Published: May 22, 2008 09:37 am         

Track Roundup: Titles for Titans, Trojans

TRAVERSE CITY -- Traverse City West earned a share of its fourth consecutive Big North Conference boys track championship Wednesday.

Traverse City Central, meanwhile, won its first girls league title since 2004.

Those were the storylines on a wet, cold afternoon at West Junior High.

West and Petoskey tied for the boys crown as both teams finished with 115 points. Alpena was third (111). The Wildcats were followed by Traverse City Central (97), Cadillac (61) and Gaylord 21.

It initially appeared that Petoskey won the meet, but an error in the 1600-meter results changed the scoring -- and the outcome.

The Titans won five events -- Jordan Huffman in the 100 high hurdles (15.95); Greg Forrester in the 300 intermediates (42.70); Rocko Khoury in the shot put (51'31/2"); Eric Wilson in the 1600; and Zack Beeler, John Purdy, John Flynn and Will Kittendorf in the 800 relay(1:35.38). Khoury's toss was a season's best.

"The kids performed well given the weather conditions," West coach Jerry Ruskowski said.

Geoff Burns -- in just his second meet of the season -- placed second in the 1600 (4:36.30) while Andy Zimmerman finished second in the high jump (5'11").

Derek Henning led Petoskey. He won the 1600 (4:30.41), was on the victorious 3200 relay (8:23.93) and finished second in the 3200 (10:03.79).

Dylan Fettig won the 400 (53.33), Cory Starkey the high jump (6') and Cooper Osbron the pole vault (13') for the Northmen.

Central was sparked by Jacob Secor, who captured the 3200 (9:49.35). Teammates Ray Gidley, Mike Heim, Derrick Rudolph and Blair Bell claimed the 400 relay (45.25).

Bell added a second in the 200 (23.18). The Trojans also took a second in the 3200 relay (8:36.90).

Cadillac's Cody Zagers swept the sprints, winning the 100 (11.37) and 200 (23.03).

Central rolled in the girls race, scoring 139.333 points. Gaylord edged Traverse City West for second -- 87 to 86.5.

Sophomores Katie Perkins and Marin Bahra led the charge for Central. Perkins won the 1600 (5:16.58) and 3200 (11:23.8) while Bahra claimed the long jump (15'9") and 400 (1:01.32) and took second in the 200 (27.56). Perkins also teamed with Taylor Mattarella, Alison Ostema and Charnele Lyons to take the 3200 relay (9:41.36).

"The girls were really up and ready for this despite the weather," Central coach Lisa Taylor said. "This is a nice way to finish what I would call a building season for us."

Junior Kortney Bower provided 18 points in the field events for the Trojans. She won the discuss (98'5") and was second in the shot put (34'8").

Lyons added a second in the 800 (2:31) while Shelbie Buchanan placed second in the high jump (5').

Kara Pohlman led West, winning the 100 hurdles (17.18) and 300 hurdles (50.64). Jamie Gotshall captured the pole vault (9'6") for the Titans.

Sierra Breithaupt earned a second in the long jump (15'43/4").

West finished second in three relays -- Breithaupt, Pohlman, Kate Sumner and Christine Olson in the 400 (54.03); Mandy Scott, Breithaupt, Pohlman and Olson in the 800 (1:51.68); and Margeaux Raymond, Lilia Favela, Scott and Olson in the 1600 (4:21.42).

BOYS TRACK

Kingsley takes seventh title in eight years

J.J. Sanchez and Dave Zaleski each won two individual events to help the Kingsley boys claim the Northwest Conference track title.

The crown is the seventh in the last eight seasons and the 21st since 1975 for the Stags.

Kingsley finished with 1651/2 points. Benzie Central was second with 153 followed by Suttons Bay (86), Frankfort (661/2), Mesick (29), Buckley (21) and Glen Lake (5).

Sanchez won the 110 (15.77) and 300 hurdles (43.0) while Zaleski took the 100 (11.74) and 200 (23.51).

Benzie Central's Scott McKeel was the most valuable senior. He won the 400 (52.58) and was on two winning relays.

Other area winners were:

LONG JUMP -- Nolan Stiner (K) 19'91/4"; HIGH JUMP -- Shawn Waara (F) 6'2"; SHOT PUT -- Brandon Garber (F) 41'41/2"; DISCUS -- Ben Dietrich (M) 123'10"; POLE VAULT -- Ryan Ireton (BC) 10'6"; 3200 RELAY -- Benzie Central (A.J. Patterson, Nick Radionoff, Morgan Gomez, McKeel) 8:58.7; 800 RELAY -- Kingsley (Sanchez, Nate Ensman, Maurice Sims, Zaleski) 1:36.57; 1600 -- Ben Wynsma (SB) 5:03.09; 400 RELAY -- Kingsley (Justin Mueller, Josh Nix, Sims, Josh Wiggins) 47.31; 800 -- Tom Sedlacek (K) 2:07.61; 3200 -- Wynsma (SB) 10:37; 1600 RELAY -- Benzie Central (Radionoff, Mike Furkiss, Gomez, McKeel) 3:44.97.

GIRLS TRACK

Northwest return a victory for Benzie

Benzie Central claimed the girls Northwest Conference title in its first season back in the league.

The Huskies finished with 145 points while host Kingsley was second with 118. Glen Lake was third with 60 followed by Mesick (59), Suttons Bay (57), Frankfort (46) and Buckley (41).

Benzie won three of the four relays. Lisa Ahrens, Michaela Carnegie, Taylor Witchner and Mikayla Lonn won the 800 (1:53.96); Carnegie, Witchner, Lonn and Corrie Noah the 1600 (4:31.79); Devyn Ramsay, Marika Grabowski, Kelsey Noah and Taylor Nye the 3200 (10:34.2).

Frankfort's Britt Frantz was named most valuable senior. She won the 100 (13.17), 200 (27.29) and joined Grace Putney, Noel Bigley and Keeton Spencley on the victorious 400 relay team (54.57).

Other winners were:

LONG JUMP -- Lisa Ahrens (BC) 15'81/2"; HIGH JUMP -- Brit Denter (K) 4'9"; SHOT PUT -- Ashley Graves (K) 111'10"; DISCUS -- Graves (K) 34'23/4"; POLE VAULT -- Mary Kaleita (K) 9'; 100 HURDLES -- Denter (K) 17.9; 1600 -- Ramsay (BC) 5:30.77; 400 -- Carnegie (BC) 1:02.54; 300 HURDLES -- Witchner (BC) 50.8; 800 -- Carnegie (BC) 2:32.15; 3200 -- Ramsay (BC) 12:15.