Newark track team off to Boston

The Newark Indoor Track Team recently was paid a great compliment, says Coach Joe Contario. The 4 x 400 m Relay team of Greg Switzer, Corey Stirpe, Dwayne Parker, and Brandon Schroeder has been invited to compete in the New Balance Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Arena in Boston. The meet will be held on February 7, and will later be televised on ESPN.

Lyons High and Cornell grad Mark Wetmore, of Global Athletics Inc., has been in charge of putting the meet together. When the meet sponsor, New Balance, decided it wanted a couple of high school events, Wetmore wanted Western New York represented. The Newark relay team's recent performances at Syracuse University and in New York City proved its readiness.

"Mark called me Saturday night to confirm. We're very excited about going," said Contario. "We'll be the only New York State team in the field."

The meet will feature most of the top U.S. performers in Track & Field. Olympic Champion Decathlete Dan O'Brien, World Champion sprinter Maurice Greene, and World 800 meter Bronze medalist Rich Keenah will headline the men's side of the competition. On the women's side, Regina Jacobs, American record-holder in the 5000 meters outdoors, will be trying to break the American and world records in the 3,000 meters. Also on hand will be Suzy Hamilton and Julie Henner, top US milers and members of the '96 Olympic team.

"Mark's company, Global Athletics, is one of the top agencies in track & field, representing athletes from all over the world," explained Contario. "We're lucky that he remembered his roots and gave us a chance."

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