U. Dublin is on track to win crowns

Upper Dublin runners have produced the area's fastest times in the 4x800-meter and distance medley relays and the second best time in the 4x400 during the indoor track and field season.

Coach Rich Ames expects the runners to be anxious to match those times in today's Meet of Champions of the Greater Philadelphia Track and Field Coaches Association at Lehigh University. The meet starts at 9 a.m.

The Cardinals focus will be on the medley, the second event of the meet, and the 4x400, the last event of the day.

The Cardinals DM foursome of seniors Matt Lorenzo, Chris Melton, Paul Reilly and Mike Palmisano has a time of 10 minutes, 43.68 seconds in the DM. Junior Sam Ellison will replace Lorenzo in the 4x400 where the Cardinals' top time is 3:30.33

"There will be some very good teams there," said Upper Dublin coach Rich Ames. "Hatboro and Friends Central are tough in the DMR."

Palmisano, who has the best area time of 1:57.88, will join Reilly and Lorenzo in the individual 800. Melton Melton will run in the 400 while Ellison will compete in the high jump.

"They're a very talented group," Ames said. "I almost have to keep a leash on them."

Northeast and Central, again. It's getting to be a habit for Northeast and Central who meet Wednesday at Erie Lanes for the Public League bowling championship.

This will be the third straight year the two squads have met for the title. The Vikings beat the Lancers in last year's final after losing to them the year before.

"Last year was a close match," said Vikings coach Karen Barrett, who hopes for a better outcome than a few weeks ago when Central beat her team, 3-0, in the regular season finale. "This [Wednesday's] match is a whole new ball game and we always come to play."

Going into the regular-season finale, both teams were tied with 17-1 records.

"Beating them like we did doesn't mean anything now," said Central coach Bob Barthelmeh. "Both are strong teams. We have to be on our game."

Stephen Schall and Janae Silver are two of the Lancers' top bowlers with averages of 187 and 178, respectively. Bernard Cephas is Northeast's top roller with a 195 average. Phil Barrett, son of the coach, is next at 189 followed by Lance Lempert (185) and Britney Portwood (179).

McGinley winning. Malvern Prep's John McGinley got to pick the events he wanted to swim in Wednesday's Inter-Academic League swimming championships.

His choices worked out very well but he would like to have a few yards of one race to do over. Swimming in his home pool, McGinley won two individual events in record time and was part of the Friars' winning 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. He won the 200 freestyle in 1:41.67 to break the pool record of 1:42.14 set seven years ago by former Germantown Academy standout Fran Crippen. McGinley's time was also a school record.

In the 100 butterfly, McGinley broke the pool mark of 52.17 set eight years ago by another GA swimmer, Ryan Smith. McGinley's time was 51.62.

The event McGinley would like to have over again came in his opening leg of the 200 freestyle relay. He lost a shot at another pool record in that race.

"He glided in," explained Malvern coach Paul Hornsleth.

McGinley's time for his leg was 21.5, just 0.05 off the 50 freestyle pool mark.

"I was a little bummed by that," noted McGinley, who had not shaved or tapered for the meet. "I looked over at coach at the end and saw him shake his head."

Hornsleth obviously forgave him.

"John's just a great kid," the coach said. "He had some goals in mind and took care of them. We're looking to Easterns later this month."

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