Clarion Comets Open Indoor Track Season At SPIRE Institute

All photos by Matt Lerch – (Above) Coach Tammy Lerch with several of her Clarion Comets at SPIRE

(By Matt Lerch)

The Clarion Comets Indoor Track and Field Team, coached by Tammy Lerch, started their indoor season at SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio on Saturday December 14th. SPIRE is the largest indoor facility on the eastern seaboard with over 850,000 square feet under roof and is also an Olympic Development facility. Created in 2018 by Tammy Lerch, The Clarion Comets team has been an avenue for elite local track and field athletes to take advantage of a head-start before their high school season begins in the spring.

The competitions see local athletes compete against some of the best in the United States as well as international competitors. Quincy Wilson of Bullis High School in Maryland competed against the Comets in Youngstown last season and later ran for the USA in the 4X400 men’s race at the Paris Olympics.

This winter the Comets have representation from Clarion Area, Clarion-Limestone, Redbank Valley, Cranberry and North Clarion. More local schools will be represented in January as the season picks up pace with meets scheduled at Youngstown University and SPIRE again.

The 16 athletes competing on Saturday were Avery Ortz, Ben Lambert, Livia McGinley, Megan Powell, Isaac Lerch, Benjamin Aaron, Eliza Datko, Bryn Anderson, Jonas Wilshire, Josh Turner, Chris Kim, Blace Easlon, Wyatt Boyden, Hayden Weber, Drake Edmonds and Garret Dick.

Top 10 finishers representing the Clarion Comets starts with Eliza Datko with a 3rd place finish in the 1600m and 5th place in the 800m. Wyatt Boyden placed finishing in 8th place in the 400m. Isaac Lerch finished 8th in the Long Jump and Megan Powell finished 9th in the triple jump.

(Have a great indoor season, Clarion Comets!!!! Thanks to Matt Lerch for this article and photos!!)