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Leachman runs into record books Reinstated Elsie Allen sprinter sets 100-, 200-meter marks May 14, 2004 By DEWEY FORGET, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT A tumultuous year for Whitney Leachman, Elsie Allen's star sprinter and one of the Lobos' top athletes, got a whole lot better Friday. Leachman set records in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints in the North Bay League championship meet at Elsie Allen. A season-long dispute between Leachman and her coach, Darryl Beardall, ended with Beardall being fired earlier this week. The school immediately reinstated Leachman, who had been suspended from the team, and she returned to compete in the NBL trials on Wednesday. "This (track) is my energy. All the negative things around me, I don't need," said Leachman, who has been working out on her own for most of the season. "I know what I have to do and I'm going to go out and do it. I also know a lot of people are hoping I don't succeed. That just makes me work harder." In the 100-meter sprint, Leachman's 12.19 second timing eclipsed Ukiah's Heather Rice's record of 12.39 set in 2001. Caroline Templeton (Santa Rosa) finished second and Santa Rosa's Kristin Jellison third. In the 200-meter event Leachman eclipsed the old mark of 25.56 set in 1997 by Santa Rosa's Melissa Guanella with an Empire and personal-best of 25.36. Jellison was second and Alexica Bosque (Montgomery) third. Leachman said she could have ran the 200-meter even faster but was compromised by a head wind the first 100-meters and her big early lead. "I would've pushed myself a little harder if it was a closer race," she said. Santa Rosa, the defending champs, took the boys team title with 148 points, followed by Montgomery (117), Maria Carrillo (82), Cardinal Newman (66) and Piner (41). The girls team title went to Maria Carrillo with 164 points. Santa Rosa (124), followed by Montgomery (76), Ukiah (56) and Ursuline (27). The top five finishers in both individual and team events advance to the North Coast Section Redwood Empire meet next Saturday at Elsie Allen. As expected, J.K. Withers, the Empire's best middle-distance runner, took the boys 800 and 1600 meters, which turned into a tactical race. For the first 400 meters, Piner's Dawit Tesfasilassie, Withers and Montgomery's KC Cody were running 1, 2, 3, respectively. They remained in that order through 1200 meters, then with 200 meters left Withers went to his patented strong finishing kick to pull away and win in 4:19.02. Withers' personal-best is 4:10.17, the second fastest 1600 in the state this season. Tesfasilassie finished second and Cody third. "It was really windy today. There was no need to take the lead right away." Withers said. "I just kept focused, pulled up to his (Tesfasilassie) shoulder on the third lap and then let the last lap take car of itself." Tesfasilassie, a natural runner who seems to get better the longer the distance, captured the 3200. Eddy McFarlin (Santa Rosa) was second and Michael Brew (Maria Carrillo) third. The girls 3200-meters, the NBL glamour event the past decade with the likes of Julia Stamps and Sara Bei breaking records, was captured by Rancho Cotate's Phyllis Blanchard in 10:57.32. Kristin Sanzari defeated Shelby Leland (Ukiah) and Kristin Fladseth (Maria Carrillo) in the 800-meters. Montgomery's Kim Conley ran 5:05.28 to beat Amy Robinson ( Maria Carrillo) and Ukiah's Shelby Leland. Blanchard was fourth at 1600 meters. Ukiah's Mary Shibata was a double winner, taking the 100 and 300-meter hurdles.
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