Top-seeded athletes look to burn up track at state finals
RAISING THE BAR: Rochester Adams' Aaron Moore hopes to clear a few more inches and earn a medal in the high jump at Saturday's Division 1 state finals.
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Although there will not likely be a team champion from the area this weekend at the boys and girls track and field state championships, there will still be dozens of athletes from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area that will that have set their sights on top-eight finishes in several events at Saturday’s Lower Peninsula state track and field finals, which will be scattered around the Grand Rapids area.
Division 1 will take place at Rockford High School, while D-2 is at Grand Rapids Houseman Stadium, D-3 takes place at Comstock Park High School and D-4 at Jenison High School.
Field events will begin at 9:30 a.m.
Last year, Rochester won the D-1 girls state crown, the first time that a Class A/Division 1 girls team from Oakland County won a state title in girls track. Auburn Hills Avondale was fifth in the Division 2 boys standings.
Both teams could finish in the top 10 again this season, with Rochester Adams’ girls team also eyeing a top-10 finish.
As for top-seeded athletes, Rochester’s Brook Handler is seeded fourth in the 1,600 and second in the 800 and is one of the area’s best threat for an individual state crown. The Falcons have top-12 seeds in the 1,600 relay, 800 relay and 400 relay.
Lake Orion’s Alexandria Johnson has top-10 seeds in the 100 hurdles and 200 meters, while teammate Linnea Berriman is eyeing points in the discus.
Troy’s 3,200 relay hopes to remain in medal contention, along with Oxford and Adams in the 3,200 relay, which saw a record eight teams dip under 9:23 at last year’s finals. Troy’s Monique Nguyen placed third in the high jump last season and is looking for similar success.
Adams sprinter/long jumper Jessica Howell is one of the top long jumpers in the state, while sophomore distance runners Gabrielle Thivierge (1,600 and 3,200) and Jamie Morrissey (800) will also be in the running for points. Morrissey placed in the 800 last year as a freshman.
Oxford’s Brooke Kovacic has an outside chance of placing in the 3,200. The pace will be fast in the girls distance races, with medalists likely having to dip under 11 minutes in the 3,200, five minutes in the 1,600 and 2:16 in the 800.
Rochester Stoney Creek is in the fast heat for the 800 relay and sprinter Berrion Berry has the potential to reach the finals in the sprints. Oxford’s Sarah Hillebrand was a county champion the pole vault with aspirations for more at the state meet.
Anna Manilla (high jump) is Clarkston’s best shot at a state medal.
Grosse Pointe South, Ann Arbor Huron and Detroit Cass Tech are this year’s favorites for a state title in the girls D-1 field.
East Kentwood is the reigning champion and the favorite to repeat in the D-1 boys competition. Look for Ann Arbor Pioneer and Novi Detroit Catholic Central being apart of a host of schools that hope to be challengers for a top five or top-10 team finish.
Locally, Oxford’s boys have high hopes for hurdler Aaron Stuk to contend for a crown in the 300 hurdles and for a top-five finish in the 110 hurdles. The Wildcats could also score in the 400 relay, 800 relay and 1,600 relay, with Darren Lumpkin having a shot in the 200 and Cody Westmoreland in the pole vault
Lake Orion’s 1,600 relay quartet has emerged in recent weeks and has the potential to medal, while the Dragons’ 800 relay could also finish in the top-10.
Rochester’s Brian Beecher is aiming for a high finish in the 800 and teammate Eric Perez is in the 400 with an outside chance. Troy’s Jordan Hamilton could place in the 300 hurdles and James McDonald in the 100 and 200, while Troy Athens’ Evan Carpenter is competing in three events (110 hurdles, high jump, long jump) and hopes to squeeze out a medal.
Clarkston’s 1,600 and 3,200 relays both have outside chances to medal if there is a substantial time drop in both events. Clarkston’s C.J. Gozdor and Adams’ Aaron Moore hope to raise the bar a few more inches and place in the high jump.
In D-2, Avondale’s core of sprinters could rack up enough points for another top-five finish, although injuries this season likely takes the Yellowjackets out of contention for a team title.
Travon Salter anchors the 400 and 800 relays and is also a top-10 seed in the 400 and long jump for Avondale. Dylan Chapman, who runs the relays, could emerge as a top-eight medalist in the 800 and Ryan Brancheau is going after a medal in the high jump for the second straight season.
Avondale Yasmine Jones placed in the sprints last season and could back to the finals in the 100 and 200 this season
Birmingham-Detroit Country Day is among the favorites in both the boys and girls races for a state championship in D-2.
In Division 4, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian’s boys are going after its second top-10 team finish in three years and is capable of placing in several events. Look for the Lancers to contend for points in the 400 relay (sixth seed), 800 relay (fourth seed) and 1,600 relay, while Felix Siekmann (eighth) is a threat in the 400. Sprinter Drew Perrin could also be in the mix in the 100.and long jump.
In the girls D-4, Abbey Piece of Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest has a shot in the discus.
Oakland Christian’s 400 relay has the fourth seed and will be in the fast heat.
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