The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 36

D4 January 26, 1998 EMO SPORTS The Cincinnati Enquirer ocal Scene GOLF SOFTBALL ARMCO ENTRIES: Armco Park Softball Complex in Lebanon is accepting entries for 1998 leagues for both men and women. Play begins April 20. Call 513-727-3989 for details. YOUTH BASEBALL TEAM TRYOUTS: The Midland AABC 10-year-old team is holding tryouts Sunday, Feb. 1.

For try-out site or more information, call Bill Scott, 528-1868. INDOOR OUTING: The Golf Association of Business and Professional Women will have an indoor golf outing on Feb. 22 from 1-4 p.m. Non-members should call 683-1333 for information. A weekly look at a variety of local athletes, sporting events and media in the Tristate jin JlHEib ast Lane PREPS WATCH TheL JOHN FAY RUNNING A preview of the week 's top Keeler has moved to the top of her sport in four years SPORTS ON TV RADIO NBC's final Super Bowl a good show I "111 NBC went out with style.

The Bowl broadcast the network's last NFL game for at least eight years was just what you would ex pect: Great pictures, sharp graphics, it fine commentary. When a network puts this much preparation time into a broadcast it rarely misses a thing. And having a BY JOHN FAY The Cincinnati Enquirer It wasn't perfect, but it was close. Kelly Keeler ran the Houston Marathon in two hours, 42 minutes and 43 seconds last Sunday. That was well below the 2:50 standard to qualify for U.S.

Women's Olympic Marathon Trials. "I wanted to break 2:40," she said. "But I'm happy I'm almost completely satisfied." Keeler is an amazing story. She is 36 years old, but she's only been running four years. She rapidly moved to the top of the local female running circuit, but in 1996 the closest she got to making the Trials was a 2:54.

A 12-minute improvement in the marathon, nearly 30 seconds a mile, is unheard of for elite runners. "It's staggering," said Peter Wayte, Keeler's training partner. "It's a reflection of the "I to beat 2:40. I'm I'm almost satisified. Kelly on great game really helps.

You get the feeling that there's a camera on every player for every play. No matter what happens, after thev come back from com- Dick Enberg mercial they show a new angle on a play. help," she said. They keep me focused." On weekends, shell run 20 miles one day and 10 the next, usually with Wayte. Wayte, a 56-year-old native of England, came to Cincinnati to take a job at General Electric nine years ago.

It was about that time he took up running. Wayte and Keeler were perfectly paired because they run about the same speed. Wayte ran a 2:47:17 at Houston, a personal best, to win the 5GM30 age group. "He's my main training buddy," Keeler said. "He's pretty amazing." Wayte doesn't know how long he'll be able to keep up with Keeler.

When that time comes, hell encourage her to find a faster partner. "It's important in running, or any sport, to run with runners above your ability," he said. That's how you improve." Keeler's breakthrough marathon came last June. She ran 2:42 at the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minn. But it did not come in the window of time allowed for qualifying.

Her times in the shorter races continued to drop. She won the local Triple Crown series this fall. Along the way, she blew away the course record by running 33:43 at the Thanksgiving Day Race. She knew she would qualify for the Trials, and she wanted to do it quickly to get it out of the way. Houston was the first chance.

The marathon was also the U.S. Women's Cham pionship. "When I saw a list of the (Shouldn't NBC's Olympic promos wanted But happy completely Keeler running the Houston Marathon in 2:42.43 have said: 10 years, five Olympics and zero NFL games?) The announcing team was solid. I'm no Dick Enberg fan. He's too sap py for me.

And what was he thinking when he wondered if the Packers would take the points off the board after Alfred Williams was called for offsides on a field goal? Not a lot teams would trade first-and-10 at the 15 for a field goal. But Enberg's words as the game closed contrasting John Elway's lowest moment and highest moment were perfect. Paul Maguire and Phil Simms have turned into a quite a team of an The Cincinnati EnquirerErnest Coleman Fairfield's Kelly Keeler, 36, took up running four years ago. Last weekend in Houston, she qualified for the Women's Olympic Marathon Trials in 2000. alysts.

