Sizzling finishes: Handler leads state-meet performances

BY JAY KUNDE

CORRESPONDANT

BROOKLYN — Something about close finishes and Brook Handler seem to go hand in hand.

The last time Handler, now a senior at Rochester High, was involved in a close finish, it came in the final 100 meters of the 3,200-meter relay at Rockford High School, site of the Division 1 track and field state championships this past June.

Handler was the anchor leg of that relay that finished in 9:05.07, which was not only the state championship, but the all-division state-meet record.

She was back at it again on Saturday at the Michigan Speedway near Brooklyn.

Running stride-for-stride with Grand Blanc’s Gabrielle Anzalone, Handler surged ahead in the final 30 meters to win the Division 1 state championship in a sizzling 17:00.2.

“The conditions were perfect, that was part of it, and having Gabby to run with the whole way, the whole 3.1 miles. I know there usually isn’t duals for 3.1 miles. I knew if I could stick with her and get to the last 160 meters that I might be able to hold her off.”

Not only was it the school’s third straight individual champion in girls cross-county, but Handler’s effort became the second-fastest ever by a Michigan prep runner at the state finals. It was also part of one of the greatest state finals races of all-time in Michigan.

“We got to the three mile mark and I knew we had 160 meters left and I knew I had go as hard as I could. I didn’t know if I could hold her off,” said Handler. “Crossing the finish line was amazing.”

Former Rochester teammate Megan Goethals, who won the state crown in both 2008 and 2009, ran 16:54 last season to set the state-meet and overall state-record. Anzalone came in second in 17:01.7, as part of a fine contingent of runners in wide-open race, and her effort ranks third all-time in the state.

“The plan was set from a long time ago. From the start, we told her that this was your race, this was your day,” said Rochester coach Larry Adams, who has coached several individual state champs between cross country and track and team state titles in both sports. “I told her that her kick is the best part of your ability and can be anybody. She proved it today.

“It was exactly (like the 3,200 relay),” added Adams. “She’s just tough — out-and-out tough. There’s no quit in Brook Handler.”

Grosse Pointe South’s Hannah Meier, who Handler outkicked in the 3,200 relay last June, was third (17:21.2), with West Bloomfield’s Erin Finn (17:31) and Waterford Mott’s Shannon Osika fifth (17:38). Osika was the 2007 state champion and wracke dup her fourth top-10 state finish..

Handler wasn’t the only local individual from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area to shine at the state meet. Several other runners either earned all-state accolades — the top 30 in each race garnered such honors — or recorded personal-best efforts at the state meet.

Oxford’s Brook Kovacic shattered her won school record with a 12^th-place effort of 18:02.2. Rochester Adams’ Jamie Morrissey was 19^th in18:15.2. It was the second straight year the sophomores earned all-state accolades.

Brittany Johnson of Oxford shaved more than a minute off her previous best during the final month of the season, including more than 40 seconds at the state meet by crossing 53^rd (18:59.9).

“At the mile marker, we were still way behind. We just kept passing and pacing people and we ended up doing way better than \we ever expected,” said Kovacic, the first two-time all-stater at Oxford since the 1990s. “I took off about 40 seconds (off my state time) from last year.”

For Johnson, she moved into town right after last season, so this was her first experience at Michigan Speedway.

“I moved in from Ohio last November. Coach Sutherland has helped me so much. At my old school we didn’t really do pace. He’s taught me to go out slower to have more energy at the end. It really helped me. At this meet, I took 45 seconds off my time.”

Morrissey was another athlete who made a hug elepa since her freshman season.

“I got a PR by 30 seconds,” said Morrissey. “I’m pretty happy. I was hoping for a (higher) place, but I am okay with it.

“I actually want to go for the championship. Watching Brooke, she’s my friend and watching her go through that is so exciting. It makes me want to cry. I can’t fathom that I might be there one day if I work hard.”

Rochester freshman Jessica Goethals ended a fine debut season with a 49^th-place showing (18:56.5).

Rochester Stoney Creek’s Cassie Hoffman ran 18:54.7 to lead the Cougars, who were 11th in the team standings, an all-time school-best, with 340 points. Sara Szatkowski was 46^th (18:55.4), while Nicole Kowalchick (58^th, 19:03.9) for the Cougars. Laura Johnston (20:13.5), Natalie Bick (20:13.6), Mary Santi (20:13.9) and Caroline Egan (20:33.7) were also part of the Cougars’ all-time best group.

Troy was 13th in the team standings with 355 points. Lindsey Miller (19:17.1), Julia Dinverno (19:22.3), Haley Burns (19:25.2), Abby Green (19:48.5), Lauren Miller (19:53.2), Theresa Hencie (19:55.9) and Laura Moriset (20:07.5) aided the Colts’ effort.

Lake Orion made just its second appearance at the girls state met and finished 20^th overall with 481 points. Anna Dietz was the Dragons’ top finisher in 62^nd place (19:27.2). Molly Emerick (97^th), Amy Wells, (105^th), Casey Stibbell (108^th), Ashley Bartreau (109^th), Patty Babich (123^rd) and Sarah Daly (150^th) were Orion’s other runners.

