Boys track: Pulkownik pleased with way the Lancers have stepped it up

Brookfield Central track and field coach Mark Pulkownik was happy with his star athletes' regular performances at Monday's WIAA Regional meet at Brookfield East but he was thrilled with the results from some athletes who have stepped up their game down the stretch.

"I am pleased how our athletes faired in our regionals," Pulkownik said. "Besides the athletes who have been performing well all season long there are a few others who have stepped it up. Donell Ward in the high jump and Vantwan Melton in the triple jump, for example. I hope all these athletes can continue to perform at a high level.

" Carl Hirsch ran some excellent races - the 800 relay, 3,200 relay, 1,600, 3,200 to qualify for the sectionals. I'm excited for these athletes and we'll see what we can do on Thursday (May 24)."

The Lancers (111) finished third behind Brookfield East (137) and Kettle Moraine (133), the only schools over 100 points.

Leading the way was the amazing Hirsch, who won the 1,600 in 4 minutes, 29.65 seconds and took second in the 3,200 (9:34.69) in his individual events.

Senior Amir Alwan - a real find for Pulkownik this year - finished second in the 800 (1:58.60) and junior Elliot Yanasak took second in the pole vault (13-0). The 3,200 relay of junior Andrew Dusing, senior Nick Petersson, Alwan and Hirsch also took second (8:04.80).

The Lancers had five individual and one relay finish third.

Ward in the high jump (6 feet, 2 inches), junior Chikwe Obasih in the shot put (49-5¾), senior Wes Vann in the 1600 (4:29.93), Melton in the triple jump (40-9) and Petersson in the 3200 (9:43.90) all placed third.

The 400 relay of junior Brandon Meyer, junior Jason Toney, Melton and sophomore Andrew Brath also took third (44.97).

The 800 relay of juniors Dan Seaman, Toney, Melton and Brath placed fourth (1:36.40)

Sophomore Jordan McMorris, Meyer, junior Phillip Griffen and Alwan took fourth in the 1600 relay (3:30.28) and were the final qualifiers.

Waukesha South (78), New Berlin West (75), Waukesha North (73), Waukesha West (55) and New Berlin Eisenhower (36) rounded out the regional scoring.

Although these athletes didn't move on their finishes helped the Lancers finish third.

Meyer fifth in 400 (52.76) and Dusing fifth in the 800 (2:00.27). Taking sixth were Gabe Poser in the 1,600 (4:35.68), Chris Dubois in the pole vault (12-0) and Marcus Crum in the 100 (11.75).

Griffen in the 400 (54.42) and Brath in the 100 (11.75) were seventh and Melton in the 200 (24.64) and Ryan Johnson in the shot put (44-¼) were eighth.

Central will take part in the Waukesha North Sectional on Thursday.

Record-breaker

Lost in the rain and the lightning last week was the fact that Hirsch broke Brookfield Central's all-time school record and set the conference record in the 1,600 with a time of 4 minutes, 11.88 seconds at the Greater Metro Conference Championships on May 15.

Sussex Hamilton's Marcus Paulson had the previous conference mark of 4:12. 93 set in 2010.