PREP TRACK Chaney's Howell wins long jump at Cope meet

Warren Harding was the team champion with 74 points.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
SALEM -- Clarence Howell likes Spanish and U.S. History. He's an Honor Roll student at Chaney High, and he aspires to make National Honor Society.
The junior can also jump.
One year after Cameron Widget won a state long jump title, another Cowboy is bringing high expectations into the season.
"I saw how hard he worked and how serious he was," Howell said, "and that made me want to be as good as him."
Howell is off to a resounding start. He leaped 20 feet, 1 inch to win the long jump in the F.E. Cope Invitational boys track and field meet Saturday at Reilly Stadium.
Warren Harding won the team championship with 74 points.
Howell's work ethic
"I'm working year-round, with football and track," said Howell, also a receiver and cornerback for the Cowboys. "I think my work ethic has put me ahead of a lot of other athletes."
Howell missed much of last season with a hip injury. If he remains healthy, and the groin pain he felt Saturday doesn't persist, he could finally reap the benefits of that work.
"Watching all my friends get better and get a lot faster, and me just having to watch, it was frustrating," Howell admitted of last season. "I'm a lot stronger from lifting weights."
Howell said he talks often with Widget, who's competing at the University of Cincinnati. Their conversations focus on technique, and Widget stresses strength training.
As for academics, Howell said he took it upon himself to improve.
"I knew I could do better in school; I just knew I had to do better," Howell said. "I wanted to be ahead of the class in academics and athletics."
Running Raiders
Sophomore Jay Provitt sparked Harding by winning the Division I running events MVP. He was first in the 100-meter dash (11.22 seconds), second in the 200 (23.17) and ran the first leg of Harding's winning 4x100 relay (44.11).
Also for the Raiders, senior Brandon Raimey was first in the 300 hurdles (41.66).
"My approach is, you coach a track team like you coach football," said Harding first-year coach Charles Penny. "We bring a toughness to our workouts, so we're more mentally prepared for what we see at meets."
Sweep
Springfield junior Nick Panezich swept the shot put (56-2) and discus (173-7) to win the Div. III field events MVP. His shot put mark broke the meet record (55-111/2) set by John Densevich in 1993.
"It's still the beginning of the season," Panezich said. "There's a long way to go."
Panezich went to state in both events last season, finishing second in the shot put (55-6) and fourth in the discus (168-4).
So how has he changed from last season?
"I'm more focused this year," Panezich said. "It was fine the past few years, but now it's time to get serious."
Panezich spends a minimum of two hours per day working on his throwing technique. He hopes that time pays off in the end.
"Just continue beating my distances," he said of his goal every time out. "As long as I do that, I'll be happy."
MVP performances
Southeast swept the Div. II MVPs -- senior Sean Cornell finished second in the high jump (6-2), and junior Pat Divoky won the 400 (52.39).
Wilson's Kenny Adams, who placed third in the 100 (11.34), was the Div. III running MVP, while Howland senior Brandon Alexander, who won the high jump (6-4) and finished sixth in the long jump (19-01/2), was Div. I field MVP.
"This is our second meet of the season, so we're just getting started," Alexander said. "I'm learning what I can do to get better."
richesson@vindy.com