On track: Troy continues OAA-Red mastery, topples Adams, Rochester for 16th straight dual win
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
TROY— Recipes for success come in all flavors, shapes and sizes.
For Troy’s girls track team, the Colts have found their secret to be balance and depth and a dominating flavor over its league foes. That was on display Tuesday in an OAA Red Division tri-meet with Rochester and Rochester Adams.
Troy (6-0-0) moved its league unbeaten streak to three years and 16 straight against league opponents, topping defending state champion Rochester (65-63) and Adams (79-49). Rochester and Adams also tied 64-64.
“It’s the balance and the depth, having the kids to fill in and get those second and thirds,” said Troy girls coach Matt Richardson. “Obviously, Rochester and Adams had a lot of first places but we had a lot of seconds and thirds.
“Throws is where we got them,” he continued. “We 9-0 them both in the discus and 6-3 (pointwise) in the shot (put) against Rochester. That’s definitely where the swing points were at — the field events.”
Troy had six overall champions on the day, as Sydney Heath won the 100 hurdles (15.8), Kelly Morgan the discus (90-11), Shay Patterson the shot put (32-9), winning the event on her final throw, and Monique Nguyen the high jump (5-2).
The Colts also won the 3,200 relay (9:46.7) and 1,600 relay (4:14.0).
Rochester (3-1-1) won the 800 relay (1:47.4) and 400 relay (52.0). Emily Leppek took the 300 hurdles (48.3), Teanna Murray shattered her own school record in the 200 (24.0) and also won the 100 (12.4) for the Falcons, who still have a make-up meet next Tuesday against Clarkston.
Rochester’s Brook Handler won the 1,600 (5:06.7) and 400 (59.7) and finished second in the 3,200 and 800, part of the grueling quadruple of events for the senior.
“We had some kids out and some kids quit, and we don’t have the depth for a dual meet,” said Rochester girls coach Larry Adams.
For Adams (3-1-2), Jamie Morrissey won the 800 (2:16.8), Jessica Howell set the Adams school record in the long jump (17-8) and Gabrielle Thivierge won the 3,200 (10:51.0) and finished second in the 1,600 for Adams.
In the boys meet, Rochester posted a sweep, topping Adams (77-51) and Troy (82-46). Troy downed Adams (69-59) to win its first dual meet win of the year.
Brian Beecher won the 1,600 (4:37.7) and 800 (2:02.5) to pace Rochester (3-2-0). Marcel Johnson added a win in the shot put (48-1), Luca Cutraro broke the tape in the 400 (53.1) and Blake Pozolo won the 3,200 (10:18.0) for the Falcons.
Rochester also won the 3,200 relay (8:38.0), 400 relay (45.1), 800 relay (1:33.8), and 1,600 relay (3:35.0).
“Some of my kids who I did not expect to perform, who have not stepped up in the past, did a great job,” said Rochester boys coach Gary Cousino. “I learned a lot o today about some of my kids. I had some sophomores who have not competed at this level stepped up and did an outstanding job.”
Troy’s Corey Meyer took the discus (127-5) and James McDonald won both the 100 (11.7) and 200 (23.3) for the Colts (1-5-0).
For Adams (1-5-0), Aaron Moore took the 300 hurdles (41.3) and high jump (6-0,) Ben Hollett won the 110 hurdles (15.7) and Mike Owusu had the top effort in the long jump (19-7) to lead the Highlanders.
The OAA-Red Division championships will take place May 13 at Clarkston.
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Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Troy
