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Brothers share track excellence

Call them the first family of track and field in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Methacton's Wesley and Carlton Lavong have been turning heads since the beginning of the indoor season. This weekend, the siblings take their act to the Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field.

Call them the first family of track and field in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Methacton's Wesley and Carlton Lavong have been turning heads since the beginning of the indoor season. This weekend, the siblings take their act to the Penn Relays Carnival at Franklin Field.

Wesley will participate in Friday's 2:30 p.m. high school boys' shot put event. Then Carlton will compete in Saturday's high school boys' long jump at noon. Seeded second in their events, both athletes are expected to bring medals back to their Norristown residence.

"They are focused on what they need to do," said Methacton indoor track coach Dean Wright, who remains in contact with the Lavongs. "Neither one are concerned about what their [competitors] are going to do."

That's a bonus considering this weekend's competition.

Nick Vena of Morristown (N.J.) is heavily favored to win his second straight shot put title. The sophomore's heave of 70 feet, 5 inches March 14 ranked second nationally by a high school boy during the indoor season, according to Dyestat.com.

Vena threw 67-5 to place first at Saturday's Morris Hills Relays (N.J.). His winning throw is the nation's third-best distance of the outdoor season.

Wesley Lavong's personal-record heave of 62-5 is the nation's eighth-best throw this season. While impressive, the senior's distance is still eight feet shorter than Vena's overall best and five shorter than Vena's outdoor best, making Vena the favorite to defend his title.

Meanwhile, the long jump title is up for grabs between Carlton Lavong and James Taylor of Nansemond River (Va.).

Taylor is the top seed after positing a distance of 24-8 on Feb. 3. That distance was the nation's second-best during the indoor season. Lavong, a junior, wasn't far behind, with the nation's fifth-best indoor jump of 24-23/4.

Lavong is continuing where he left off this outdoor season. His second-place leap of 24-21/2 at the Taco Bell Classic (S.C.) on April 11 ranks eighth nationally this outdoor season. As of Monday, Taylor hadn't long-jumped this outdoor season.