HIGH SCHOOL TRACK Girls pole vault at hand in 2002

Conference and school records are in jeopardy this spring.
By MARK W. MILLER
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The girls pole vault is scheduled for the first time at the 2002 state meet, but there are few other rule changes in track and field this spring.
No jewelry is permitted and no metal or plastic items are allowed in the hair. Jewelry, leather, plastic, piercing that is or becomes visible are illegal. A watch may be worn on the wrist.
Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana county teams have talented athletes returning who will put stadium, conference and school records in jeopardy.
Goals: Alex Casi, a senior, will complete one of Columbiana County's all-time best careers, when the East Palestine High sprinter and long jumper goes after a fourth straight state appearance. At the 2001 state meet in Dayton, Casi was the long jump champ (18 feet, 4 inches). She placed fourth in the 200 meters (26.52 seconds) and was sixth in the 100 (13.29).
Participating at an early meet a year ago, Casi said that one of her goals was to set a record at every meet.
She was among the area's top sprinters with times of 12.5 in the 100, 25.8 in the 200 and 59.4 in the 400.
Sophomore Amber Bland of Boardman is an athlete that not only the region but the state will follow throughout the season.
Expectations: A superb athlete, Bland won the Div. I state high jump (5-8) a year ago and she could become the area's first girl to clear 6 feet. She recorded the area's top 2001 marks in the 100 (12.1) and 200 (25.1).
Junior Jessica White of Liberty has qualified two years in a row for the Div. II state meet in the 100, 200 and 400. Her best times in the sprints were 12.3, 25.6 and 58.2, respectively.
Sophomore Lizzie Jesko of Salem, Casi and White qualified for state at last year's Kent Roosevelt regional. White took the 100 (12.46), Jesko was second (12.46) and Casi was fourth (12.60). Jesko placed second in the 200 (25.82), White was third (25.83) and Casi was fourth (25.90).
Junior Lisa Davies, a two-time state qualifier for West Branch, had best efforts in the 800 (2:27), 1600 (5:20.1) and the area's top mark in the 3200 (11:23).
Senior Christen Clemson of Maplewood was the region's only girl to win a Div. III state event when she threw a career best 140-11 in the discus.
Boys: The only boys champ at state in all three divisions was the Maplewood High 4x800 relay team (8:00.28), and three of those distance runners, senior David Pykare and juniors John Palm and Derek Armstrong, are back.
Senior Steve Vallos of Boardman, heading to Wake Forest on a football scholarship, placed second at the 2002 Div. I state wrestling tournament and he was third last year at state with a throw of 172 feet in the discus.
miller@vindy.com