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TRACK: Clarkston, Romeo emerge as regional champion

Dan Stickradt | May 21, 2016 | Comments (0)

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

Twitter: @LocalSportsFans

LAKE ORION — In a year of special moments, Romeo added to its scrapbook at Lake Orion Friday night.

The Bulldogs, who collected state titles in both football and boys hockey earlier this school year, captured its first Division 1 regional title in boys track and field since 1985, ending a 31-year drought.

Romeo scored 82 points to fend off injury-plagued Lake Orion (74.5 points) for the crown.

Waterford Kettering was third with 74 points, while e West Bloomfield (61), Oxford (52), Clarkston 952), Holly (42), defending champion Waterford Mott (40), Rochester Adams (38.5) and Utica Eisenhower (35) rounded out the top 10 standings in the 15-school field in the boys’ meet.

“It’s been a long time, 31 years for us,” smiled Romeo head coach Mike Mike Buslepp. “I fought we competed very well. We had a lot of guys step up and we have five very good coaches that prepared us for this meet.”

Meanwhile, Clarkston’s girls captured their second straight regional crown and fourth in the past decade with 98.5 points, pulling way from Bloomfield Hills (87), Lake Orion (75) and Waterford Mott (66.5) down the stretch.

Kettering (48), Rochester Stoney Creek (48), Eisenhower (48), West Bloomfield (38), Rochester (35) and Adams (33) followed suit in the top 10.

“We didn’t have our best meet. We had some kids who had a rough day, but we had others that picked it up,” said Clarkston coach Kevin Breen. “We chipped away at it with a few points here and a few there. I thought our freshman, Liz Dalrymple, was a great surprise because she qualified in three events and helped us when a couple of key kids were sick and (underperformed).”

Dalrymple won the 1,600 meters (5:03.93), one of the Wolves’ two wins on the day, and also qualified in the 3,200 and 3,200 relay. Courtney Roland captured the high jump for Clarkston (5-2).

Romeo’s Emma Wilson the 3,200 (10:52.30), leading a pack of six qualifiers, and also took second in the 1,600.

Mott’s foursome of Morgan Fuerst, Rylee Robinson, Alexis Munley and Katie Osika pulled away from the pack to win the 3,200 relay (9:17.50) to lead four state qualifying units. The Corsairs’ Osika, Fuerst, Mikayla Gean and Victoria Stachowski also set a school and track record in winning the 1,600 relay (3:59.40).

Stoney Creek’s Bryn Ropeta captured the 100 hurdles (15.46), edging Bloomfield Hills’ Dazha Coffey.

Coffey, who was second in the 300 hurdles, joined Briana Wooten, Jayla Brown and Olivia Wilson on Bloomfield Hills’ winning 800 relay (1:44.87), which prevailed by two seconds over Clarkston. The same foursome also won the 400 relay (50.12), well ahead of Lake Orion (50.84).

Bloomfield Hills’ Lopez also won the 200 (25.94), nipping Stoney Creek’s Isabella Davis (25.95) in a photo finish.

A pair of freshmen qualified in the 100 meets, with Stoney Creek’s Davis clocking 12.82 and Lake Orion’s Madison Eaton (12.91) right behind.

Pontiac’s Infinnatie Rowe fought through agony to win the 400 (58.32) before being helped off the track.

Kettering’s Lillia Schoof suffered a season-ending injury one day after last year’s regional, but came back to win the regional crown in the 300 hurdles (46.37) this year.

“It feels great because I got hurt after the regional last year and couldn;t compete (at the state meet),” said Schoof. “I really wanted this. I want to get down to under 45 this year. I know I can do it.”

Adams’ Carola Jansohn led from start to finish to claim the 800 (2:15.34), one of five qualifiers in the event.

“It was rough,” said Jansohn. “The stregedy was to get out fast and hold (the lead). There’s a lot of good runners in (this event).”

Lake Orion’s Colleen Campbell won the pole vault (11-0), Kettering’s Olivia O’Brien the discus (124-1) and Bloomfield Hills’ Amanda Sape the shot put (39-5.25) rounded out the winners in the girls meet.

Romeo’s boys squad put together a nice run this season and the Bulldogs’ fine collection of athletes has helped them achieve the school’s best team in some three decades.

“We have a very good collection of athletes. Some football players, some cross country kids and others from a variety of sports,” added Buslepp. “Last year we were kind of young. This year we figured we could have a good team.”

Romeo won four events and scored in bulks throughout the meet to emerge as the victors.

Brad Tanner won the long jump (22-7.5) and joined Jared Czapski, Kade Messner and John Jackman on the winning 800 relay (1:32.03). The same unit also broke the tape in the 400 relay (43.54).

Adam Fraeyman led from start to finish in the 1,600 (4:25.15) for Romeo.

Kettering finished 1-2 in the high jump with Noah Holly and Jacob Netschke both clearing 6-3. Netschke, Travell Weatherby, Anthony Gonzales and Joe Mercier set a school record in winning the 1,600 relay (3:25.56) for the Captains.

Weatherby also won the regional crown in the 300 hurdles (40.27) for Kettering.

Stoney Creek’s Adam Hilton the 200 (22.54) and finished second in a photo finish to West Bloomfield’s Navon Mosely in the 400 (50.35 to 50.36)

Holly’s Blake Stafne pulled away from a tight pack to win the 800 (1:56.97)

Oxford’s Jacob Lewisnki was tops in the pole vault (12-6). Teammate Conor Bandel remained unbeaten on the year. in the shot put (63-7) and discus (189-2).

Adams’ foursome of Matt Schram, Matt Schiller, Parker Raymond and Colin Crusoe edged Lake Orion to win the 3,200 relay (8:04.88) after Lake Orion’s anchor leg dropped the baton with two meters to go.

Schram also pulled away from Oxford’s Gabe Hogan down the stretch to win the 3,200 (9:28.9), while Adams’ Brandon Jenkins captured the crown in the 100 (11.39).

Eisenhower’s Brendan Valentine edged Ortonville Brandon’s Bryce Chamberlain to win the 110 hurdles (15.34 to 15.58) and round out the winners.

Tags: Boys Track & Field, Girls Track & Field, MHSAA Division 1 Lake Orion Regional