Friday, June 01, 2001
State girls track preview
Zinn could win 3 events
By Dave Schutte
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Lindsay Zinn runs with teammates.
(Steven M. Herppich photo)
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A healthy and highly motivated Lakota East senior Lindsay Zinn is determined to go out a three-time winner.
The 2000 Division I state cross country champion, Zinn will compete for the 1,600- and 3,200-meter state championships Saturday in Dayton.
Zinn is one of 75 female athletes from 27 schools who qualified for the state track and field meet today and Saturday at Welcome Stadium.
Last year, Colerain's (Division I) 3,200 relay team and the 800 and 1,600 relay teams from Wyoming (Division II) were the Cincinnati area's only state champions.
However, Zinn also could lead Lakota East's 3,200 relay team that qualified third fastest in (9:25.42) to the championship. Cleveland Heights Beaumont qualified first in 9:16.91.
“Lindsay has a tremendous work ethic and pushes hard all the time,” Lakota East track coach Jason Lindsey said. “Look at what she's done at the regionals. She has won nine straight races, six track and three cross country.”
Zinn was the fastest qualifier in the 1,600 with a time 5:02.81 and second in the 3,200 (10:48.68) behind Celina's Chris Roth (10:48.64).
“I rate Lindsay the most accomplished and hardest worker I've coached,” Lindsey said. “She has to be one of the top all time runners in Southwestern Ohio.”
Carson Cheek, editor of Ohio Track and Field Magazine, predicts another lean year for Cincinnati-area athletes.
“Zinn has by far the best chance to win in both events,” Cheek said. “It's a tough double, but she should be able to pull it off.”
Cheek based his assessment on the times recorded in the four regional meets.
“There's no one in the (Division I) 100, 200 or 400 or the 800 and 1,600 relays,” Cheek said. “Lakota East qualified third in the 3,200 relay, but Beaumont is like a club team and they'll be hard to beat.”
Cheek also doesn't look for Cincinnati-area athletes to do well in the hurdles (100 and 300) and offers even less encouragement in the open 800 meters.
“The (Shanna) Dickenson girl from Aiken qualified second in the discus (135-5) behind (Beth) Mallory (151-7) from Ashland,” Cheek said. “If she hits one, she could win it.”
Desiree Jones from Wilmington was second qualifying in the high jump (5-4) and long jump (18-1) and Cheek thinks the senior is capable of winning both events.
In Division II, Indian Hill's Jacqui Copeland (long jump), Purcell Marian's Carlina Flowers (high jump), Courtney Engel from Reading (1,600) and Kendra Hornschemeier from McNicholas (300 hurdles) have outside shots to win.
Meridy Vollmer, a Cincinnati Country Day senior, qualified fifth best in the high jump (5-2), two inches lower than Sandy Meyer from Fort Loramie.
In the 100 meters, Lauren Kirk from Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy qualified sixth fastest in 12.66. Bridgeport freshman Brittany Hocker qualified fastest in 12.23.
Most of the Divisions I and II field events will be contested on Friday along with the running preliminaries. Some of the Division I and all of the Division III field events will be held Saturday.
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State girls track preview
