Big expectations for Athens graduate for Mansfield track and field

BY BRIAN FEES (Sports Editor)

Published: September 2, 2010

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With the cross country season just about to get underway at Mansfield University it's a little early for Mansfield coach Mike Rohl to begin looking ahead to the track and field season, but the coach can't help but be a little excited about his incoming freshmen class.

Already he is seeing some talented freshman runners with the wins of Jess and Kristy Scordino and Wes Winters who will help in cross country, as well as track and field, but it's a group of athletes from the NTL who might have the coach the most excited.

Last year Clay McCarty not only broke school records at Athens, but he proved himself to be one of the best discus and shot throwers in the state as a high school senior.

This season McCarty will have some big shoes to fill as he joins a Mansfield University team as the man who will try and replace multiple-time national qualifier Mike Gray.

"Clay McCarty is a person I am real excited about," Rohl said. "He won't replace Mike Gray right away, but I think he'll score at PSAC's right away.

"When I watched Clay there were a lot of things I felt like he could improve on. I'm very excited to see what he might be able to achieve. Clay is a very different type of athlete than Mike Gray. Mike was a great discus thrower and he learned to be great at the other throws. Clay is great at throwing the shot, and he needs to improve some with the other throws."

McCarty isn't the only NTL athlete who will compete at Mansfield next season.

"Colleen Dempsey (North Penn track and field) is playing soccer and she will also join us in track," Rohl said. "Brett Wood (North Penn track and field) made states in the 300 hurdles.

"I've been here long enough that it is fun when we have athletes who are coming out of the Mansfield area. I have known Colleen since she was a little girl and I have known Brett since he was about 9 or 10 years old. We have Olivia Shedden on the team and I have known her since she was little.

"It's great to get a chance to coach some of these athletes that I have known since they were little."

Another NTL athlete who will join Mansfield this year is Towanda graduate Akeem Calaman.

"He runs a really good relay leg," Rohl said.

Rohl also has some good athletes from outside the area coming in, such as Kasia Taylor who will really help the team in the 400 meters.

Mansfield's coach hopes that the team's success is helping to get athletes such as McCarty and Calaman to stay close to home.

"I think what's happening is local athletes are beginning to realize we have a good program here," he said. "I think for some kids they don't even know about what we are doing here. They don't realize the success we have. I hope that there is an appeal for athletes to see how much we have been able to help some kids improve from high school to college and they want to be a part of that."

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