Simms has a quarterback eye and can explain plays in layman's terms. On the Broncos' second touchdown, he used the telestrator to show Shannon Sharpe blocking down on the tackle fooled Green Bay's linebackers and led to Elway's touchdown run. Maguire is one of those guys who seems to know instantly what has happened on even the most confusing plays. He knew right away the pass interference flag on Denver near the goal line was going to be picked up. I especially liked the way NBC did events, compiled by Enquirer contributor Dave Schutte: BOYS BASKETBALL It's the "Game of the Year" in Cincinnati, The Tuesday game matches Moeller (13-1, 6-1 Greater Catholic League South), the No.

1 ranked team in The Enquirer's Division I poll, against Roger Bacon (13-1, 7-0 GCL North), the No. 1 team in the Division II-III-IV poll. The game is sold out, and only GCL VIP passes will be honored. A loss to McNicholas last Friday puts Moeller in a precarious position in the GCL South. Moeller is only two games ahead of St.

Xavier (3-3) while Roger Bacon (7-0) holds a one-game lead over Bad-in (6-1) in GCL North, If the Crusaders lose to Roger Bacon, they must defeat second place Badin on Friday at Badin (11-1, 6-1 GCL North) to retain sole possession of first place in the GCL South. Aiken, the No. 4 ranked Division I team, could take major steps to- ward regaining the No. 1 spot it held the presea- 1 son poll with two victories in the Ryle Classic, A victory on Friday over Fleming County, (15-5) in the first round would probably match the Falcons against Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of the Wilson, Va. Oak Hill (No.

7 nationally in USA Today poll), meets Ryle in the other Friday game. Although Woodward is out of the Queen City Conference Metro Confer- ence title chase (1-3 QCCM), the Bulldogs could play the role of the spoiler. The Bulldogs meet first place Withrow (4-0 QCCM) on Saturday at UCs Shoemaker The game was originally scheduled for Friday at Xavier University. Aiken is -two games behind Withrow at 2-2 in the league. GIRLS BASKETBALL Coming off a shocking loss to Sycamore (9-1 GMC) last Thursday, Princeton (9-1 GMC) faces a must-win game against Lakota West (7-3 GMC) on Tuesday at Lakota West.

The Vikings meet Lakota East on Saturday while Sycamore (9-1), co-leader in the GMC, has games against lesser opponents, Hamilton (7-7) on Tuesday and Fairfield (6-7) on Friday. Mercy is at a crossroads in the Girls Greater Cincinnati League Scarlet Division. Tied with Mount Notre Dame (6-1 GGCL), the Bobcats (6-1 GGCL) need a victory on Tuesday over Hamilton Badin (7-1), the GGCL Gray Division leader, to remain in a tie with MND. In another Tuesday game, Cincinnati Hills League front runner Taylor (12-0, 7-0 CHL) meets second place Wyoming (6-1 CHL). A Taylor victory would virtually wrap up the CHL title for the Yellowjackets.

A loss would move Wyoming into a first-place tie. WRESTLING The top dual meets are Thursday: Glen Este (No. 5) plays host to Elder (No. 6), and No. 2 Sycamore plays host to No.

8 Lakota West. TRISTATE TOP 10 Kentucky Enquirer reporter Neil Schmidt and Enquirer contributor Dave Schutte's Tristate Top 10: BOYS GIRLS 1. Roger Bacon 1. Mason 2. Withrow 2.

Oak Hills 3. Moeller 3. Boone County 4. Highlands 4. Badin 5.

Aiken 5. Mt. Notre Dame 6. Simon Kenton 6. Highlands 7.

Princeton 7. Mercy 8. Badin fl Prinretnn 8. Winton Woods 9. Harrison 10.

