Sports

Fearsome foursome

Derek Barichello

ALBANY — Talk about a fantastic foursome.

The Deerfield-Windsor duo of Kelly Conway and John Smith, and Westwood’s Brett Shiver and Madison Lamar shined in this year’s GISA State Track Meet at Hugh Mills Stadium.

Shiver, a senior who tabulated the most points of any Class A athlete with 33 points, defended his state titles in the Class A boys 110 and 300 hurdles. The multi-sport athlete’s time of 39.94 seconds in the 300 hurdles broke the state record he set himself in Thursday’s heat. When he saw the time after finishing, he pumped his fists because he knew he had a new record.

“I felt way better (Saturday),” said Shiver, who also won the 110 hurdles at 15.87 seconds. “I was happy to get it. It’s what I’ve been shooting for all weekend.”

Shiver, on Friday, placed first in the long jump and played key roles on the 4x400 and 4x100 teams.

The Westwood star, however, was not the only one who finished strong Saturday.

Deerfield’s Conway, the reigning Herald Player of the Year in girls track and field, earned her ninth state title overall, successfully defending her title in the 3,200 (12:02.10) Saturday and set her third school record in as many days (the old record was held by Conway and Ann Wetherbee at 12:10).

“It’s hard to believe,” Conway said. “I guess it means all my hard work is paying off.”

With nine titles, it might come as a surprise that Conway still has nerves before each race.

“I never feel comfortable until the end,” Conway said. “I get really nervous before each race.”

Conway tied for the fourth most girls points in Class AAA with 30. First Presbyterian Day’s Fran Johnson finished with a perfect 35 to earn top honors.

Knights sprinter Smith also finished as a top individual scorer, notching 28 points, good for third best behind points champion Jim Hull of Augusta Prep (31).

After being part of the 4x100 relay team that was disqualified on a mishap, Smith grew more motivated in the 100 meters. A starting running back last fall, he used some of that gridiron fury after starting late out of the blocks and outsprinted Mount de Sales’ Nick Edison for the win at 11.12 seconds.

“I reckon when I’m mad it makes me a little better,” Smith said. “I had to get going to catch up to him.”

Smith then placed second in the 200 (22.78), losing to ex-boxing champion Evander Holyfield’s son, Ewin, of Riverside Military Academy (22.35).

“I’ve never done the 200 in my life until region,” Smith said. “I would’ve liked to have won, but I really can’t complain with second in the state.”

His success in the 100 and 200 came a day after he set the Class AAA boys pole-vault record at 15 feet.

Westwood’s Madison Lamar, who set the Class A girls mark in the pole vault (11-6) to win her fifth consecutive state crown, was only outdone in either gender or class that day by Smith. She also finished third in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump.

“We couldn’t have done it without the big points from Madison,” Westwood boys and girls track coach Earl Ford said. “She’s been awesome for us and it’s going to be sad to see her go.”

Lamar finished fourth in team points with 24.5, while distance runner Victoria Coppage of Covenant totaled the most with 32.5.

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