who led for most of the race, finished with a time of 28:10.38 for the 3.1-mile distance.

“The heat really affected everyone’s races,” Peters said. “I was ready for a fast race but I really slowed after the second mile.”

Peters also raced a 10k in downtown Niagara Falls, N.Y., three days before the championship as a member of the USA Junior Team (14 to 19 year olds). She helped lead her team to victory with a fifth-place finish in the dual meet with the Canadians.

“That was an amazing experience,” Peters said. “It is such an honor to represent your country in international competition. I hope I can do it again.”

Also earning All-American honors at the Junior Olympics meet in Florida was Tina’s younger brother, Andy, who placed fifth in the 3,000-meter racewalk for 13 and 14 year olds. Andy Peter’s time was 17:36.88.

In the relay competitions, the Miami Valley Track Club, which is based in Yellow Springs, took eighth in the 4x800 relay, beating their fastest time of the year by over 14 seconds. The final time for the squad of Alex Revolos, Levi Fox, Mike Echols and A.J. Furrow was 8:01.21.

Ten Miami Valley track and field athletes competed at the National Junior Olympic Championships. The competition drew over 7,000 athletes ranging in age from 9 to 18 from all over the United States.

Perry League’s season zenith

By Jimmy Chesire
This Friday night, Aug. 8, is the last night of the 2003 Perry League tee-ball season. As is our custom, we’ll have a shortened evening of play (about 45 minutes or so), followed by our annual wiener-roast potluck picnic. When everyone’s had their fill, we blow our whistles one final time and have the kids line up on the third-base line where we give each child a lovely little trophy.

And oh, what a moment that is! It’s a pleasure sweet and sharp like few others. You stand out there in that mob — we’ll have 70 to 80 kids strung out in a snaking, nervously undulating line, their parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles or cousins close by, cameras in hand — seemingly drenched in the children’s cavorting, squealing joy and excitement. The anticipation, nigh unto delirium, is so rich, so strong, so animated, you can feel it settling luxuriantly on your skin.

So, come on out. We’d love to have you, this Friday, at Gaunt Park from 6:30 to 8 p.m. That’s the Perry League, the village’s noncompetitive beginner’s baseball program open to all our community’s children, ages 2 to 9, regardless of their race, color or creed.

And you don’t have to have a kid in the program to join us, to eat with us, to witness this evening of childhood bliss. All you need is the desire to witness — and the willingness to act on that desire. So, give in to that desire. Act on it. Join us. O.K.? O.K.

Cross country practices to start
The Yellow Springs High School cross country team will start conditioning for the 2003 season on Monday, Aug. 11, at 6 p.m., at the YSHS athletic field. All students in grades 7–12 interested in participating are encouraged to attend this session.

Practices will continue nightly, Monday through Friday, at 6 p.m., until school starts. Schedules and physical forms will be available at practice. The conditioning program will include cycling as well as swimming, water running and weight training.

The Bulldogs, with the guidance of coach Vince Peters, now in his 20th year as the head cross country coach at YSHS, will feature three Dayton district All-Stars: David Warren, Tina Peters and Cary Dixon.

The team will kick off its season with the annual Yellow Springs Village Fun Run on Sunday, Aug. 24, at 7 p.m. For more information, call Peters at 767-7424 between 7 and 10 p.m.

McKinney football team starts practicing
The McKinney School football team began practicing for the fall season yesterday (Wednesday), on the practice field, behind Yellow Springs High School.

Players must bring shorts and cleats or sneakers. For more information, call coach J. Doyle, 372-6201.

YSHS boys soccer team practice schedule
Preseason practices for the Yellow Springs High School Boys soccer team are being held Monday through Friday, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., behind the high school.

Any high school student interested in participating should call coach Jim Hardman at 767-2200.

Annual YSHS alumni soccer game this month
The annual Yellow Springs High School alumni soccer games will be played on Saturday, August 16, at YSHS.

The 2003 YSHS girls team will face the alumnae squad at 5:30 p.m. The 2003 YSHS boys team will play the alumni squad at 7:30 p.m.

All alumni players are asked to wear blue shirts. To preregister, alumna should call Jocelyn Hardman, 767-2200, and alumni should call Bill Hardman, 767-8433.

19th annual Fun Run to benefit XC team
The 19th annual Village Fun Run will be held Sunday, Aug. 24, 7 p.m. The start and finish for the trek through the village is Yellow Springs High School.

The fun run is open to runners, joggers and walkers of all ages. Refreshments will be available after the race. There is a $3 donation for the event. All proceeds will go to the activities of the YSHS cross country team.

For more information, call coach Vince Peters at 767-7424.