Avondale leads the way with seven all-state track athletes
TOP HONORS: Auburn Hills Avondale's Nathan Chapman (left) and Takemi Smith earned All-State First Team honors in the 800 relay this season by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association. File Photo
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Fresh off its best-ever finish at the boys track & field state finals, Auburn Hills Avondale is reaping the benefits.
The Yellowjackets boys, third at the Division 2 state finals in June, led the www.northoaklandsports.com coverage area with seven all-state athletes, six boys and one girl, as announced recently by the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association.
Athletes that finish first through third at the state finals earned first-team all-state honors, athletes that placed fourth through sixth are second-team and athletes that placed seventh and eighth are listed as honorable mention.
Avondale’s Trevon Salter, the 400 state champion, earned first-team honors in that event, while the Saginaw Valley State signee was second-team in the long jump. Ryan Brancheau also earned second-team status in the high jump.
Salter, Takemi Smith, Jeff Douglas and Nathan Chapman were first-team in the 800 relay, an event they captured the state title. Salter, Douglas, Smith and Xavier Burns were also the state champs in the 400 relay to earn first-team accolades in that event as well.
Salter became a rare four-event all-stater this year.
Oxford’s 1,600 relay quartet of Darren Lumkpin, Connor Risinger, Aaron Stuk and Terrance Webb earned first-team status in Division 1. Stuk was honorable mention in the 300 hurdles.
Lake Orion’s 1,600 relay was second-team in D-1.
Over in Division 4, Brent Kostich of Auburn Hills Oakland Christian was second-team in the 300 hurdles. The Lancers were also first-team all-state in the 800 relay, where they were third at the finals, while Oakland Christian earned second-team all-state in both the 400 relay and 1,600 relay.
In girls track, Rochester’s Brooke Handler was all-state first-team in both the 800 and 1,600 runs, as the senior finished in the top three in both events at the D-1 finals. Rochester’s foursome of Emily Leppek, Thea Terry, Manjoa Likine and Teanna Murray were honorable mention ion the 400 relay.
Lake Orion’s Alexandria Johnson, headed for Ohio State, was first-team in the 100 hurdles and second-team in the 200 meters.
Lake Orion’s Linnea Berriman was second team D-1 in the discus, Clarkston’s Ann Manilla second-team D-1 in the high jump and Rochester Adams’ Gabrielle Thivierge was first-team in the 3,200 meters and Jamie Morrissey second-team D-1 in the 800 meters. Additionally in D-1, Adams’ Jessica Howell was honorable mention in the long jump.
In D-2, Avondale’s Yasmine Jones claimed first-team honors in both the 100 and 200 dashes after finishing third in both races at the finals. Freshman Anna Haritos was honorable-mention in the 300 hurdles.
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Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Clarkston, Clarkston Everest Catholic, High School, High School (M-Z), Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Hills Lutheran NW, Rochester Stoney Creek, Troy, Troy Athens, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes
