Thursday, August 8, 2002
Geertgens wins 3 gold, Rowland silver at ESG
By ERIC AHLQVIST
Editor
SYRACUSE—Several area athletes competed in the Empire State Games in Syracuse last week, including Amie Rowland, who helped the Central New York scholastic division gymnastics team to a silver medal, and retired Cooperstown elementary school principal Doug Geertgens, who won three gold medals in masters track and field.
Rowland took first place in the bars during team competition, which qualified her for the individual event finals on bars on Saturday at Manley Field house in Syracuse.
Rowland was second overall heading to Saturday's competition, but fell during her routine and wound up seventh.
"This was my first Empire State Games and it was a great experience," said Rowland, who will be a senior at Cooperstown High School in the fall. "If I hadn't fallen in the individual competition I would have gotten a medal, but I have a team silver medal which is great."
Geertgens, 59, competing in the 55-59 age bracket, took first in the long, triple and high jump competition, and also took fourth in the 100 meter and sixth in the 200 meter run.
"All things considered, I was very pleased with my performance," Geertgens said. "I had a sore back but usually athletes will tell you it only hurts before and after, not during competition, and that was the case with me. It was very warm, around 100 degrees, and that helped keep me loose."
Geertgens winning long jump was 4.83 meters (12.6 feet); his winning triple jump 9.83 meters (32.25 feet) and his high jump was 1.35 meters (4.3 feet). Geertgens had a time of 13.3 in the 100 meters, and 28 seconds flat in the 200, his best 200 run ever.
"My 100 was improved over last year too, and part of the game of track is competing against yourself," Geertgens said.
Despite performing well, and competing in 100 degree temperatures, Geertgens said he trains very little for competitions.
"I don't advocate that philosophy, but it works for me," Geertgens said. "I went to the high school track on Tuesday to practice some jumps, and that's how I hurt my back and I was sore from practicing jumps. I stay in shape and run, but I don't practice much at all."
Cherry Valley's Evan Lane, who transferred to Sharon Springs after the school year ended, played on the Central men's basketball team, seeing limited action, including two points and four rebounds in four minutes of action in a 73-71 overtime loss to Adirondack last Thursday. The loss knocked them out of medal contention.
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