Oakland Christian finishes runner-up at track regional

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

WEBBERVILLE — Felix Siekmann is only a one-hit wonder, as the exchange student at Auburn Hills Oakland Christian will return to his homeland of Germany next school year.

He’s already left his mark on his host school.

Siekmann scored in multiple events Saturday at the Division 4 track and field regional at Webberville, leading a host of state qualifiers June 4 at Jenison High School. The senior also led Oakland Christian to a runner-up finish at the regional, trailing only favored Danville, 130-90.

Flint Hamady was third (71), Webberville fourth (60.5) and Birmingham Roeper fifth (60) in the top five, followed by Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (47), Waterford Our Lady Lakes-Clarkston Everest Collegiate Unified (36.5), Morrice (32.5), Southfield Christian (26), Ann Arbor Greenhills (25), Burton Bentley (16), Burton Atherton (10), Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (9.5), Flint Michigan School for the Deaf (5) and Flint International Academy (2) in the team standings.

“We ran very well.We have some very good sprinters that scored a lot of points,” said Oakland Christian coach Chuck Snyder.  “I think, basedon our performances, that we can do well at the state meet. in some events.”

The top two finishers in the regional, plus other reaching the pre-determined qualifying standard, advance to the state finals.

Siekmann ran a school record 51.4 in winning the 400, while he ran on the winning 800 relay (1:33.5) and 400 relay (44.8) and the runner-up 1,600 relay (3:37.0).

“What a blessing (Siekmann) is,” added Snyder.”He;s a strong kid who can run a lot of races. We’re fortunate enough to have him.”

Teammate Brent Kostich also won both the 110 hurdles (16.2) and 300 hurdles (42.1), while Drew Perrin, who also ran on two placing relays, was second in the 100 and long jump  to help Oakland Christian’s cause.

FEW METERS TO GO: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian's Kalena Shaw eanred a state finals berth by finishing second in the 200 meters at Saturday's Division 4 regional at Webberville. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt

Tyler Yee, Siekmann, Dylan Anderson and Perrin comprised the winning 800 relay and 400 relay.

Dansville only won three events but had plenty of depth to topple the 16-school field. Nick Moon won the 800 (2:01.3),  while joining Ethan Gurecki, Daniel Pepper and Jay Witchell on the victorious 3,200 relay (8:36.4) and 1,600 relay (3:36.8).

Southfield Christian’s Victor Allen won both the 1,600 (4:23.6) and 3,200 (9:56.3) in convincing fashion and Webberville’s Garrett Hitchcock took the shot put (43-5.5) and discus (127-2) to join the double-winner circle.

Erick Layton of Flint Hamady won the high jump (5-10) and teammate Saul Williams the 100 (11.5), Webberville’s Ryan Guidroz had the top effort in the long jump (20-6) and Roeper’s Walter Johnson broke the tape in the 200 (23.9).

Locally, Zach Friedel of Lutheran Northwest was an additional qualifier in the long jump (19-9), taking third and improving his season-best by over two feet.

As expected, Morrice captured the girls meet crown with 143points, well ahead of Flint Hamady’s 96. Birmingham Roeper was third (83.5), Oakland Christian fourth (67) and Lutheran Northwest fifth (58).

Dansville followed in sixth (51), while Burton Bentley (26), Ann Arbor Greenhills (24.5), Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes-Clarkston Everest Unified (18), Webberville (17), Southfield Christian (17), Burton Atherton (5), Sterling Heights Parkway Christian (1), Flint Michigan School for the Deaf (0) Flint International Academy (0) rounded out the scoring.

Roeper’s Briana Ratchford won the shot put (37-10) and 100 hurdles (16.3) while finishing second in the 300 hurdles. Teammate Akilah Russell, Birmingham Roeper won the discus (100-7) and Marie Carrozza (13:28.8) and Ann Finkel (14:23.8) took the top two slots in the 3,200 and Carrozza was second in the 1,600.

Hamady’s Aleyah Kelly won the 100 (12.9) and (26.4), Dejha Love added a win in the long jump (15-4.75) and Keyocia Murphy the high jump (4-9). Hamady also won the 400 relay (51.4) and 1,600 relay (4:18.7).

Regional champion Morrice won five events total on the day. Mary London took the pole vault crown (6-6), Ashley Howard the 400 (1:01.5), Kelsey Butcher the 300 hurdles (48.3), Chelsea Butcher the 800 (2:31.9) and Morrice also captured the 800 relay (1:50.7).

Alexis Nelson of Oakland Christian won the 1,600 (5:56.8) and placed second in the 800. Teammate Kelena Shaw was second in the 200 and Amber Alexander second in the high jump. The Lancers were also second in the 400 relay (52.2) to qualify in five events.

Dansville won the 3,200 relay (11:00.0) to round out the winners.

Locally, Lutheran Northwest’s Rachyl VanderPloeg was second in the 400 (1:06.4)and Abby Pierce was second in the discus (98-1).The Crusaders were also runner-up in both the 1,600 relay (4:46.9) and 3,200 relay (11:42.7).

“We got some kids through, although I was hoping for a few more,” said Northwest coach Randy Tyler. “We only had one boy make it out. We got a couple of the girls relays to the state meet.I am proud of their efforts. We had some nice performances. ”

To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.  To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com

Category: Auburn Hills Christian Acadamy, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Clarkston Everest Catholic, High School, High School (M-Z), Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes