MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / April 21, 2000

EDGARD – Riverside’s Richie Hymel took the school record in the high jump to new heights and West St. John’s Donovan Pierre had a busy day at theDistrict 9-2A track and field meet Wednesday afternoon at West St. John.Riverside captured its third straight district title with 158 points. Newmanwas second with 134 points, followed by West St. John with 100. Ridgewoodhad 37 points to place fourth with Fisher in fifth with 33.

Hymel cleared the bar in the high jump at six feet, 8.25 inches to beat theold Riverside record of 6-8 set by Quinton Terrio at the USL Meet in 1997. Hewent on to jump 6-9 to win the district title. That mark is also believed to bea West St. John stadium record.”It feels wonderful, absolutely wonderful,” Hymel, a senior who is completing his first year in the event, said. “The pressure and the competition helpedme.”Hymel went on to take third in the hurdles with a time of 16.65 seconds.Pierre was second in the high jump with a jump of 6-2, followed by teammate Tremaine Nathan at 5-10.

Pierre came from the event directly from third-places finishes in the javelin and the long jump. He had a throw of 149-6 in the javelin and a jump of 19-2.5 in the long jump. Lionel Howard of West St. John won the long jump on hisfinal jumping, leaping 19-7.5, edging out Riverside’s Joel Levin’s jump of 19-7.The Rams’ Tremaine Howard took the javelin with a throw of 155-6.

Pierre would go on to help the Rams’ 4×100-meter relay team edge out Riverside, 44.33-44.52.”It feels great,” Pierre, who hurt his ankle during the meet but said it should be better by the regionals next week, said of his performance. “I focusedand took my time. We all pushed each other to be the best (in the 400-relay).”Riverside got a first place in the triple jump from Ronnie Mason with a jump of 40-9. Levin was third at 39-4.5. Mason also won the 400 meters in 51.54.The Rebels took second and third in the shot put as John Champagne threw 45-1 and Joseph Trosclair threw 44-8. Newman’s Bruce Fowler won thedistrict title with a throw of 47-10.

Jason Hayes of Riverside was second in the discus with a throw of 133-5.5.West St. John’s Coy Miller was third with his throw of 118-0. Fowler againtook first with a throw of 149-10 and was named the meet’s outstanding field performer. Newman’s Dylan Simonson took the pole vault with a vault of10-6 with Riverside’s Jay Bailey third at 9-0.

In the track events, Riverside’s 4×200-meter relay team of Levin, Mason, Avery Jolly and Bradley Hodges took first in 1:32.31. Hodges would go on towin the district titles in the 100 and 200 meters in 11.10 and 23.32,respectively, and was named the outstanding track performer.

West St. John’s Arlando Comminie won the district title in the 110-meterhurdles with a time of 14.59 seconds and was the anchor on the districtwinning 400-meter relay team.

“It feels good but I could better,” Comminie said. “I pray to do better nextweek at regionals. I haven’t placed first in regionals yet and that’s my goal.”Riverside got a second place finish from Michael Sparcella in the 800 in 2:07.43. Newman’s Matt Abbrecht was first in 2:06.96. Travis Fox of theRebels was third in the 1600 in 5:15.70 with Newman’s Carter Clementwinning in 4:44.06. Carter also took first in the 3200. West St. John’sAbrom Johnson was third in the 200 in 23.68. The Riverside 1600-meterrelay team took third behind Buras and Newman.

The top three finishers in each event advance to the Class 2A, Region III meet at West St. John Wednesday.

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