TRACK: Powerhouse programs to collide for Oakland County titles
Lake Orion boys, Oak Park girls tabbed favorites
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
Dan.Stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
WATERFORD — Stan Ford has a dilemma.
Does he load up his troops in their usual events, or does he tweak his lineup and experiment and hope for the best.
Either way, Ford expects Lake Orion’s boys track team to be in the hunt for a third straight Oakland County championship Friday night at the newly-renovated facilities at Waterford Mott, home of the 55th annual event.
“I think we’ll be up there, but it won’t be easy,” admitted Ford, who took over the head coaches roll 14 seasons ago and has molded his program into one of the state’s best. “I am wondering if I should move some guys around, take some people out of relays and let them run some other (open) events. We have the depth to do so. It’s just deciding what to do.”
Lake Orion captured county crowns in 1993, 2012 and 2013 and was the favorite in 2001 before that meet was cancelled due to a tornado in western Oakland County. The Dragons, third at the Division 1 state finals last season and the 2012 state champions, may not be as deep as the past two seasons, but by no means have they dropped substantially.
Lake Orion won the OAA Red Division and D-1 regional at Bloomfield Hills and was second at the Oxford Invitational this season to go along with a 5-0-0 dual meet record.
“If we put our guys in the right events, then I think we’ll be okay,” said Ford. “It’s going to be tough. There are four or five other schools that I think can win it.”
Walled Lake Western, Walled Lake Central and Oak Park appear to be Orion’s top challengers, although Auburn Hills Avondale, Clarkston, Holly, Birmingham Brother Rice, Farmington Harrison, Oxford, Milford, Walled Lake Northern, White Lake Lakeland and Novi should also be in the hunt for top-10 finishes.
There are 57 boys programs and 56 girls programs within Oakland County’s borders this season.
Lake Orion scored 63 points to win the title last year, but that was with the services of TJ Carey, who now competes at Missouri. The Dragons do counter with a bevy of seniors and juniors who have plenty of big-meet experience. David Diaz, Kirk Hansen, Zach Arnold, Andrew Lorant, Sheldon Drake, Jacob Hatcher, Jacob Arenz, Jake Krause, Tanner Fraser, Jacob Mauer, Michael Bonnici and Kevon Woodward make up a bulk or Lake Orion’s point production.
The possible return of senior Corey Ester, who has not run since mid-April due to a reoccurring leg injury and missed the entire championship season last year, could better Lake Orion’s fortunes Friday. Ester was All-State in three events in 2012 as part of Orion’s state title team, including running on a state championship 1,600 relay as a sophomore.
“If we get him back for the county and state meet, that could change things for us. He’s been running hard (in practice),” admitted Ford.
Walled Lake Central (51.33), Southfield (48), Novi (37) Clarkston (35), Oak Park (33) Avondale (32) Walled Lake Northern (3), Brother Rice (31) and Rochester Adams (30) rounded out the top 10 at last year’s meet, where 36 teams cracked the scoring column.
On the girls side, Oak Park is the heavy favorite, as the Knights return virtually their whole team that will also contend for the D-1 state title in less than two weeks.
Oak Park was second with 69 points at last year’s meet. Defending champion Rochester Adams (80 points) was decimated by graduation and athletes opting out of track and field this season.
Birmingham Seaholm appears to be Oak Park’s top challenger with its bevy of distance standouts. Novi, Walled Lake Central, Farmington, Farmington Harrison, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Waterford Mott, Clarkston, Lake Orion, Oxford, Holly, Ortonville Brandon and Birmingham Detroit Country Day are also threats for high point totals and possible top-10 finishers.
Walled Lake Central was third last season with 63 points, while Seaholm (54), Novi (52), Harrison (43), Farmington (29), Brandon (27), Birmingham Groves (23) and Clarkston (22.5) rounding out the top 10. A total of 35 teams scored points last season.
Drew Coleman, Kailsi Latta-Thompson, Brianna Holloway, Anna Jefferson, Carlita Taylor, Tamea McKelvy, Jayla Fleming and Johnyce Powell make up Oak Park’s core that will likely dominate the sprints and sprint relays as well as score well in the long jump, high jump, hurdles and even the 800 and 3,200 relay.
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