When Falcons Fly: Rochester, Farmington leave OAA in the ‘Red’
CRUISING: Rochester Adams' Gabrielle Thivierge hands the baton off to Lydia Stanley during the 3,200-meter relay at Friday's OAA Red Division championships. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
CLARKSTON — Farmington has been one of the better track and field programs in the OAA in recent years. The Falcons finally had a chance to showcase it against the league’s top tier.
Farmington’s boys, in their first season in the OAA Red Division, put the finishing touches on the league title Friday at Clarkston, collecting 122 points to topple the seven-school field.
Lake Orion, second in the dual standings behind Farmington (6-0-0), had 91 points despite its top distance runner leaving the meet ill, with West Bloomfield (90), Clarkston (71), Rochester (68), Troy (29) and Rochester Adams (21) rounding out the meet scores.
“I felt this was a team with a lot of seniors and we could do well here,” said Bridges. “I’m pleased with the kids, big group of seniors and a lot of terrific performances today. It’s nice to come up to the Red I think that this sends a message that there are some good teams in the lower divisions aren’t bad.”
Meanwhile, the girls overall division crown goes down as a co-championship with Rochester and Troy.
Troy, which went 6-0-0 in duals, finished second to Rochester at the league meet. The Falcons, who won the Division 1 state title last season but lost the league meet and title share by one point, racked up 105 points this time around.
STAND BACK: Rochester's Marcel Johnson prepares to heave the shot put at Friday's league meet. Johnson finished third in the event. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Troy was second with 85 points, while Rochester Adams (76.5), Farmington (75), West Bloomfield (56), Clarkston (50) and Lake Orion (49.5) rounded out the field.
Rochester won six events on the day and finished second in four others, good for 84 of the Falcons’ 105 points.
WITH THE LEAN: Rochester's Teanna Murray glides past Rochester Adams' Jessica Howell (left) and Troy's Kelly Niemiec to win the 100 meters at the OAA Red Division championships. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
Teanna Murray anchored the winning 800 relay (1:45.89) and 400 relay (50.53) and won the 100 (11.98) and 200 (25.10) for the Falcons. Brook Handler won the 1,600 (4:58.91) and 800 (2:16.2) while finishing second in the 400 and anchoring the runner-up 1,600 relay.
“If you get out there and get in control, it’s a lot easier to run,” said Handler.
The Falcons’ coach, Larry Adams, was pleased with his team stepping up, considering they have never won the league in girls track since the inception of the OAA in 1994-95.
GRACEFUL: Lake Orion's Alexandria Johnson bounds over the final hurdle en route to the 100-meter hurdles league title at the OAA-Red championships. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
“We lost the past two years,” reminded Adams of his team falling short to Troy at the league meet in both 2009 and 2010. Going in here after that dual meet against Troy and Adams and losing by two to Troy and tying Adams, it was a tough dual meet. Coming back and knowing we had to win the league meet to have a share of the title was our goal and we accomplished that. All of the kids ran great.”
Lake Orion’s Alexandria Johnson, who missed a month of the season, won the 100 hurdles (14.66) and 400 (57.93), looking more like a state title contender than an athlete just back from injury.
West Bloomfield’s Taylor Gunn won both the shot put (41-10) and discus (131-10) to become a four-time conference champion in both events. Erin Finn won the 3,200 (10:35.5) and finished second in the 1,600 (5:00.18) for the Lakers.
FIGHTING THE PAIN: Clarkston's Olivia Smith fights through the humid temperatures and pain during the final straightaway of the 1,600 meters. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
“I ran 10:19 indoors (this winter), but that was against national competition,” said Finn, who was injured during her freshman season of track. “My goal is to win the state title) in the two mile.”
Farmington’s Ashley Howell won the 300 hurdles (46.16) and high jump (5-3) and ran a leg on the winning 1,600 relay (4:02.42).
Adams won the 3,200 relay, as anchor Jamie Morrissey chased down the leaders to aid a 9:35.59 effort. Jessica Howell, a transfer from Oxford, won the long jump (17-11) and finished second in both the 100 and 200.
Farmington’s boys won four events and finished second in five others to help pull away from the field.
THE CHASE: Rochester's Cady Pozolo (right) follows Farmington's Josephine Zolynsky during the second leg of the 1,600-meter relay.Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
James Taylor won the 100 in a sizzling 10.7 and anchored the winning 800 relay (1:29.88) and 400 relay (43.59). Vincent Taylor added the best effort in the long jump (20-11 ¼).
Rochester’s Brian Beecher used a strong kick to win to both the 800 (1:57.16) and 1,600 (4:29) in career-best times. Teammate Blake Pozolo followed suit with a win in the 3,200 (9:56.89).
“I was just hoping to PR today,” admitted Beecher, who never ran the mile before this past indoor season.”I never would have thought about winning (league titles) a year ago, especially in the mile.”
Lake Orion’s Alex Roberts won the 110 hurdles (14.96) and 300 hurdles (38.71) to help the Dragons finish second.
Clarkston’s Adam Bruderick outkicked Lake Orion’s TJ Carey in the anchor leg of the 3,200 relay to win in 8:08.97. Lake Orion was second (8:10.17).
Clarkston’s CJ Gozdor also won the high jump (6-3).
West Bloomfield’s Phillip Washington clocked 47.68 to win the 400, broke the tape in the 200 (21.96) and anchored the winning 800 relay (1:29.88). Luis Duranda added a win in the shot put (53-0 ½) and discus (138-4), as the Lakers won five total events.
SIMPLE AS 1-2-3: Lake Orion's Alexandria Johnson (left)won the 400 meters, followed by Rochester'sBrook Handler and Troy's Ashley Dauphine at Friday's league meet. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
THESE TRACKS ARE SIDE-BY-SIDE: Lake Orion's David Diaz (left), Rochester's Blake Pozolo and Farmington's Kevin Pitt pick up the pace in the 1,600 meters. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
DUKING IT OUT: Clarkston's Adam Bruderick and Rochester's Brian Beecher set the pace in the 800 meters at Friday's league meet. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
M.J.-STYLE: Rochester Adams' Stephen Biebelhausen (middle) wags the tongue Michael Jordan-esque during the 3,200-meter relay. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
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Category: Clarkston, Lake Orion, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Troy
