Oxford, Harrison leave OAA field feeling ‘White’
MAD DASH: Oxford's Darren Lumpkin woh the 100 meters and ran on the winning 800 relay in helping the Wildcats take home the OAA White Division crown. File Photo.
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
FARMINGTON HILLS — Oxford’s boys track team is not quite at full strength, missing a couple of point scorers. The rest of the teams in the OAA White Division couldn’t tell the Wildcats had some shortcomings.
Oxford still chalked up an impressive 175 points at Friday’s league meet, and coupled with an undefeated dual meet record, captured the OAA-White title in the school’s first year in the conference.
“We had a really good day,” smiled first-year Oxford coach Bob Blunk. “We thought the scoring was a lot closer, based on what they were announcing, so we really poured it on and competed hard.
“We didn’t have everyone there. We still have a couple of guys out, but we have a lot of depth on this team and it showed,” added Blunk. “I think that’s what makes us a good team. When we don’t win an event, we have someone that is second, third, fourth and that depth really helps.”
Southfield was second at the league meet with 91 points, while North Farmington (64), Farmington Harrison (62), Birmingham Seaholm (58) and Rochester Stoney Creek (46) rounded out the team scores at the six-school conference meet, held at North Farmington.
Oxford scored in 15 of the 16 events contested and would have scored in more if pole vault would have been a sanctioned event in the league.
Meanwhile, Farmington Harrison’s girls, perfect in dual meets, was nearly as impressive. The Hawks rolled up 116.5 points, ahead of North Farmington (104) and Oxford (77.5). The third-place Wildcats had won three straight league titles in the Flint Metro League before coming on board the OAA this season.
Southfield’s core of sprinters helped the Blue Jays chalk up 73 points to finish fourth, while Birmingham Seaholm (72) and Rochester Stoney Creek (53) rounded out the team scores from the meet.
North Farmington and Oxford tied for second overall in the final standings, with Stoney Creek, Southfield and Seaholm following suit.
Latisha Sims won both the 100 hurdles in a sizzling 14.2 and 300 hurdles (45.09) to pace Harrison’s attack, which included four wins and ample depth.
Sims, Talia Shuford, Jamie Coleman and Tiera Parker joined forces for a win in the 400 relay (50.46), while Parker emerged the victor in the 100 meters (12.12) for Harrison.
North Farmington’s Trisha Jordan won both the shot put (36-7) and discus (95-11) to pace the Raiders to the runner-up slot. Kharrington Seals added a win in the long jump (16-3).
Oxford’s foursome of Brooke Kovacic, Megan Seeley, Chelsea Johnson and Brittany Johnson clocked a season-best 9:49.7 in winning the 3,200 relay. Kovacic added wins in the 1,600 (5:26.7) and 3,200 (11:28.4) runs, while Brittany Johnson brought home a league title in the 800 (2:24.2).
Southfield transfer Latipha Cross broke the tape in both the 200 (23.99) and 400 (57.03), both among the best in the state. Cross teamed up with Destiny Lewis, Crystal Abernathy and Shautai Graham for a win in the 800 relay (1:44.6), while Cross, Abernathy, Kirerra Washington and Jana Sands ended the meet with a win in the 1,600 relay (4:11.0).
Seaholm’s Elizabeth Vermossen took the high jump (5-2) crown for the Maples.
Oxford’s boys had wins in eight of the 16 events on the day, making a statement with the regionals and Oakland County meet looming the next two weekends.
The foursome of Terrence Webb, Aaron Stuk, Conner Risinger and Anthony Cappuccilli clocked 3:27.62 to win the 1,600 relay without one of its normal legs in the relay to put the Wildcats up by 86 points on its nearest competitor, Southfield, at the end of the meet.
Anthony McDugald, Darren Lumpkin, Mike Cynowa and Webb won the 800 relay (1:30.12), while Lumpkin also won the 100 (10.75), Stuk the 300 hurdles (39.97), Cappuccilli the 800 (2:03.75) and Dylan Smith the 3,200 (10:06.3) for the Wildcats.
Sir Ralph Rodriguez won the discus (144-11) and shot put (53-7 ½), the latter event where Oxford grabbed the top three finishers. The Wildcats had three of the top five in the discus to aid the field events effort.
“We have a solid group of guys, a lot of veterans who have been around (a couple of years),” said Blunk, whose team won their first league in seven years.
Southfield’s Thomas Kolleh won the long jump (21-6) and Brandon Jarmon the high jump (6-2) to pace the Blue Jays. Brandon Watkins, Jonathan Heard, Leviticus Payne and Tre Walton also won the 400 relay (43.44), while Walton came back to win the 400 (50.18).
Seaholm’s Max Gomez, Zach Demko, David Bender, Jack Howard won the 3,200 relay (8:24.7). Howard also won the 1,600 (4:32.6) for the Maples.
North Farmington’s Jason Ervin took home the 200 (22.18) crown and Shammah Carter the 100 hurdles (14.65) to round out the winners in the boys meet.
In the final standings, Harrison trailed Oxford for the runner-up slot, while North Farmington and Southfield tied for third and Seaholm and Stoney Creek shared the fifth spot.
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Category: High School, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester Stoney Creek
