Brittany Hocker left Bridgeport High School as one of the area’s most decorated sprinters of all time.

She earned that tag seeing she won six state championships, including 100 and 200 meter sweeps during both her junior and senior seasons as a Lady Bulldog.

She’s quickly moving up the ladder of premier sprinters to compete at the University of Akron.

After missing all of last season with an injury, Hocker came back this winter for the Lady Zips’ indoor season raring to go and completely healthy.

Her work in the off-season and preparation through the indoor campaign has resulted in a brilliant outdoor season thus far.

Hocker’s season continued this weekend with a visit to the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Ia, but last weekend at the All-Ohio Championship at the University of Cincinnati, she showed the entire Buckeye State about her comeback.

Hocker claimed the 200 meter dash in a blistering time of 24.27. She was second in the 100 meter dash in 11.93.

She also ran a leg on a pair of relays, which scored key points to help the Lady Zips claim the team title. The Akron 4×100 team ran a 46.11 for the title. She also ran on the 4×400 team that posted a 3:57.03, which was good for a fourth-place showing.

Hocker’s excellence has been an on-going work this outdoor season. She owns the team’s best times in the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes. She ran a 11.91 at the University of Florida Relays in Gainesville earlier this month.

She posted a 24.01 at the 49er Classic at the University of Charlotte in late March. She also ran a 57.46, at the Northeast Ohio Quad.

Her 200 mark is inching her closer to a NCAA Regional spot next month. The qualifying time in the 200 is 23.96

Hocker wasn’t the only ex-OVAC competitor taking part in the All-Ohio meet last weekend.

Shadyside High School was represented by a pair of former standouts. DOM DAVOLIO — a 2005 Tiger graduate — finished eighth in the 110-meter high hurdles, competiting for the host Bearcats. He ran a personal best time of 15.06.

CARRIE BONAR — a junior at Ohio University — finished 17th in the field with a mark of 16-ft-1 3/4.

Beaver Local also had a pair of athletes shine for Akron. PAULA FERRY — an all-Ohioan in the hurdles — posted an eighth place finish in the 100 meter high hurdles with a time of 14.94. DAN KINSEY — who began his collegiate career as a football player at Indiana — finished third in the javelin with a toss of 196-feet.

Former Buckeye Trail standout BRITTANI BORRERO was second in the women’s discus toss with a twirl of 155-ft-9 as a member of the Kent State University track team.

BRING ON THE BUCKEYES

The Akron Zips Baseball team made the trip to Columbus last weekend to meet the Buckeyes in a twinbill, spliting the pair.

Former River High standout Ryne Romick was instrumental in the Zips’ win, pitching in relief. Romick worked four innings out of the bullpen, limiting the Buckeyes to just one run and only four hits the rest of the way.

For the season, Romick has made 12 appearances, but hasn’t figured in any decisions. He has picked up a save in 18 innings of work. He’s fanned 15 and opponents are hitting .286 against him.

The Zips wrap up a three-game series today at the University of Buffalo. They are off Monday before hosting up-Interstate rival Cleveland State Tuesday.

BOSTON MARATHON

Several area residents took part in the prestigious Boston Marathon early last week, completing the 26.2 mile jaunt around the Boston metro area.

Bellaire resident James Cochran finished the race in 3:45:54 and he ran the race at 8:37 mile pace, which earned him a 7,862nd place finish amongst male.

St. Clairsville resident Jim Corder — a 60-year old and third-time participant in Boston — finished the race in a time of 4:27:57, which was 545th in his division.

Wheeling residents Walter Seamon and Tom Rownd at ages 67 and 56, respectively completed the race in times of 3:25:48 and 3:36:34. Seamon was 21st in his division.

Cambridge resident Debbie Black ran the race at 9:46 pace, which was good for a total time of 4:15:56.

DRISCOLL RECOGNIZED

Former Bellaire High two-sport standout Nikki Driscoll is excelling in both softball and basketball at Marietta College. She’s currently being featured as a two-sport standout in the college’s Pioneer Club mailing It shows two pictures of her standing back-to-back in both of her uniforms. It also asks several interesting questions about her, including cell phone ring and what’s her favorite food. It’s part of a player profile, which is done in each edition.

ACES

P.J. THOMAS recently recorded a hole-in-one at the Fairway River Links Golf Course on Saturday, April 19. He aced the No. 11, 165-yard par three. He used a 9-iron for his feat, which was witnessed by Maurice Antil.

CHARLIE MOORE recently recorded a hole-in-one on Monday, April 21 on the eighth hole at Fairway River Links Gold Course in Rayland. He used a 5-iron on the 125-yard par three. The shot was witnessed by Norman Paulhus.

WHITNEY YOUNG of Wilkinsburg, Pa. recently aces the Par 3, seventh hole at Crispin Golf Center at Oglebay Park. She used a six-iron on April 22 to complete her feat, which was witnessed by Wilbet Young.

PLUMBY HONORED

Former Linsly School standout Mark Plumby was inducted to the 2008 Hampshire Honor Society by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The team is made up of graduating seniors were starters or key reserves and maintained a cumulative grade-point of at least 3.20. Plumby owns a 3.48 cum. GPA as an economics major. He’s been named Patriot League Honor Roll twice and was the only junior to receive the honor in 2006. After graduation, Plumby is planning on attending optometry school.

Mark was a football and track standout at Linsly School during his prep days. His father Dave was the long-time head track coach for the Cadets.

BLATNIK RECOVERING

Long-time St. Clairsville girls’ basketball coach Mickey Blatnik is recovering well from knee replacement surgery. Blatnik — who has recorded more than 300 victories in his career — underwent the operation last Monday at East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry. Blatnik will be undergoing physical therapy from Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Services at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus. We in The Times Leader sports department wish Coach Blatnik a speedy recovery, so he’s back on the sidelines as soon as possible.

OUE HOOPS INK ANOTHER

JOHN MARSHALL product Chanice Hill has decided to continue her academic and athletic careers at Ohio University-Eastern where she’ll be a member of the Lady Panthers’ basketball team. She was a three-year mainstay for the Lady Monarchs and is a member of the school’s National Honor Society.

Staskey can be reached at sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com‘>sstaskey@timesleaderonline.com