Last modified: Thursday, April 19, 2007 12:14 AM EDT Mansfield's Powell Simpson is recovering from a knee injury suffered during the football season that caused him to miss the winter season. (Staff photo by Mark Stockwell) Mansfield boys' track team stepping up BY KEVIN R. LaBOUNTY / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF MANSFIELD - It's a sign of a good program that when some of your top athletes are sidelined with illness or injury, other youngsters are capable of stepping up to fill the void. That's been the case this spring for the Mansfield High School boys' outdoor track team. Following a very successful indoor campaign, the Hornets have had to battle both injuries and illness in the early stages of the outdoor season. Nevertheless, Mansfield has begun the Hockomock League dual-meet campaign by winning its first four meets with still several important events to come down the road. "We are fortunate at Mansfield to have outstanding athletes continually walk through the doors of the school and come out for track," said Hornet head coach Julie Collins. "And with the senior leadership we always have, the younger kids are groomed for success. We constantly tell the younger kids that when they are older they will be the studs. It is a process here and we emphasize the process. We are also fortunate that we have good, smart kids." Senior captain John Lutkevich had an outstanding indoor season, despite battling pneumonia for part of the campaign. He has had recurring viruses this spring, which has affected his breathing. But an improvement in the weather will hopefully help Lutkevich's health. When he returns, Lutkevich will be one of the key performers for Mansfield in the 800 meters, mile and 4x400 relay. Another standout that has been felled by illness this spring has been senior Peter Conti, who has been out of action with bronchitis. He has returned to training and is regaining his strength and making quick improvements. Like the winter, Conti is a key contributor in the spring, running the 100, 200 and 400 meters as well as the 110 and 300 hurdles and the 4x400 relay. Junior Powell Simpson is also returning to form after missing the entire indoor campaign with a right-knee injury suffered during football season. Unfortunately for Simpson and the Hornets, his injury is to his take-off leg on jumps. Simpson continues to improve, but is still only 75- to 80-percent healthy. His main events currently are the long jump and 200 meters, but he is also working on the high jump and may also run the 400 meters later in the year. One of the Hornets that have stepped up during the absences has been senior captain Joe Choiniere, who has followed up an excellent indoor campaign with an outstanding spring in the 100, 200 and 400 meters as well as the long jump. After not scoring a lot of points his first few years in the program, senior Mike Giordano has been an important point scorer this spring. He has scored points in every meet for the Hornets, contributing key performances in the 200, 400, long jump and 4x400 relay. Senior Brendan Barca has been his usual steady self for Mansfield. He has excelled in the 800 and mile this spring and has also contributed in the 400. Barca is also part of an excellent cast of runners in the 4x400 relay. A pleasant surprise for Collins this spring has been the unexpected participation of standout football player Corey Eason, who is out for the team for the first time before heading to Boston College in the fall on a football scholarship. The star tight end and defensive lineman on the Hornets last fall has been throwing the shot put and discus this spring, enjoying instant success in the discus. Junior Mike Bolea, who competes in the 800, mile and two mile, has been recovering from an illness. His absence has given an opportunity to shine to junior Peter Starke and sophomore Pat Grimes. Both youngsters are capable of running the 800, mile and two mile. Junior Andrew Erwin is another important contributor in the 800, mile and two mile for Mansfield. Much like every year, the Hornets will have very good 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams once everyone is healthy. Junior Andrew Hackett has made steady improvement this spring, running the 100 meters as well as the 4x100 relay. Nate Maxwell, also a junior, has excelled in the 100 meters and 4x100 relay as well. Mansfield is loaded in the throwing events this season. Sophomore Dan Glavin is already having an excellent year in the shot put and discus. Senior captain Greg Martell, a track and football standout, has been a mainstay in both the shot put and discus. The best event for junior Mike McPherson is the shot put, but he also competes in the discus and javelin. And the addition of Eason only makes the throwing events stronger for the team. Senior captain Steve Kourtelidis excels in several events, including the 100, 200 and javelin. He is also the anchor leg of the 4x100 relay team. Junior Dan Romanko is the team's top competitor in the javelin. A trio of sophomores also looking to make their marks are Kevin Meagher, Tom Colleran and J.D. Chalifoux. Meagher runs the mile and two mile, while Colleran competes in the high jump. Chalifoux has been battling an illness, but hopes to return and contribute in the sprint events. Of course, Mansfield has two outstanding athletes in senior captain Ryan Collins and junior Matt Callanan. Collins is one of the top runners in the state in both the mile and two mile. Callanan is a point-scoring machine, racking up between 15 and 20 points a meet in a number of events, including the 100 and 200 meters, 110 and 300 hurdles as well as the triple jump, high jump and long jump. All the youngsters have helped the Hornets to a perfect 4-0 dual-meet record with the victories coming against Foxboro, King Philip, Stoughton and Canton. With the Hockomock League Relays being cancelled on Wednesday, the team will not be in action again until the MSTCA State Division 2 Relays on Saturday, April 28. Mansfield will not have another dual meet until Tuesday May 1 when the Hornets face North Attleboro. The Hornets will then have to battle Franklin two days later. "We will have our hands in Division 2 this year, but we are hoping to defend our Division 2 state title this year," said Collins. The Hornets will have to battle the likes of Dartmouth, Woburn, Central Catholic, Reading, Whitman-Hanson and North Attleboro in Division 2 and Lexington, St. John's of Shrewsbury and Newton North at the state level. "We have the potential to have a very good team this year." While the recently inclement weather could adversely affect the athletes, Collins hopes it turns into a positive down the road. "Overall the guys have handled all the bad weather well," she points out. "Hopefully it will build their character and mental toughness. For the sprinters especially, it is helping them build a base. That will serve them at the end of the season. This will all hopefully be a blessing in the end."