FHS school record now gone with the wind

MOUNT PLEASANT ? While wind dictated many of the results at Thursday?s Mount Pleasant Relays, a number of personal records were set by members of the Fairfield track and field team ? none bigger than Michael Smithburg?s 166-foot, nine-inch launch of the discus.

The throw is also a Fairfield school record as the junior shattered a 32-year old mark set by Steve McWhirter in 1978 (165? 2?) by more than a foot-and-a-half.

?It?s definitely something he?s been shooting for and Michael feels pretty good about it,? said Trojan head coach Brian Dunlap. ?He?s a pretty special discus thrower.?

Heading into the wind, which isn?t necessarily a bad thing for discus if it?s hit right, the big throw was just one of an impressive series for Smithburg as he eclipsed the 150-foot mark on just about every attempt. Smithburg also finished fourth in the shot put with a toss of 42-feet, three-inches.

Grant Curran also posted a personal record time of 15.30 in the 110-meter high hurdles to cap a good night for the junior.

?He was running against some tough hurdlers, but that?s a good time and it?s going to be competitive just about everywhere,? Dunlap said.

Curran finished in third place in the event, ran an impressive leg in the shuttle-hurdle relay, which ended up being disqualified, and also took fourth place in the 400-hurdles (1:00.94).

Freshman Daniel Schwarz continued the good start to his season and career with a personal best high jump of five-feet, 10-inches that placed him third.

But in an event that didn?t feature team scoring, blustery conditions took its toll on the rest of the Fairfield team on the track.

?In these meets, it?s mainly about performance and you hope to post a good mark, which was a little tough for anybody circling the track,? said Dunlap. ?But we did what we?re trying to do ? improve.?

The biggest sign of that improvement was found in the Trojans? sprint relay teams that posted their best times in 2010. The 4x200 team of Alex Rebling, Zach Vivier, Michael Hammes and Lani Eversage finished third in 1:35.82 and the 4x100 team that had Max Johnson fill in the second leg took fifth in 45.78.

Fairfield will be on the track again Tuesday for the Dennis Anderson Relays at Davis County.