Oxford, Grosse Pointe South dominate the field at Sterling Heights Invitational

Oxford's Anthony McDugald ran a leg on three winning relays and helped the Wildcats roll up 127 points and the team title at the Sterling Heights Invitiational. File Photo.

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

STERLING HEIGHTS — Oxford wasn’t receptive to the idea of only coming close last season. This year on the track, the Wildcats are on their way of leaving the pack in their trail.

Oxford’s boys added a win to an already unbeaten season at Friday’s Sterling Heights Invitational, topping the 15-school field in convincing fashion. The Wildcats were second at the regional and third at the league meet last season and have goals of winning multiple meets this time around.

Oxford collected 127 points to win the team title, well ahead of runner-up Macomb Dakota’s 81. Romeo was third (61), Port Huron fourth (38) and Troy fifth (34).

Sterling Heights Stevenson (33), Port Huron Northern (31), New Baltimore Anchor Bay (28), Warren DeLaSalle (28), Grosse Pointe South (17), Warren Mott (15), Grosse Pointe North (13), Roseville (12), Warren Cousino (5) and Sterling Heights (4) rounded out the team scores.

Oxford scored in 15 of 17 events and won seven events total, including three relays.

“I like where we are at right now,” said first-year Oxford head coach Bob Blunk. “We won a few events and placed in all but two at this meet. I thought we dominated the meet.We had a lot of PRs. Our goal now is to win the league meet (Friday) at North Farmington. We are undefeated in the league. We’ll worry about the regional the following  week.”

Cody Westmoreland won the pole vault (13-0), Aaron Stuk the 100 hurdles (14.9) and 300 hurdles (39.7), the latter a school record, and Darren Lumkpin the 200 (22.3) to pace the Wildcats.

Oxford also won the 800 relay (1:31.7), 400 relay (44.3) and 1,600 relay (3:28.4). Terrance Webb, Mike Cenowa, Anthony McDugald and Lumpkin were the top unit in the 800 relay, Stuk, McDugald, Cenowa and Lumpken combined for the win in the 400 relay, while Webb, Stuk, McDugald and Lumpken took the 1,600 relay.

Doug Klimbal was second in the 110 hurdles (15.7) and Anthony Cappuccilli was the runner-up in the 800 to aid Oxford’s cause.

“If we keep healthy, and not overdue it, then I expect that we will do very well at the remaining meets,” said Blunk, whose team has a make-up meet Tuesday with Farmington Harrison. “We have a talented group of kids on this team and we can score in most events.”

In the girls meet, Grosse Pointe South won the team title with 146 points. The Blue Devils are one of the favorites to win the Division 1 state crown this season after tying for fourth last season.

Troy, which did not have its full team, was second with 110 points, followed by Macomb Dakota (82.5), Sterling Heights Stevenson (51) and Warren Regina (34) in the top five in the standings.

Oxford’s girls were sixth with 33 points, with Romeo (30), Port Huron (13), Warren Cousino (12), Port Huron Northern (7) and Warren Mott (7) rounding out the team scores. Five schools did not register points.

“We did all right,” said Troy girls coach Matthew Richardson. “I thought if we brought everyone, we might have been able to score close to 130. We took some kids over to Hazel Park for the (Ludke Relays). Grosse Pointe South is tough in the running events. We were not going to beat them. They are awfully tough. For us, it’s a little different. We don’t have the type of studs that South has this year. We’ll try to win a league and regional, but we won’t be in the top-15 or maybe top-20 at the state meet.”

South had first-place finishes in 11 of the 17 events with several among the best in the state so far this season.

The Blue Devils won the 400 relay (51.4) and 1,600 relay (4:08.5), while Emily Jackman took the discus (108-1) and Aubryn Samaroo both the shot put (32-9) and high jump (5-2) in a unique duo.

Hannah Meier won the 1,600 in 4:50.6, fastest in the state, to lead three runners under five minutes and four under 5:11. Haley Meier of South was second (4:57.2), Regina’s Kalsie Schwartz third (4:57.5) and Oxford’s Brook Kovacic fourth (5:10.9).

Hannah Meier came back to win the 800 (2:12.6), another state-leading effort for the All-American sophomore, while she ran a leg on the 3,200 relay that clocked a blistering 9:23.3, fastest in the state this year.

Veronica Schacht  added wins in the 100 hurdles (14.6) and 300 hurdles (46.4) and Caitlin Moore broke the tape in the 200 (15.6) for Grosse Pointe South.

Stevenson’s Derriana Kelley won the 100 (12.4) and ran a leg on the winning 800 relay (1:47.7). Dakota’s Jennifer Schornak won both the pole vault (10-6) and long jump (16-2) with teammate Laura Burnett posting the winning effort in the 400 (59.9).

Regina’s Swartz, a freshman, came back to win the 3,200 (10:58.2), with Oxford’s Kovacic second (11:04.8).

Troy was second in the 3,200 relay (9:47.7) and 1,600 relay (4:15.4), while Kelly Morgan claimed second in the discus (102-0) for the Colts.

In the pole vault, Oxford’s Sarah Hildebrandt and Port Huron Northern’s Monica Fusee both cleared 10-0 to tie for second.

Elsewhere in the boys meet, Romeo’s Sam Brunner won both the shot put (50-6) and discus (150-5) in impressive style. Troy’s James McDonald sprinted to a win in the 100 (11.1), Stevenson’s Eugene Pratt won the high jump (6-2), Warren Mott’s Ben Mott took the long jump (21-0 ½), Grosse Pointe South’s Victor Mattison was victorious in the 400 (51.0) and DeLaSalle’s Andrew Cusmano the 3,200 (10:02.6).

Dakota cruised to a win in the 3,200 relay (8:12.3), while the Cougars’ Nicholas Culbertson took the 1,600 (4:24.6) and 800 (1:59.4) to conclude the meet winners.

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Tags: boys track, featured, girls track, Prep Track

Category: High School, High School (M-Z), Oxford, Prep Wraps, Troy, Troy Athens