Potomac leads entering Day 2 of Cardinal track

By Robert Daski

Published: May 14, 2008

Yvonne Amegashie sprung from her starting block, hoping to chase down the two competitors ahead of her in the 400-meter dash.

She was not trying to waste her energy in the first 200 meters. The Potomac junior still had to save some for the final 200.

“My coaches tell me to start out strong and give it whatever I have at the end,” Amegashie said. “That’s what I try to do.”

Amegashie caught the other runners on the backstretch. She continued to accelerate and opened a wide lead.

By the time she crossed the finish line, she won by more than one second over Gar-Field’s Aubree Washing-ton.

It was one of three wins Amegashie recorded on day one of the Cardinal District outdoor track and field meet.

Add those with Potomac’s 400-relay win, Kayla Williams winning the 300-meter hurdles and two top three finishes from freshman Debra Baner, and Potomac leads the girls’ competition.

“I was motivated,” Amegashie said.

Now come the field events.

The Panthers hold a 106-91 edge over Gar-Field and both teams have athletes to score big on day two. Gar-Field has Noelia Ramirez in the shot put and discus and Celina Vanegas in the pole vault and triple jump. Potomac counters with Pearl Bickersteth, who is likely to win the high jump.

But Potomac cannot just rely on Bickersteth if it wants to win a team title. 

“All-around, we’re going to have to have good performances,” Amegashie said. “We can’t just count on Pearl. We do have other talented field event athletes, so we’ll see how we do.”

The Indians remain optimistic about their chances.

“Since it’s only field events, if our long jumper and triple jumper do well, we have a chance,” Gar-Field dis-tance runner Lindsi Arrington said.

Arrington gave Gar-Field a boost by winning the 1600 (5:16.66) and 3200 (11:35.95).

But Baner challenged her during the 3200. Both traded the lead and ran closely together through most of the race before Arrington pulled away on the final lap.

“I wanted to stay behind her until the last 400 and then if we were going to sprint, sprint one lap instead of two,” Arrington said.

Arrington’s teammates Monique Scott and Francesca McClaude won the 800-meter run and 100-meter hur-dles, respectively.

Eric Gyamfi did his part to help Potomac lead the boys’ competition by nine over Woodbridge. Gyamfi won the 400-meter dash (50.40) and led the Panthers to victory in the 1600-meter relay (3:24.88).

He was so overjoyed after winning the relay that he ran past the finish line and into the arms of Wesley Jones, who embraced him.

Potomac’s Brice Mathews won the 200 (22.39) and took third in the 400 (51.03).

“We have a really good shot at winning this,” Gyamfi said.

CARDINAL DISTRICT MEET
WINNERS
GIRLS
3200-relay: 1. Forest Park 9:46.80.
100-meter hurdles: 1. Francesca McClaude (Gar-Field) 15.96.
100-meter dash: 1. Yvonne Amegashie (Potomac) 12.35.
1600-meter run: 1. Lindsi Arrington (Gar-Field) 5:16.66.
400-relay: 1. Potomac 51.11.
400-meter dash: 1. Yvonne Amegashie (Potomac) 58.00.
300-meter hurdles: 1. Kayla Williams (Potomac) 47.31.
800-meter run: 1. Monique Scott (Gar-Field) 2:26.11.
200-meter dash: 1. Yvonne Amegashie (Potomac) 24.94.
3200-meter run: 1. Lindsi Arrington (Gar-Field) 11:35.95.
1600-relay: 1. Freedom 4:06.73.
BOYS
3200-relay: 1. Gar-Field 8:11.20.
110-meter hurdles: 1. Clinton Burrell (Gar-Field) 14.89.
100-meter dash: 1. Dayne Mullins (Hylton) 11.19.
1600-meter run: 1. Noah Hagos (Hylton) 4:25.00.
400-relay: 1. Potomac 43.93.
400-meter dash: 1. Eric Gyamfi (Potomac) 50.40.
300-meter hurdles: 1. Andre Washington (Woodbridge) 39.34.
800-meter run: 1. Andrew McGreal (Woodbridge) 1:59.93.
200-meter dash: 1. Brice Mathews (Potomac) 22.39.
3200-meter run: 1. Cameron Shaver (Forest Park) 9:56.12.
1600-relay: 1. Potomac 3:24.88.