TRACK AND FIELD: Records fall on day where East Kentwood, Oak Park stand on highest ground
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCKFORD — Records are meant to be broken.
Plenty of them fell to the way side at Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 track and field state finals at Rockford High School.
School records, track records and even a few state records went to the wayside in one of faster state meets in recent memory.
Saline’s set the record in the 3,200 relay to start the meet, pulling away from a loaded field to clock 7:40.54 to set the stage for a day when runners had to finally adjust to the heat after a cool season.
Sterling Heights Stevenson’s Jaliah Mason posted a 5-9.25 to set the girls high jump record.
Donavan Brazier of Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills won the 800 in a D-1 record 1:50.24 effort. All eight point scorers dipped under 1:54.
“I knew it was going to be a fast race,” said Brazier. “I knew I had to get out and get a lead and hold it.”
Oak Park’s Anna Jefferson was stunned when she learned that she clocked 53.50 in winning the 400 in a D-1 record time.
“Oh my,” she said, trying to find the words to explain her amazement. “I have run in the 54s, but never in the 53s in the open. I can’t believe it. I didn’t think I ran that fast.”
Dexter’s Noah Gary set a new standard in the pole vault, going 16-2 for the boys title.
FIVE OUT OF SIX
East Kentwood captured its fifth state title in a six-year span, showcasing a long line of talent. The Falcons also own two runner-up finishes and an eight-place showing in the past eight years.
“I scored us out and had 66 points and we ended up with 71 points,” said East Kentwood coach Dave Emeott. “I figured based on seeds that Oak Park would be our toughest challenger with 48 points and they scored 50. It all worked out in the end.”
Antione Lloyd won the 110 hurdles (13.95) for East Kentwood, which also won the 800 relay (1:27.09).
Swartz Creek’s Kevin Wieler won both the shot put and discus, joining the rare 60-feet club in the shot put with a 60-4.5 heave.
“It feels great to win them both. I wanted to go after 60 feet today,” said Weiler. “I hadn’t thrown all that great in the discus this year, so going (176-5) was a great throw.”
OAK PARK SHOWCASE
In the girls meet, Oak Park ran away with the meet title, scoring a scorching 92 points on the heels of four victories, including all three sprint relays to go along multiple top-eight performances. The Knights became just the second Class A/Division 1 girls program from talent-rich Oakland County to claim a girls state title following Rochester in 2010 and did so with the highest point total since Ann Arbor Pioneer scored 104 points in winning the title in 2007.
“Last year we got a taste of what it takes to succeed (at the state level),” said Oak Park coach Brandon Jiles. “The girls were at their best today (in this heat). They performed when it counted. I couldn’t be more prouder of this group of young women.”
Jefferson won the 400, placed second in the 200 and ran a leg on the winning 400- and 800-relay meter relays.
TRIPLE THREAT
Sekayi Bracey of East Kentwood was clearly the fastest female on the day, winning the 100 (11.88) and 200 (23.98) to go along with a win in the long jump (18-7.25) for good measure.
DISTANCE ACES
Birmingham Seaholm’s Audrey Belf, Rachel Diadamo, Brooke Callaghan and Patty Giradot clocked 8:59.08 in winninng the 3,200 relay, just the second fastest in state meet history. Less than 20 relays teams in this event have ever dipped under 9:10 in D-1 state history.
“Our goal was to try to go after nine minutes,” said Belf, who ran a 2:08 anchor leg for the Maples. “This is unbelievable. There are so many talented distance runners in the state and we trained so hard for this.”
Belf also ran 10:17.08 in the 3,200, the third-fastest time in state history.
“It was really hot out there. I just had to keep pushing myself,” said Belf.
Northville’s Rachel Coleman ran a blistering 4:45.76 in a swift 1,600, where 10 runners dipped under the five-minute mark. Less than 20 runners have ever broke 4:50 in the girls 1,600 in state history.
“Girls distance running in Michigan is phenomenal,” said Coleman, who ran a leg on the runner-up 3,200 relay. “The races are so fast.”
Grand Blanc’s Grant fisher, a state and national champion in cross-country last fall, won both the 1,600 (4:10.82) and 3,200 (9:07.,11), where he passed Royal Oak’s Ben hill in the final 200 meters to win by two seconds.
“I hurt my ankle a couple of weeks ago,” said Fisher. “I rested for a few days and then went back to work. I think I ready for this meet. I just wanted to win because I lost (the mile to Lake Orion’s) TJ (Carey) last season by a narrow margin. I worked hard to make sure that I was ready.”
NORTH OAKLAND CONNECTION
Rochester Adams Jordan Shive was eighth in the 110 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles (38.79) to earn medals for the third year in a row. Teammate Brant Santana, after being disqualified last season at the regional, ran sixth in the 400 (49.80).
Lake Orion was again the top team with NorthOaklandSports.com connections, finishing 12th with 15 points. Adams was 37th (seven), Oxford 42nd (5.33), Troy 43rd (five) and Clarkston 47th (four) to round out area teams.
Lake Orion’s foursome of Sheldon Drake, Jake Krause, Jacob Hatcher and Zach Arnold came out of the slowest heat to place fifth in the 800-meter relay (1:29.02). the Dragons’ 1,600-meter relay of Drake, Arnold, David Diaz and Kirk Hansen also won the second-fastest heat and took third overall in the 1,600 relay (3:19.34), breaking the school record by two seconds.
Hansen came back to grab fourth in the 800 (1:53.24).
“This is a great way to end,” said Hansen, who has signed with Notre Dame. “We’ve had a great run in the years I have been here and it’s great to get a couple of medals as a senior. This was my first year where I was expected to step in and be a leader and I feel like I have done that.”
Troy’s Kushal Tungri picked off several runners down the stretch to finish fourth in the 1,600 (4:13.27), second fastest in school history.
“I had a great kick today,” said Tungri. “I didn’t go out that fast. I sat back and then started to (pass runners) in the last lap. I didn’t want to get caught up (and fade) at the end.”
Oxford’s Noah Kinnie tied for eighth in the pole vault (13-4), while Connor Bandel claimed fourth in the shot put (54-4.25) as a sophomore.
Clarkston’s Merrick Canada was fifth in the long jump (22-1).
In the girls meet, Ortonville Brandon’s was 28th (eight), Holly (four) and Pontiac (four) tied for 36th, Rochester Adams 39th (three) and Clarkston 51st (one) to pace area schools.
Madison Peirce of Brandon was runner-up in the pole vault (12-0).
“I really wanted to win it, but I can’t complain about being second (as a junior),” said Pierce, who has a full slate of summer meets on tap. “I still have a year to improve.”
Holly’s Alyssa Copley fifth in the shot put (39-11), Clarkston’s Meagan Nicholson eighth in the high jump (5-0) and Adams’ Heather Johnston sixth (45.15) in the 300 hurdles, placing for the third straight year.
“It’s a great way to end my senior year,” said Johnston.
OAK PARK BOYS BLAZE TRAIL
Oak Park’s boys 400 relay team of Eli Minor and Devone Friar, Marvin White and Ricardo Brown clocked 41.47, one of the fastest in the event in many years. The Knights were second overall in the meet with 50 points.
Eli Minor won the 100 (10.88) and Maurice Allen both the 400 (48.13) and 200 (21.36) for Oak Park.
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