Downstate Delaware's Burgess track meet a blast

Boston College-bound Jason Lilly of Dover starred at last weekend's Burgess meet with dad Roger, who served as an official at the event. Already a nationally-known speedster, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Jason dominated in his specialties, the 100 meters (10.88) and 200m (21.81). Submitted photo

Frick's Picks, By George Frick

The meet's namesake was there in good voice, the top boys team in Delaware was there and won the big event as expected; the state dash king was there in good form as always; a new team challenger emerged; and a whole host of new names surfaced as future star material.

All of the foregoing occurred at the 23rd annual Keith S. Burgess Invitational track and field showcase at the Jim Blades layout behind Lake Forest High School last Saturday. Burgess, a human T&F encyclopedia of information, is the Harrington man of mirth who stirs the crowd juices each year when he belts out his stirring rendition of the National Anthem. He also greets each medal winner, gold through bronze, with a wink, a smile (usually sly) and cheerful words of "well done." Leading the way for the day was the boys' team of Dover High, coached by the sober-faced proud mentor, Jim "Bunchy" Solomon, recently designated as Delaware's "Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year."

Solomon was also rejoicing over the news that his daddio, Jim "Sol" Solomon, a former knuckleball pitcher, had been selected for the Delaware Afro-American Hall of Fame. That banquet is Saturday night. With 106 points, the guys in Blue and White topped the nearest opposition, Sussex Tech, truly an emerging power by 20.5 points (106-85.5). An upstate favorite, Salesianum, was third with 74 points, while host Lake Forest, coached by the inimitable Jim "Slim" Blades, also the Spartans' A.D. who is the annual overseer of the Burgess blast, finished fourth with 45. Milford Coach Czar Bloom's "Buccaneer Boys" nailed fifth with 29 points.

As usual the BMOC ("Big Man on Campus") last Saturday was Boston College-bound Jason Lilly of Dover, already a nationally-known secondary school speedster who dominated in his specialties, the 100 meters (10.88) and 200m (21.81). Jason has grown into a svelte 6-foot-2, 205-pounder according to his dad, Roger, who was an official at the KSB festivities. Lilly's teammates, Odun Balogun (victor in the 110m high hurdles, 14.50; and 300m lows, 40.11, and runner-up to Jason in the 100m) and Rich Worley (first in the 1,600m, 4:46.80 and second in the 3,200m) also established themselves as major threats come the state meet in May. Copping a pair of golds were coach Marty Cross' Sussex Tech 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay combos featuring seniors Jamal Timmons and Jamil Trott, juniors Brandon Mann (the Ravens' classy basketball point guard), Kevin Maull and Marcus Morris , also Chris Singh, and Andre Johnson. Johnson also won the high jump (6-6) and 800m (1:57.89). Harry Barrett of Lake leaped to the long jump title (20-11).

In the girls competition, Coach Rob Percival's Seaford Lady Jays flew to a third place finish behind New Castle County's Padua and Brandywine. Polytech was fourth; Lake Forest, fifth. Sussex Tech in seventh place had a double winner in Tara Boemell (high jump, 5'4", triple jump, 32-11 1/2). Raven-haired Raven Rebecca Singh "sang" her way to a win in the 800m, 2:25.03. The Woodbridge gals of Coach Charlie Ridge (an All-Stater for the red-hot Blue Raiders of 1972-73, winning the 120-yard high hurdles, 180 lows and a member of the high-flying 440-yard relay foursome) had gold medalists in Keyana Hill (400m, 1:01.37) and Connie Pleasanton (300 low hurdles, 48.73). Dover's 4 x 400 relay ensemble of misses Crippen, Whitley, Green and Lee was "golden," in 4:15 even. Long jump "princess" was Polytech's Paula Green, 17-5; while Lake's "High" Sierra Harrett was No. 1 in the 100 high hurdles. Folks, it was truly a fine day in Felton Town, although C. Rodney and Cape were not around!

Dover, Delaware shines at Burgess track meet

Dover's Odun Balogun, left, and Polytech's John Drummond eye the finish line en route to placing first and second, respectively, in the 110 high hurdles at Saturday's Burgess meet.

By Sonny Amato, Staff writer

FELTON - Onie Johnson honestly didn't know what to expect out of himself.

The sophomore from Sussex Tech High was hustling just to get back and forth from running his relays to the high jump pit.

That's why when he reached his personal-high of 6-feet, 2 inches, he got curious about what he could do.

"(Woodbridge's Ross Horsey) and I were going back and forth there," said Johnson. "I just told him that if he got 6-4, I'd stay right there with him."

He went even further, winning the event with a jump of 6-foot-6 inches - one inch short of the Keith S. Burgess Invitational record.

Johnson's first place in the high jump and help on the relays spurred the Ravens boys to an impressive second-place performance at Saturday's running of the 23rd annual Burgess at Lake Forest High School.

The Dover boys took first place with 106 points followed by Sussex Tech (85½), Salesianum (74) and Lake Forest (45).

On the girls' side, Padua (89) and Brandywine (80) took the top two spots, followed by four Henlopen Conference teams - Seaford (59), Polytech (56) and Lake Forest (52).

For the Sussex Tech boys, their second-place performance was a sign that their hard work is paying off.

"We have a bunch of guys that have played either basketball or football together and have dedicated themselves to competing," said Ravens coach Marty Cross. "They really push each other and get on each other when they aren't performing."

The Sussex Tech lineup includes seniors Jamal Timmons and Jamil Trott and juniors Brandon Mann, Kevin Maull and Marcus Morris.

Sussex Tech took first place in the 400, 800 and 1600-meter relays Saturday.

Johnson's surprising high jump win helped the Ravens hang close with a dominating Dover squad. The Senators earned points in 14 of 18 events.

"We're working on being a more well-rounded team," said Dover coach Jim Solomon. "In the past, we were getting all of our points from the sprints and Odun (Balogun's) hurdles."

Dover continued its sprinting dominance with wins from Jason Lilly (100 and 200 meters) and Balogun (110 high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles).

The Senators' Richard Worley also took first place in the 1,600-meters.

"I'm excited about the way we're heading," said Solomon, who is encouraged by a rise in participation. "Before we had about 15 apiece on the boys and girls teams. Now, we're up over 50."

On the girls' side, Sussex Tech's Tara Boemell took first place in both the high jump and the triple jump. Ravens' 800-meter runner Rebecca Singh also took first place.

Woodbridge got golds from Keyana Hill (400) and Connie Pleasanton (300 LH). Polytech's Paula Green won the long jump and Lake Forest's Sierra Harrett took the 100-meter high hurdles. The Senators girls also won the 1,600-meter relay.

Neither Cape Henlopen or Caesar Rodney participated in the meet. Cape's boys' squad and CR's girls both finished second in the team standings a year ago.