DISTRICT 10 TRACK Hickory hurdler Fazio state qualifier in highs

Hornet freshman pole vaulter Andrew Rademacher also qualified for the state meet.
By BILL ALBRIGHT
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Despite a powerful showing by the Erie Cathedral Prep track team, the Grove City and Hickory boys track and field teams had their moments Wednesday at the District 10 Class AAA championships.
As was expected, Hornets hurdler Shawn Fazio placed in both of his specialties -- the 110-meter high and 300 intermediate hurdles.
Fazio equaled the state qualifying time of 15.26 seconds in the highs to earn a trip to next week's state meet at Shippensburg University. Fazio finished fourth in the intermediates.
Hickory freshman pole vaulter Andrew Rademacher also qualified for state by matching the standard of 13 feet, 9 inches.
"It is very relieving [but] I didn't feel too much pressure because I still have a few more years to go," said Rademacher.
Rademacher knew the competition from Erie McDowell's Steve Carlucci and Lamech Marsh would be stiff.
"Competing against them, it was a little more pressure than usual, but I tried to keep my mind under control."
Rademacher is coached by his father, John, who said, "I am really excited for him because we worked hard for this all year. We started at about this time last year and we set a goal to make state.
"It is fortunate that pole vaulting is sort of like a small community," Coach Rademacher said. "He met those other kids from McDowell, so he knows them and there is a camaraderie there."
Another place winner for the Hornets was Preston Gibbs, who finished third in the high jump and fifth in the long and triple jumps.
Grove City: Grove City's top finisher was Greg Mattocks, a senior distance runner who placed second in the 1600 (4:35.37) to Harbor Creek's Eric Soder (4:31.8).
Bill Jordan was fourth in the high jump (5-11) and had a long jump of 18-9.
"The competition was really good," Jordan said. "[Warren's Naushad Ahmed] is really good, but nobody really jumped what they normally do. He usually jumps around 23 and today he only went 21-9.
Jordan said his high jumping "was disappointing. I normally jump around 6-2 and I have come close to clearing 6-4, but today, I didn't get close."
The Grove City 3200 relay team (Mattocks, Russ Thompson, Chris Dumbroski and Paul Masterone) finished third in 8:23.54.
"I thought we had something going there when Russ led off with a 2:02," Grove City coach Mike Sample said. "I knew coming in that they would drop their time some. It was Warren and McDowell all the way, which we knew would happen.
"But as it turned out, we held on longer than I thought we might be capable of.
Other placewinners for the Eagles were Nate Potter, seventh in the triple jump (40-7 1/2), and Thompson and Brian Campbell, fifth and eighth, respectively, in the 800.