Zips Pursuing Track Star

[Captain Kangaroo]

Hand-in-hand By Bill Beckner Jr.VALLEY NEWS DISPATCHFriday, March 24, 2006Valley junior Toney Clemons already has four scholarship offers for football.Pitt, Mississippi, Akron and Connecticut have all courted Clemons, a wide receiver/defensive back, who has delicate hands and blazing speed.But Clemons doesn't think he'd be drawing nearly as much attention if it wasn't for track."Like coach (George) Webb says, track is a warm-up for football," said Clemons, who is the defending champion in the WPIAL Class AA long jump. "Track's always been my first sport, but football is my first love. But the two go hand-in-hand. You need one to be conditioned for the other."Track and field season opens today in the WPIAL, and Clemons heads a strong list of Alle-Kiski Valley athletes to watch. He is the only returning local athlete to win a WPIAL boys gold medal last season.Clemons, who said he may try to run track and play football in college, will compete in four events -- the long jump, 110-meter hurdles, 4x100-meter relay and either the 100- or 200-meter dashes -- "Wherever coach needs me to get us points," Clemons said.It could be another exciting ride for the Burrell boys team, which enters the season as the defending WPIAL Class AA champions.

[br30302004]

Out of the 400 total people that attended the Zips Jr. Day, Mr. Clemons was in attendance. With his speed, he is going to be a big time recruit.