Talented Planets girls get revenge vs. Foxes

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

April 07, 2010 Last Updated: April 07, 2010 02:44 PM High School

Colleen Resutko of Mars competes in the 100-meter hurdles during Tuesday's meet with Fox Chapel. The Planets girls beat the Foxes 94-56.

ADAMS TWP — What a difference a year and an infusion of young talent can make.

The Mars girls track and field team won 10 events against Fox Chapel en route to a 94-56 victory Tuesday.

The Planets boys squad fell to the Foxes 109-41.

"We're a young team. We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores," said Mars girls coach Deb Knox. "Last year, we got challenged and Fox Chapel crushed us."

Sophomores Kristen Check and Mani Brueckner helped key the victory as Check pulled off wins in the 100-meter dash (13.16 seconds), the 200 (27.62) and was a member of the winning 400 relay.

Brueckner won the 300 hurdles (53.09) and anchored the winning 1,600 relay (4:43.58).

But freshmen turned in several key performances as well, giving the Planets (2-0) a wealth of promising young athletes.

Erica Hans won the 400 (1:00.77), was second in the 100 and 200, and was a member of that winning 400 relay team.

"Kristen has really been helping Erica," said Knox. "All the sprinters have been helping Erica. They're all hard workers."

Ashley Krause won the long and triple jumps (16-8 and 32-0, respectively) and was on the winning 400 relay team.

Annie Horvat won the 100 hurdles (18.51) while Corinne Williams took the pole vault (7-6) and javelin (84-0) to round out the individual winners.

"We got some points in the throwing events (from Leah Eidenshink and Emily Thomas), and I love it," Knox noted

"Our freshmen are still learning. There are some things where we still made mistakes, but it worked out today," she added.

In the boys meet, Marc Funderlich won the 400 (51.3) and anchored the winning 3,200 relay with teammates Scott Slaney, Ryan Winner and Jake McMahan.

He also placed second in the 800.

"Marc is going to be a strong competitor throughout the year and into the state competition," said Mars first-year coach Eric Harsh.

The Planets (1-1) won three other events — all in the field. Mike Marchese won the triple jump (37-6), Shane Cress the discus (112-8) and Nathan Bean the javelin (143-8).

"It's a situation where you come in, obviously, to win, but you need just a couple of breaks and it didn't happen," Harsh said.

Brody Evanson also had a strong meet, placing second in the shot put and third in the discus.

"Even though he didn't win, Brody did pretty good," said Harsh. "He also anchored our 4x100 relay. You don't see too many 285-pound athletes doing that."

Like the girls team, the boys are a young squad looking to improve as the season rolls on.

"I've seen some surprises," Harsh said. "Some kids have shown a lot of potential."

That seems apparent with the girls team. Knox said she's is eager to see how much better this team can get.

"I have high expectations," said Knox.

BoysFox Chapel 109, Mars 41Track Events

3,200-meter relay: Mars (Scott Slaney, Ryan Winner, Jake McMahan, Marc Funderlich) 8:47.0;

110 hurdles: Mukherje (FC) 17.26;

100 dash: S. Mawhinney (FC) 11.73;

1,600 run: C. Weis (FC) 4:45.0;

400 dash: Marc Funderlich (M) 51.3;

400 relay: Fox Chapel 45.29;

300-meter hurdles: Mukherje (FC) 46.28;