Hamilton 10. Taylor 1'. The date and the site for Trials has not been set It will likely be in February or March of 2000. That gives Keeler two more years more to improve. If she can continue to get better, she might have a shot at one of the three spots on the Olympic team.

One formula PRO HOCKEY Notes Ducks play against top defenseman BY DAVE HELLER Enquirer contributor It took Rod Langway 40 years, but he finally got to wear a Bruins jersey. The Boston native suited up Friday against the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. Although it was the Providence Bruins he was playing for and not the Boston Bruins, Langway was still wearing the familiar Bruins jersey the black 'P in the middle of yellow spokes on a white background. The effect was the same for Langway. "It felt great, to tell you the truth it did," said Langway, a 15-year NHL R.

Langway veteran who played for Montreal and Washington. Even though he was the oldest player on the ice (by 10 years), the 40-year-old who was the first American-born player to win the Norris Trophy (given to the best defenseman), he played his familiar simple style. This guy knows the game so well, he could play in a rocking chair," said Providence coach Tommy McVie, who called Langway one of the three best if not the best defensive defense-man to ever play hockey. "I was telling our defense-men, I hope they watch how he did body positioning, how he took guys around the walls, how he kept the game simple," Ducks head coach Moe Man-tha said. "If my six defensemen were smart they'd watch an old pro at hand.

But I don't not cut away after the Bronces hnal touchdown. I especially hated the Just Shoot Me promos just before the third-and-goal play in the first half. The pregame show moved well from opening segment to closing predictions. The opening was flashy in a hip, MTV way, but the best moment was the touching footage of Detroit's Reggie Brown. Cris Collinsworth's interview of Bill Romanowski was a highlight.

Collinsworth showed why CBS and Fox were so interested in signing )t -iini, -1 if-iniirtiii r.iiiiMmili effort she's put in. People look at her and John Sence (the top local male runner) and say it's natural ability. That's a lot of bull. They put in an enor mous amount of effort" Keeler, a book editor from Fairfield, began to get more serious about her training about a year and half ago. She trains twice a day usually four or five easy miles in the morning, then a long run in the afternoon.

She mixes in two track workouts a week, with the top local male runners like Wayte and Sence. "They've been a huge KELLIE TAYLOR SPORTS FOR WOMEN Cincinnati St. Lady Surge off to 15-1 start Gary McDaniel is a busy man. In addition to his job as a Cincinnati State admissions counselor and his role as a pastor on Sundays in Maysville, McDaniel coaches this year's most successful women's community college basketball team in Ohio. The Cincinnati State Lady Surge are 15-1 overall and 60 in Ohio Community College Athletic Conference under McDaniel.

The team is ranked 34th in the country by the National Junior College Athletic Association. And the Surge recently beat sixth-ranked Owens Community College, 76- 59. This is probably the best team Cincinnati State has ever had," said McDaniel, who has compiled an 84-30 record with the Surge. "I think we could be a major factor in the national tournament." Cincinnati State is led by sophomores Rae Keith (With-row; 19.1 ppg) and Lenora Combs (Newport; 22.2 ppg). Both are being recruited by Division I schools like Ken tucky, Clemson and Miami.

"What important is that we go to a quality school and get a good education," Keith said. 'But of course, we want to win." Keith, vocal and enthusiastic, is the team leader. "She's like an assistant coach on the floor," McDaniel said. "The chemistry is what is making us go." WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Florida State freshman Brooke Wyckoff (Lakota) has earned a starting role and is V'" jr -i field, I didn't expect to place very high," she said. "It was a great field." The conditions warm, windy, with 95 percent humidity made going out fast out of the question.

"I ran much more conservatively," she said. Still, she finished 10th. Monica Baugh, OSlFs assistant athletic trainer, expects McCabe to take a medical red- shirt TOP COACH: Jerry 5cheve recently became Wilmington College women's basketball wins leader. Now in his eighth year, Scheve has compiled a 119-73 record. The Lady Quakers are 13-3 this season.

