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Cleve Hill's Eldridge is a champion of two events at state competition
By Steven Dlugosz Times
 | | MEDAL WINNER...Cleveland Hill senior Ray Peoples proudly wears the third- and sixth-place medals he won at last weekend's state track and field championships. (Times photo) |
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If Cleveland Hill High School's Taylor Eldridge keeps performing this well in track and field events, officials from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association might as well make annual reservations for the freshman at the state championships.
Eldridge was crowned champion in two events in Division II- shot put and discus- at the state track and field championships last weekend at Dietz Stadium in Kingston, New York.
On Friday, Eldridge threw a winning distance of 39 feet, 1/4 of an inch in the shot put. Later that afternoon, she hurled a 137'7" in the discus.
"It was the perfect ending to an outstanding season," Cleve Hill girls track and field coach Ken McKracken said of Eldridge's win.
Eldridge also qualified for states in shot put in 2006.
One year after he helped lead the Eagles' 4x100-meter relay team to a state championship victory, senior Ray Peoples returned to states and earned a third-place finish in Division II's 100-meter dash with a time of 10.95 seconds. Peoples also placed sixth in the 200-meter run at 22.71 seconds.
The senior, who was making his third overall appearance at states, missed second place in the 100- meter run by 1/1000 of a second. However, Peoples said he was satisfied with what he's accomplished in his career..
"Winning at states last season and going back this year was pretty good," said Peoples, who is considering running track in the fall at the University at Buffalo, Buffalo State College or Morgan State University. "I don't have many regrets."
Eagles head coach Tony Percival agreed, stating, "We've had some great sprinters here, and (Peoples) will be remembered as one of the best. It's sad to see him go."
John F. Kennedy senior Corey Knox, another returner to states from 2006, finished considerably higher in the discus event- fifth among New York State participants- than he did a year ago.
Knox threw a total distance of 156'3", the second-best performance of his high school career. He placed 10th overall among state public, Catholic, PSAL and Independent school participants.
"It was redemption indeed," JFK head coach Pete Szymanski said of Knox's improvement at states from a year ago. "We were talking about medaling all week and that's exactly what Corey did. It's a nice way to end his senior season and high school track and field career."
Szymanski added that Knox is considering attending several colleges for college track, including Penn State University, Syracuse, the University of North Carolina at Willington and the University at Buffalo.
Another local at states, junior Kristen Angierski of Depew, finished 11th overall in the triple jump.
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