Weary Indians prevail

Updated: March 28, 2011 9:38AM

ST. JOHN - It was an impressive performance by the Lake Central boys track team - particularly when you consider Thursday night's Lake Central Invitational was the team's third event in six days.

"I think we were probably feeling a little fatigued tonight,'' LC coach Rudy Skorupa said. "We had the All-Comers Meet last Saturday, the (DAC) Tuesday and then here again, tonight.''

Even if the Indians were feeling a little bit weary, they still had enough fuel left in their tanks to zoom past the competition.

The Indians scored 163.5 points and overtook challenges from Lowell (127.5) and Munster (97) to capture the team title.

Junior hurdler Randy Trembacki took first place in both the 50-meter high hurdles and 50 intermediates.

He finished the highs in 7.74, but his time - along with the first six finishers in the event - wasn't available after the computer screen went black at the finish line.

"Winning both felt good,'' Trembacki said. "I liked the highs better tonight. I messed up in the prelims in the intermediates.''

Trembacki still had enough to beat Munster's Brandon Hoekstra in both events.

"It's only half the race that it is outdoors,'' Trembacki said. "I'm much more of a 300 hurdler than a 110 high runner. I ran only two races in the highs last year and I ran every 300 race.''

Trembacki also anchored LC's 1,600 relay team, which placed second to Lowell by more than seven seconds.

‘We ran in the first heat and the first-place team ran in the second heat,'' he said. "We did not run a good race, because we didn't have anyone pushing us.''

Teammate Adam Brown, who tied the DAC record in the long jump with his 21-8 effort Tuesday night, took first place again with an effort of 20 feet, 9.25 inches, to edge out Lowell's Cole Midgett (20-7.5).

"It was a decent jump, but I've done better,'' said Brown, who also placed third in both the 200 and 50 dashes.

"It's kind of hard to run on this track - the surface is really slippery and it's tight on the curves.''

Junior Alex Thompson won the 3,200 run (11:03.97) and teammate Chris Albright placed second (11:07.12).

"Our times were a little slow, but I thought Chris and I did really well racing together,'' Thompson said.

"I probably wouldn't have won without him there to push me. I give him a lot of credit for that. He shows a lot of potential. I think he'll be pretty good.''

Gavit senior Christian Ellison had a memorable night.

He won the 50 dash in 6.39, edging out Midgett (6.40) and Brown (6.41) and won the high jump with a career-best 5-8 effort to beat Munster's Bart Grabowski.

"It was spontaneous," Ellison said. "I haven't jumped since last season. The guy who was supposed to jump (Ellison's brother Ethan) couldn't make it, so I asked coach (Rich Jay) if I could.''

Ellison's younger brother was rehearsing for a school play and had to miss the meet.

"For me to win the high jump was ridiculous,'' Ellison said. "My first scratch was at 5-6 and his (Grabowski's) was at 5-4. We both scratched out at 5-10. There were a lot of good jumpers competing tonight. The intensity level was a lot higher than last year at any time I ever jumped, so I just went with it.''

Jay said winning the high jump wasn't one of the primary goals. One of the primary goals was for him to equal, or do better, than last year.

The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Gladiators' running back attacks his events with great intensity.

"He ran a 24.6 split tonight (in the 800 relay). I think last year he ran 26.6,'' Jay said. "He went out there tonight and attacked his time.''

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