CROSSTOWN CLASH: Cincinnati and Xavier fight for city's bragging rights in the Indies Crosstown Shootout 7 p.m. Wednesday at Xavier. The Bearcats took the title last year 83-58. Kellie Taylor covers women's sports for The Enquirer. To contact her call 768-8414.

based on her 10K projects a 2:34 marathon for her. "It's too soon to tell," she said. "If I can get my time down to low who knows? I think the women who qualify will break 2:30. "That's another big jump. But that's definitely what I'm aiming toward." know if our people are smart enough to watch that.

At least one Duck left impressed. 'You want to go out there and shake his hand but you can't because you're playing against him," Ducks center Bob Wren said. Langway isn't shooting for a return to the NHL, but he said hell play more this season and maybe even next season as well. "I wouldn't say it's a comeback," Langway said, "I'm just having fun. My job is to teach." MIGHTY DUCKS: Wren, the Ducks leading scorer and among the leaders in the AHL, on his not being named to the All-Star game: "That's not for me to decide.

They picked a hell of a team who am I to say I'm better than anybody else. Of course I would have liked to have been there but I wasn't the one picking." McVie coached Mantha in Winnipeg and played against his father in the minors. CYCLONES: The Florida spin on why Todd MacDonald was taken out of Cincinnati and moved to New Haven is that MacDonald is now the No. 3 goalie in the pK system and he needs more work. Panthers assistant general manager Chuck Fletcher said MacDonald has a better chance of unseating Mike Fountain for the No.

1 spot at New Haven than he would have of moving past Geoff Sarjeant with the Cyclones. "When he's No. 4 we can be more patient but I don't have that luxury anymore," Fletcher said. "I told (Cyclones coach) Ron (Smith) we wouldn't make this move in mid-season. Obviously I changed my mind.

I'm not happy about it shortchanging Ron mid-season. I'm sure I caught (the 'Clones) off guard." 0 him. Collinsworth, who ripped Romanowski for the spitting incident, didn't back away in the interview. "They (the producers) always see if they can get me punched in the mouth," Collinsworth said. "After it was over, I thanked him for not punching me in the mouth." Jim Gray's report on Elway's retirement or non-retirement was a little heavy handed.

Gray said "NBC has learned" and then basically said what the network had learned was that Elway may or may not return. But that's nitpicking. The buildup starts to wear on you after a while. Do you really need separate segments for the introductions, national anthem and coin toss? IT'S OFFICIAL: SportsChannel officially becomes Fox Sports Ohio today. SC merged with Fox in November, but the change was held The Cincinnati EnquirerSteven M.

Heippich Sophomore Rae Keith (Withrow grad) is averaging 19.1 points for Cincinnati State. up until all the paperwork was com averaging 10.6 ppg and 7.6 rpg. Wyckoff, a 6-foot-l guard, also recorded a school-record eight blocks against Southwest Missouri State on Dec. 21. She is just three blocks shy of the FSU-record 48 blocks in one season (Laine Las-seter in 1980-'81).

"It's come as a big surprise," Wyckoff said. "It's been nothing B. Wyckoff but fun and excitement" Ohio State freshman Megan McCabe (Wyoming) has been hampered by a herniated disk in her lower back and has yet to play for the I lip A ML. l. plete.

It has been Fox for quite some time, but without the name change. DICKIE V. WANNA-BE? Dick Vitale will be in town Thursday to do the Cincinnati-Louisville game for ESPN. Before the game, Vitale will be at Willie's in Covington to host the Miller Lite "Dickie V. Sound-Alike" contest.

It will be interesting to hear Vi-tale's take on the Bearcats. WHAT DO YOU REALLY THINK? UC radio analyst Chuck Machock is never shy about his opinions on referees, but he was particularly rough on the crew for the Marquette game. Two excerpts: "Talk about two officials who are choking." "These officials don't belong on the court." John Fay covers TVradio sports for The Enquirer..