Published: May
09, 2007 12:40 am
HS TRACK: GI runner is on
the right track
By Nate Beutel
Greater Niagara Newspapers
GRAND ISLAND — Evan Tsembelis showed up
late to track practice Monday afternoon. N t because
he was fooling around or just running late, but
rather because he was completing an Advanced
Placement exam.
Normally, you find that Tsemeblis is one of the
first out on the oval and eager to get his workout
in, so he’s in the advanced placement group of
runners, as well.
“Evan has a tremendous work ethic and he’s a
competitor, so he’s always working hard,”
veteran Grand Island track coach Don Sauer said.
Tsembelis, only a sophomore, is also relatively new
to the sport as he only started running
competitively in eighth grade after transferring to
GI from The Park School. But training with teammate
and league all-star Tim Fargino, a senior, has
helped Tsembelis progress at a steady pace.
“Tim’s been a great captain (in track and cross
country),” Tsembelis said. “When we go on long
runs, we always talk about different meets, events,
pace, injuries. He’s really helped me a lot.”
Sauer agreed.
“Evan’s become a student of the sport and
Tim’s been a good mentor to him,” the coach
said. “And that’s what keeps programs going.”
Tsembelis, who competes regularly in the 1,600 and
3,200 meters along with the 1,600 and 3,200 relays
has positioned himself as the next top runner within
the program, according to Sauer.
“He’s going to keep improving, he has the right
attitude and his times are dropping,” the coach
noted. “We feel as though he could become one of
our better runners (in program history).”
Tsembelis, who won the mile race at the Batavia
Invitational last weekend, knows it’ll be
difficult to place higher than third at the Niagara
Frontier League meet with Niagara-Wheatfield’s
Aaron Foote and Lockport’s John Haenle — both of
whom are state contenders — in the field, but
he’d still like to qualify for sectionals, keep
improving his times and perhaps even catch a break.
“I’m working hard to get my times down and I’d
like to see some progress on that,” he said.
“I’m more mentally focused than ever and things
change all the time, so you never know what might
happen and who might run what event.”
Sauer said no matter what, he’s certain his
budding star won’t back down from the challenge
set in front of him.
“I’ll put him in with the best because he’s
not afraid of the competition,” the coach said.
“And that’s how you get better — by running
with the best.”
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