Scorching feat: Peak performances spark D-1 girls field
FAST TO THE FINISH: Lake Orion's Alexandria Johnson and Battle Creek Lakeview's Sarita Dotson fly towards the finish during the 200 meters prelims at Saturday's Division 1 stae finals. Staff Photo | Dan Stickradt
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCKFORD — Linnea Berriman felt a little left out last season, placing ninth in the discus. This year the Lake Orion senior was bound and determined to reach the medals stands.
She did.
Berriman finished fourth in her event with a career-best 123-9, becoming one of many athletes from the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area to share in some state glory at the Lower Peninsula Division 1 track and field finals at Rockford High School..
“I really wanted to get here to the (medals stand) this year because I was so close last season,” said Berriman, who will compete at Alma College next season. “It was bittersweet because it was my last meet. But I’m a senior and fourth-place all-state isn’t bad at all.”
Rochester’s Brooke Handler capped her fine prep career with a pair of medals and efforts that rank nationally, as she ran in some of the fastest distance races in state history, including the 1,600, where all eight placers dipped under five minutes and three under 4:50.
Handler stayed with the leaders in the 1,600 but faded in the final 100 meters and finished third. She clocked 4:49.7, behind Grosse Pointe South’s Hannah Meier and Haley Meier, who clocked 4:42.6 and 4:45.8, respectively.
Hannah Meier and Handler finished 1-2 in the 800 for the second straight season, with Meier going 2:07.32 and Handler 2:10.3.
“There are parts of both races that I like and part that I don’t like,” said Handler, who is going to the University of Michigan.
“I knew that the Meiers had great kicks, so I tried to stay up there as long as I could. I just ran out (of energy) with about 150 to go. And when Haley passed me, I knew I couldn’t go with her.”
Rochester’s 400-relay came out of the third of four heats to finish eighth in the event, which the Falcons won last year. Rochester clocked 49.32.
“It’s a great feeling considering we came out of the (slower heats) to place,” said leadoff leg Emily Leppek. “We still won our heat. I think we could have gone faster if we were in the fast heat, but we ran a great race.”
Lake Orion’s Alexandria Johnson finished second in the 100 hurdles by a fraction to Oakland County rival Laticia Sims of Farmington Harrison, as the pair crossed in a photo finish (14.11 to 14.14). Johnson, headed to Ohio State, was fourth in the 200 (25.16) to place in the event for the second straight year.
“I wanted to win, but I’m happy with the time,” said Johnson, who did not run hurdles until the indoor winter season. “It was some fast races. It was great to see a lot of these girls back this year. There were a couple hurt last season that were here this year.”
Adams’ Gabrielle Thivierge is a swimmer in the fall and does not run cross-country, but came through with a third-place finish in the 3,200, braving the sweltering heat.
“I wanted to get third, run my pace and not die (with 800 meters) to go,” said Thivierge. “It didn’t feel very good, the heat was bad. But I still ran a good race. I wish it was a little cooler.”
Adams sophomore Jamie Morrissey placed in the 800 for the second straight season, finishing sixth (2:15.0).Teammate Jessica Howell was seventh in the long jump (17-1).
Clarkston’s Anna Manilla had a career-best effort of 5-5, good enough for fourth overall.
Locally, Lake Orion finished in a four-way tie for ninth (18), while defending champion Rochester was 14th (15). Rochester Adams tied for 20th (11) and Clarkston finished in a three-way tie for 37th (5).
PASSING THE BATON
Grosse Pointe South won the girls D-1 crown with 54 points, the first title in Steve Zaranek’s 32nd year as head coach of the Blue Devils, followed by Ann Arbor Huron (50) and Detroit Cass Tech (50). East Kentwood was fourth (39) and Grand Ledge fifth (25) in the top five.
South was aided by balance and some nationally-ranked distance runners.
“For us it was almost like a perfect storm,” said Zaranek. “We’ve had a good team for a long time, with regional titles and some top-10s (at the state meet). But we had some good field events kids, a good hurdler, and a bunch of great distance runners. Hannah Meier is the most versatile runner in the state. She’s in a league of her own.”
It’s the third straight year where a new D-1 champion has been crown. Romulus won in 2009 with 38 points and Rochester came through last season with 65 points. Romulus is now down in D-2 and had a fourth-place finish this season.
Ann Arbor Pioneer has won 15 crowns in girls track, the most in state history.
“It’s really nice to see teams like this win,” said Zaranek. “We know what Pioneer has done over the years. It was nice to see Rochester put it all together last year and for us this year. It’s been a long time coming.”
Several records fell in the girls meet. East Kentwood won the 800 relay (1:40.41), Southfield’s Latipha Cross the (54.29) and Hannah Meier’s 2:07.37 broke her own record. Meier’s effort in the 1,600 is the second fastest all-time from a Michigan prep athlete.
ANZALONE GETS HER TITLE
Grand Blanc’s gabriella Anzalone was nipped at the finish line at the Divisoin 1 cross-country state championships last November by rochester’;sHandler, yet still had the third-fastest time in state history for girls cross country.
Scratching out of the 1,600 as the No. 2 seed, Anzalone finally gained a state championship, outlasting West Bloomfield’s Erin Finn in the final lap (10:23.07 to 10:32.51).
“It was my last chance, my last race my senior year so I had to go after it,” said Anzalone. “It feels great to finally win it. There’s a lot of amazing distance runners out there with some amazing times.”
OTHER WINNERS
Ann Arbor Huron had its best-ever state finish, led by a win in the 3,200 relay (9:09.23).
Cass Tech’s Kyra Jefferson staked claim to the fastest woman in D-1, scorching the field for a 11.72 clocking in the 100 meters and a 23.87 showing in the 200. Cass Tech also won the 1,600 relay (3:50.25).
Grand Ledge’s Tory Schiller took the 300 hurdles (43.63) and long jump (18-8), Dexter’s Nyki Caldwell the pole vault (5-8), West Bloomfield’s Tayor Gunn the discus (136-7) and Pontiac’s Angela Bursey the shot put (44-0).
Novi also won the 400 relay (48.35).
Category: Clarkston, High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Troy, Troy Athens
