Four captains pace Amherst boys track
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

The Amherst Central boys outdoor track team will be led by four captains - seniors Dave Szymkowiak and Viron Hale, junior Bert Smith and sophomore Dion Merrill.

Szymkowiak enters his fourth year on the team and runs the 800 and 1,600 meters and the 4x400 and 4x800-meter relays.

Szymkowiak took fourth in the 1,600 and ninth in the 800 at last year's Section VI Championships. Coach Jason Cyrek said Szymkowiak is seconds away from breaking school records in both events.

Hale and Smith are back for their third years. Hale can high jump, triple jump and run the 4x100 relay, but his best event is the 110 hurdles. He placed fourth in the 110 hurdles at last year's sectionals.

Smith runs sprinting events such as the open 100 and 200 and will anchor the 4x100 relay.

Merrill returns for his second year and throws the shot put and discus.

Senior DeShawn Hough and junior Alex Dennis will also run legs in the 4x100 relay.

Hough is also solid in the 110 hurdles (third at last year's sectionals) and can long jump. Hough also took sixth at last year's sectionals in the 400 hurdles.

Junior third-year runner Elliott Bible returns in the open 400. Junior middle-distance runner Jack Barrick comes back after a one-year hiatus.

Freshman Cameron Matthews adds depth to sprints.

Depth could be the question mark as to whether the Tigers will have team success. There are 63 on the roster but many new faces are unproven at the varsity level.

"We need the new guys to step," said Cyrek. "Then we'll have a chance to win more than lose."

Amherst finished third in ECIC III last year.

The Tigers opened the season with an 81-59 loss to Holland last Wednesday at Amherst.

At the ninth annual JFK Early Bird Invitational on Saturday at John F. Kennedy High School, Szymkowiak placed third in the 800 in 2:05.39 and sixth in the 1600 in 4:50.09.
Amherst Central
2008 Schedule
4-22 at Iroquois............ 4:30 p.m.
4-26 at Kenmore Track and Field
Invitational (Crosby Field) 9 a.m.
4-29 at Starpoint .......... 4:30 p.m.
5-6 South....................... 4:30 p.m.
5-10 at Starpoint Spartan Team
Challenge (Starpoint High
School) .......................... 9:30 a.m.
5-13 Pioneer ................. 4:30 p.m.
5-20 at East .................. 4:30 p.m.

5-24 at WNY Boys Track and Field
Classic (Clarence High School) 9
a.m.
5-27 at Town of Amherst Championships
(Amherst High School)
......................................... 4:30 p.m.
5-30 at ECICs (John F. Kennedy
High School) ..................... 4 p.m.

5-31 at ECICs (John F. Kennedy
High School) ................... 10 a.m.
6-6 at Section VI Championships
(Jamestown High School, Strider
Field) .................................... noon
6-7 at Section VI Championships
(Jamestown High School, Strider
Field) .................................... noon