TRACK: Falling short: Lake Orion boys finish third; Adams girls run fourth at D-1 state finals
Orion’s T.J.Carey wins first elusive individual title;
Avondale’s Hollomon wins state title in 100
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
EAST KENTWOOD — Twelve men. Ten events. One goal.
Defending a ttle. That was Lake Orion’s theme this boys track and field season, as the Dragons were unbeaten heading into Saturday’s Division 1 state meet. A series of injuries all season halted Lake Orion from defending their state title, as the Dragons finished third with 29 points.
Host East Kentwood rolled up 43 points to win their third title in four years, while Grand Blanc was second for the second straight season (32 points). Walled Lake Central claimed third (27) and Davison and Grand Ledge tied for fifth (24).
Thanks to a blistering 1:51.9 anchor split from TJ Carey, Lake Orion finished second in the 3,200 relay (7:49.29), as the Missouri-bound senior passed three other legs in the final two laps. Saline won in 7:47.49 and the Hornets’ lead was too much to overcome.
That was the first of many points turned in by the Dragons.
“We’re happy with the points, but disappointed overall because we wanted to go undefeated in the 4×800,” said Carey. “If I had some more time, I think I might have been able to catch the leader.”
Carey made up for it by winning the 1,600 meters in a photo finish. Carey was in sixth place with 200 meters to go, but soared to the front to nip Grand Blanc’s Grant Fisher. by six one-thousandths of a second (4:15.763 to 4:15.769).
“After so many close calls, it’s incredible to finally win a race at state,” said Carey, who was second in the 3,200 relay two years in a row and second at state in cross country last November.
Lake Orion’s Jordan Waymar claimed fourth in the 110 hurdles (14.81) and eighth in the 300 hurdles (39.45). Erik Hansen finished eighth in the 800 (1:55.45) and Carey fought through and placed fifth in the 3,200 (9:17.89) for Lake Orion.
Clarkston’s Ian Eriksen finished sixth in the 200 (22.96). Eriksen was the state’s leading rusher in football last season.
“This helps give me some exposure. It shows that I am a big running back with speed. I really thinks it helps football,” said Eriksen.
Auburn Hills Avondale’s Joshuwa Holloman won the 100 (11.11), bouncing back from an injury that kept him from the lineup for over half the season. Teammate Geoffrey Williston placed sixth in the 800 (1:54.96).
“I had to be patient (coming back),” said Holloman. “But I worked hard and came back for the regionals and I just kept getting better each meet. It feels great. Winning the title as a sophomore is incredible.”
Avondale, which won the D-2 state title last season but bumped up enrollment-wise this season, finished 18th this season (13 points). Rochester Adams claimed 35th (8), Clarkston was 54th (3) and Ortonville Brandon 59th (2)
Brandon’s points came from Ty Thronson, who was seventh in the 800 (1:55.38).
Adams was fourth in the 1,600 relay (3:21.45), while Stephen Biebelhausen was sixth in the 3,200 (9:20.34) for the Highlanders.
Led by its nationally-ranked group of distance runners, Grosse Pointe South’s girls won their third straight state title, amassing 76 points. Saline was second with 55 points, followed by East Kentwood (47), Rochester Adams (42) and Macomb Dakota (32).
Ortonville Brandon finished back in 41st (2.5) and Clarkston was tied for 42nd (2).
“I know the girls had hoped to finish higher this season after finishing fourth last season, but we scored 33 points last season and 42 this season. We still had a great day,” offered Adams coach Eric Lohr. “I don’t think any of the girls are disappointed in their efforts. We had some great times today.”
Behind a swift anchor leg from Jamie Morrissey, Adams finished second in the 3,200 relay, breaking their own school record (9:15.05). Grosse Pointe South, which set the state and national record last season, won handily with a 9:01.98 clocking.
Gabrielle Thivierge, Lydia Stanley and Caroline Kletzien were also on the runner-up relay for Adams.
Jessica Howell capped her career at Adams by finishing sixth in the long jump (17-10) and eighth in the 100 meters (12.74). She teamed up with Morrissey, Amber Jamison and Sophie Smith for a runner-up finish in the 1,600 relay (3:54.23). Oak Park originally won the event, but was disqualified, giving the win to Grosse Pointe South (3:52.32).
“I had a great day. I have never placed in the 100 at states before,” admitted Howell, who is headed for Middle Tennessee State. “Our whole team ran great. We had a bunch of (personal bests). Our mile relay broke our school record.”
Morrissey finished fourth in the 800 (2:10.48), the fourth straight season she placed in the event.
“I wanted to finish higher, but I ran my best time of this season and the girls ahead of me (are also All-Americans),” said Morrissey. “It was a very fast race.”
After falling near the finish line in the 400 at last season’s regionals, Smith came back strong this season and placed seventh in the 200 (25.72) and fourth in the 400 (57.28).
“It feels…I can’t even described what it feels like to come back this season and place (in three events),” smiled Smith, who is entertaining thoughts of running in college.
Thivierge placed in the 3,200 for the third straight season, this time running fourth (10:47.22). Heather Johnson of Adams compiled the Highlanders’ other points, as she finished fourth in the 300 hurdles (45.362) coming out of the third heat.
Brandon’s points came from Maddie Pierce, who tied for sixth in the pole vault (11-3). Clarkston finished seventh in the 1,600 relay (3:59.67).
200 BARRIER
Walled Lake Central’s Cullen Prena made some history Saturday. Already the first make discus thrower in Michigan history to break 200 feet, Prena heaved the discus 210-1, by far the best effort by any prep thrower in state history.
SWIFT DISTANCE
Over the past 15 years, girls distance running in Michigan has been elevated to another level. It continued to climb Saturday.
In the fastest 1,600 meters race, all eight competitors easily broke five minutes, including the top three under 4:46.0 — the first time that has ever happened in state history.
Grosse Pointe South’s Hannah Meier set the all-time state record with a 4:39.23clocking, leading a deep and talented field Twin sister Haley Meier was second (4:42.43) and West Bloomfield’s Erin Finn ran third (4:45.37.
Additionally in the 800, Hannah Meier broke her own state record with a time of 2:06.35, with teammate Ersula Farrow taking second (2:07.91) and Macomb Dakota’s Lauren Burnett third (2:09.62), also the first time three female runners have broken 2:10.0 in Michigan history.
In the 3,200 meters, Erin Finn set the all-time state finals record with a 10:08.23 clocking. Finn already owned the state meet record, and now is the second faster prep two-miler in state lore. Megan Goethals of Rochester ventured a 10:00.23 tour at the 2010 Oakland county meet to rank amongst the top 10 in U.S. history.
Finn is also one of the nation’s best distance aces.
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