Top-ranked Grand Haven won the team title with 135 points, followed by Traverse City Central (154), Rockford (167), Northville (169) and Pinckney (174) in the tip five.

In the boys D-1 meet, Novi Detroit Catholic Central won its sixth crown overall and second straight. The first came in 1983.

“It’s the second time we’ve repeated,” said tom Magni, the Shamrocks’ veteran head coach. “This makes us the winningst boys team (in D-1) with six titles.”

Stoney Creek was 12^th in the team standings with 327 points while Lake Orion finished 17^th (408). The dragons were making their seventh straight top-20 appearance at the state finals.

Mott’s Scott Albaugh felt his kick was as good as anybody’s. He proved it down the stretch to win the individual crown in 15:13.9. He finished just ahead of Monroe’s Austin Whitelaw (15:15.5), outkicking him in the final 50 meters.

“It was pretty much the perfect race for me,” said Albaugh, who became Mott’s first male state champ since Jeff Ferrell won two titles in the early 1990s. “Everything went just how I would have (hoped) it to. It was perfect. The kick, I didn’t have to use all of it.”

Lake Orion’s T.J. Carey was the top area runner, clocking in at 15:48.9, good for 25^th place.

“Coming in every year you have to expect something new, because ran 30 seconds last year and (finished) in the same place,” said Carey. “You never know what it going to happen. It was PR and everything, so I can’t complain.”

Stephen Bielhausen of Adams was 45^th (16:04.9) with his personal-best time

Austin Tretheway was 47^th (16:05.5) to lead the Cougars, while Eli Nasr was 51^st and Brandon Townsend crossed 66^th (16:12.9) for Stoney Creek. Chris Tsivitse (120^th), Matt Rolain (178^th), Dan Moore (192^nd) and Eric Boyle (229^th) also ran for Stoney Creek.

Jake Lauka (72^nd), Brad Cross (105^th), Tom Reilly (152^nd), Aaron Kaufman (117^th), Ryan Singles (181sst), and Justin Prawdzik (201^st) were the other competitors for Lake Orion.

Clarkston’s Sam Tanielian (68^th), Oxford’s Dylan Smith (85^th), Clarkston’s Adam Bruderick (95^th) and Rochester’s Blake Pozolo (96^th) al broke into the top 100. Adams’ Dylan Oppenheiser came in 103^rd.

Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern captured the Division 2 boys team crown 2ith 109 points. Mason was second (163), Grand Rapids Christian (202), Fremont (213) and Ionia (216), which entered the meet ranked No. 1, rounded out the top five.

Mattawan’s Alex Standiford won the individual title in 15:19.6. Auburn Hills Avondale’s finished 51^st in 16:29.5, his career-best.

Also in Division 2, Grand Rapids Christian won the girls team title with 112 points, followed by Hamilton (116), East Grand Rapids (177), East Lansing (02) and Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (220).

Rachelle Schulist was the individual winner (17:39.7).  Auburn Hills Avondale’s Anna Haritos was the sole individual qualifier, finishing 105^th (19:56.3).

There were no local teams or competitors in Division 3.

In the Division 4 boys race, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian was the only local team qualifier. He Lancers finished 25^th with 633 points.

Josh Peterson led the way with a 55^th-place finish, while Adam Exelby (109^th), Chris Pope (140^th), Chris Kreig (158^th), Tyler Crump (171^st), Bill Brocher (176^th) and Nathan Showalter (178^th) also competing for the Lancers.

“This is the first time in six years we had both teams here,” said Oakland Christian coach Bryan Crump. “That was one of our goals. We thought it would be possible.

“Last week at the regionals, our No. 5 boy missed with a wedding and we tied for third. We ended up (qualifying) on the sixth-runner tiebreaker,” added Crump. “So it was nice to be able to get here — barely.

“I thought we ran all right. We had some PRs and we had some kids not run as well as they had hoped,” continued Crump. “A couple of these kids had higher hopes.”

Kyle Tait of Big Rapids Crossroads Charter Academy was the medalist with a 15:25.4 effort, well ahead of Concord’s Spencer Nousain (15:51.7).

North Muskegon won the team title with 89 points. Bridgeman was second at 121, followed by Harbor Springs (138), Potterville (171), Concord (191) and Hesperia (208).

In the girls D-4 competition, Oakland Christian finished 19^th with 507 points.

Rachel Termarsch and Alexis Nelson came in 100^th (21:27) and 10^th (21:32.6), respectively. Alexa Messing (177^th), Amy Libka (194^th), Shelby Webb (233^rd) and Ally Erickson (237^th) also competed for Oakland Christian.

Hesperia won the girls D-4 crown with 107 points, followed by Harbor Springs (111), Saugatuck (149), North Muskegon (171) and Traverse City Grand Traverse Academy (171) in the top five.

— Dan Stickradt contributed.

Tags: High School Cross Country

Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Clarkston, Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Rochester Stoney Creek, Troy, Troy Athens