BY JEFF FALK

LEBANON – The Cedar Crest boys’ win the team title so regularly that you can set your clock by it.

But for Jeronimo Rodriguez, you’re going to need a stop watch – and a quick trigger finger.

It was all about time at  Saturday’s annual running of the Lebanon County Track and Field Championships at Lebanon High School. Old times. Fast times. Good times.

Rodriguez, Lebanon’s junior sprinter, was named the meet’s outstanding  male athlete a year after just missing out on the award. Rodriguez captured two sprinting championships, and just as importantly clocked two personal bests.

By winning their 17th straight Lebanon County title, the Falcon boys had on-lookers wondering what it would take for any team to break their hold on the crown. Cedar Crest amassed a whopping 217 team points, more than doubling runner-up Northern Lebanon’s 103.

Rodriguez’s Cedars were third with 79 points, followed by Palmyra, Elco and Annville-Cleona.

“As a dual meet team, this is easily one of my top three,” said Cedar Crest head coach Rob Bare. “The 2004 and 2008 teams were ridiculously good team. I don’t know if this team could beat the 2004 and 2008 teams, but it’s very good. I love the fact that we have a couple of district championships and a couple of (Lancaster-Lebanon) league championships, but I love dual meets. When we get to this point of the season, I’m focused on getting as many kids as possible to the big meets.

“It began in 1998, but it’s gong to be tough (to defend it) next year,” continued Bare. “We’re going to lose a lot of kids. Lebanon has everybody back. Palmyra has everybody back. It’s pretty special to get to this far. But these guys are more focused on the process than the outcome. This gives us a lot of confidence going into the McCaskey meet (on Monday to decide the L-L Section One championship.”

Rodriguez edged Falcons Denzel Pierre and Mitch Weaver to win the OA award, voted on by the six head coaches. Rodriguez won the 400-meter dash in a personal and school record of 49.8, and captured the 200-meter sprint in a personal-best of 22.9.

“It was a good day,” smiled Rodriguez. “But it was tiring, a good tiring. It feels good (to be named the Outstanding Athlete). I wanted it last year and didn’t get it.”

But  despite his expenditure of energy, Rodriguez may have saved his best for the last event of the day. His split on the anchor leg of the Lebanon’s runner-up showing in the 1600-meter relay was even quicker than his winning time in the 400.

“If I had a vote for Outstanding Athlete I would’ve voted for (teammate) Omel Francois,” said Rodriguez, who was joined by Francois, Derin Klick and Ethan Arnold-Paine in the 1600-meter relay. “This is only his second year (out for the sport) and he really pushed it. I don’t have to pick myself. I don’t have to be cocky.

“I think I voted for Mitch Weaver,” said Bare of his Outstanding Athlete ballot. “But I’m fine with Jeronimo. He’s a talented runner. He’s tough. And he’s a good kid. It was kind of a toss-up because there were so many great performances.”

And many of those great performances were turned in by his Falcons. Led by Weaver and Pierre, Cedar Crest took home gold medals from 12 of the 18 events, including all three relays.

Pierre established himself as Lebanon County’s ‘fastest man’ by winning the 100-meter dash in a blistering 11.3, then anchored Crest’s victorious four-by-one squad that also included Peter Groff, Jared Brandt and Damon Edwards. Weaver finished first in both hurdle events, the 110 highs and the 300 intermediates.

“I have talented kids,” said Bare, “but you want tough kids. I don’t want coaches coming up to me and saying, ‘You have a talented team.’ I want coaches coming up to me and saying ‘You have a tough team’.”

Cedar Crest had plenty of back up, in the form of Jordan Cruise copping the 800-meter run, bro-bro Jarrod Cruise claiming the 1600-meters and senior Willy Bragg doing his thing in the 3200. The Falcons swept the relays with Jesse Cruise, Daniel Neiswender, Zach Miller and Noah Redcay finishing first in the 3200 meters, and Jairol Candelario, Jared Brandt, Jarrod Cruise and Groff garnering top honors in the 1600.

The field was just as generous to the Falcons, as Chris Kelly garnered the shot put, Patrick Donley grabbed the discus, sophomore Evan Horn laid claim to the javelin and Landy Cruz lept farthest in the long jump.

Northern Lebanon senior Derek DiAngelis lived up to his favorite status in the pole vault, with a top mark of 14-3. While in the jumps, teammates Dominic Trader and Ryan Morgan were crowned Lebanon County champs in the triple and high, respectively.

Elco’s lone win came from Mitch Aponick in the javelin.

9:48.3 Mike Dechert Cedar Crest 1980

3200m Relay 10:01.6 Erin Frey, Angie Paliometros, Lebanon 1995