Sweet 4-peat: Troy wins fourth straight regional title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
WARREN — No matter the type of competition, Troy seems to have the balance to contend.
The Colts did so once again at Friday’s Division 1 track and field regional.
Troy scored in 12 of 17 events and captured its fourth straight regional crown in girls track at Warren Mott, collecting 151.5 points despite scratching several key athletes in certain events.
Macomb Dakota was second with 135 points, with Harrison Township L’Anse Creuse (67), Fraser(62.5) and Sterling Heights Stevenson (55) following suit in the top five in the girls meet.
“We may not be a team that will score a ton at the state meet, but we do have good balance and depth to win a league or regional,” said Troy girls coach Matt Richardson. “I thought we competed very well. The regional may not be the strongest, but we came to compete. We had some good performances in a lot of events and we had some freshmen step up.”
Dakota edged Utica (103-81) for the boys team title, with Stevenson (61), Troy (55), New Baltimore Anchor Bay (54), Fraser (54) and Troy Athens (44) all following in a tight group.
Troy’sgirls stole the show. After finishing second to Detroit Mumford three straight years, Troy had now won four straight regionals convincingly.
“this is something that they can be proud of,” said Richardson.”I took some girls out of some individual races, so they could concentrate on others at the state finals. We had the depth to be able to do that.”
Troy freshman Sydney Heath won the 100 hurdles (15.5), followed by Monique Nguyen, (15.6). Nguyen placed second in the high jump (5-2) and 300 hurdles (47.80).
The foursome of Katie Shaheen, Lindsey Miller, Julia Dinverno and Theresa Hencie won the 3,200 relay in a season-best 9:37.5, some 25 seconds ahead of runner-up Dakota in the event.
Dinverno came back to win the 800 (2:22.7), with Hencsie (2:23.2) and Lindsey Miller (2:25.9) leading the way for a top-three sweep.
Ashley Dauphine finished second in the 400 (59.50), freshman Lauren Miller won the 3,200 (11:45.0), and Hencsie, Dauphine, Dinverno and Lindsey Miller won the 1,600 relay (4:06.9). The Colts were also second in the 400 relay (50.6).
Shayla France of L’Anse Creuse won the 200 (25.4) and 100 (12.2), while teaming up with Cadeisha Browning-Watter, Jocelyn Jenkins and Michaela Jones for a win in the 400 relay (49.4).
Dakota’s Christina Micale won the 300 hurdles (46.9) and teammate Lauren Burnett, the 400 (58.7) in helping the Cougars finish runner-up as a team. Dakota’s Jennifer Schornak won the pole vault (11-4)
Fraser won four of the five field events, with Anna Brunsman winning the discus (123-3), Beauchaine Devereaux the shot put (34-5.50) and Mackenzie Frodle both the long jump (17-5) and high jump (5-7).
Warren Mott’s Allie Knoll rounded out the winners in the 1,600 (5:19.8).
In the boys meet, Athens senior Evan Carpenter won three events on the day, taking the crowns in the high jump (6-1), long jump (20-8 ½) and 110 hurdles (15.0) to become the sole competitor to win three open events.
Troy’s James McDonald was also a double winner, breaking the tape in both 100 (10.8) and 200 (22.4). Tom Czerwienski of Fraser won both the discus (150-4) and shot put (49-10 ½) to become one of four individuals to win at least two open events.
Dakota won four events total en route to the team title.
Cody Morgan had the top effort in the pole vault (12-10), Nicholas Culbertson won the 1,600 (4:26.9) and 3,200 (9:46.7) runs, while joining Cody Morgan, Blake Ryan and Jordan Staley on the winning 3,200 relay (8:00.0).
Utica’s Chris Scott, Connor Hinebaugh, Zac Freeland and Glen Scott won the 1,600 relay (3:27.9),while Stevenson’s unit of Brandon Kaip, Jon Strong, Janon Daniels, and Trevon Bauch won the 400 relay (44.0)and 800 relay (1:33.0).
Utica’s Hinebaugh also won the 400 (49.9), Zack Thacker of Clinton Township Chippewa Valley won the 300 hurdles (39.9) and David Parsons of Macomb L’Anse Creuse North finished first in the 800 (1:59.7).
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Category: High School, Prep Wraps, Troy, Troy Athens
