STANDISH-STERLING - May 23, 2007 - Ogemaw Heights' girls track and field team left nothing to chance on Wednesday at the North East Michigan Conference track and field championships, claiming the league title with a big 80-point victory over the rest of the conference field. The Falcons ran up 180.5 points in the meet, which added to their six points from winning all six league duals during the regular season, added up to a season total of 186.6.
Standish-Sterling (111 season total) held onto its second-place spot, while Tawas Area (102) finished third and Pinconning (99.5) leapfrogged John Glenn (80.0) into fourth. Oscoda (56) finished sixth, with Whittemore-Prescott (12) seventh.
The Falcons won two individual events and three relays and got its usual solid performance out of its senior distance trio of Holly Mester, Noelle Mester and Chelsea LeForce to win the title going away.
"It was a very nice dominating meet for the girls," said Ogemaw coach Rick Frank. "We did have some nice improvements in many areas, like discus and the 4x200 and 4x100 relays.
"We also just showed our depth in the league in many events. And for the last time ... the Mester twins and Chelsea LeForce showed why they have been a class act in the NEMC for the past four years as all three (ran four events) in the 80-degree-plus heat."
Holly Mester won the 1600 (5:44.24) and 3200 (12:43.51) and took second in the 800 (2:33.29) as well anchoring the 4x400 relay, (3rd, 4.41.96). LeForce ran the 1600 (4th, 5:50.56), 800 (6th, 2:45.10) and 3200 (5th, 13:34.44), as did Noelle Mester in the 1600 (6th, 6:06.67), 800 (3rd, 2:33.71) and 3200 (4th, 13:26.22). Noelle Mester and LeForce were also in the winning 4x800 relay with Morgan Stansberry and Heather Villarreal (11:08.75).
"Many seniors stepped up at the 'Big Dance,'" Frank said, citing Amber Schmitt (2nd, 4-6) in the high jump, Jennifer Valley leading off the winning 4x100 relay that had been seeded fifth, and Renee Wangler throwing a personal-best in the shot put (6th, 33-0).
"As you can see, we are graduating a lot of points, but do have a nice amount of young talent returning. Hopefully they see how this graduating senior class has worked hard all four years and strived to improve each year."
SSC, Tawas and Pinny all turned in solid team performances. A big factor in the Panthers hanging on to the second spot in the league was the throwing duo of Ashlyn Gulvas and Kayleigh Nelson. Gulvas swept both the discus (119-5) and shot put, with her throw of 41-3.5 in the shot establishing a new NEMC meet record. Nelson took second in the discus (110-9) and third in the shot put (35-7). Noelle Lentz also had a big day for the Panthers, running with Ashley Pickvet, Samantha Poirier and Alyssa White in the second-place 4x800 relay (11:18.43); the 1600 (3rd, 5:48.47), 3200 (3rd, 13:20.92) and winning the 800 (2:32.56).
Tawas edged Pinny for the third spot by getting a victory out of Erica Lundy in the pole vault (8-0) as well as Sandy Brandt's runs in the 1600 (2nd, 5:45.24), and 800 (4th, 2:38.02) and strong performances in the 100 hurdles by Sammie Duvall (3rd, 19.04) and Amanda Kaiser (4th, 19.07).
Pinny earned a fourth-place finish over Glenn despite falling to the Bobcats in dual meet competition thanks to individual titles won by Nicole McKay in the long jump (14-9) and the 4x400 relay of McKay, Shannon McDougal, Hannah Schmidt and Sabrina Vidalez (4:30.41). Sabrina Vidalez (3rd, 14.20) and Racquel Kerkau (4th, 14.43) took two spots in the 100, Sabrina Vidalez was the runner-up in the 400 (1:02.76) and Jessica Vidalez took second in the 3200 (12:47.75).
Glenn was powered primarily by sprinter Stephanie Hurley and hurdler Bri Kokaly. Hurley won the 100 (13.40), 400 (1:01.89) and 200 (26.63) as well as second in the long jump (14-6) , while Kokaly won the 100 hurdles (17.94) and took eighth in the 100 (15.97) and fourth in the long jump (13-3). Rachel Skrocki was the runner up in the pole vault (8-0).
Oscoda got individual titles from Megan Zarachowicz in the high jump (4-8) and Ashley Schonfeld in the 300 hurdles (50.66).
Whittemore-Prescott was led by Catherine Daniels, who took second in the shot put (38-6.25) and sixth in the discus (107-9). Jessica Hamacher also placed in the 400 (8th, 1:10.73).
Other top finishers
...for the Falcons included Kami Shields in the discus (3rd, 110-4); Kelsi Rutherford in the discus (5th, 108-3) and shot put (4th, 34-3.5); Rilee Palm in the shot put (7th, 32-0.5); Kayla Brindley in the discus (7th, 101-3) ; Kristeen Soper in the high jump (4th, 4-4), 100 hurdles (7th, 20.41) and 300 hurdles (3rd, 57.23); Katlyn Anthony in the long jump (8th, 12-7.5); Maggie Edward in the 100 hurdles (2nd, 18.01) 300 hurdles (2nd, 54-36) and 200 (3rd, 28.40); Kalena Franklin in the 100 (2nd, 14.03) and 200 (2nd, 28.16); Selina Tabayoyong (5th, 14.63); Breanne Price in the 400 (5th, 1:07.49); Amber D;Arcy in the 300 hurdles (8th, 59.20).
.... for Standish-Sterling included Danielle Milan in the long jump (3rd, 13-8); the 4x200 relay (4th, 2:01.46); Pickvet in the 1600 (7th, 6:16.88) and 800 (5th, 2:38.84); Gulvas in the 400 (3rd, 1:04.36); Jessica Cousins in the 200 (4th, 29.00) and the 4x400 relay (2nd, 4:39.42).
... for Tawas were Quinn Knox in the discus (4th, 109-10); Bethany Britt (4th, 4-4) and Sara Blust (5th, 4-4) in the high jump; Sammie Duvall in the long jump (5th, 12-10.5); Katie Challenger in the long jump (7th, 12-8.5); Brittany Combs, Brandt, Abbie Hutchison and Britt in the 4x800 (3rd, 11:42.55); Rachel Faught in the 100 hurdles (8th, 20.67) and 300 hurdles (4th, 57.46); Lundy (6th, 14.80) and Duvall (7th, 14.87) in the 100; Duvall, Kaiser, Lundy and Julie Enzenberger in the 4x100 (2nd, 55.37); Combs in the 400 (4th, 1:06.09); Enzenberger in the 200 (7th, 30.60); Hutchison in the 3200 (6th, 13:46.29) and Kasier, Combs, Charity Cardinal and Amy Johnson in the 4x400 (4th, 4:43.73).
... for Pinconning were Hannah Schmidt in the high jump (7th, 4-4) and 400 (7th, 1:09.83); Amanda Casler in the long jump (6th, 12-10.5); Rache Hauk (3rd, 7-0) and Racquel Kerkau (4th, 7-0) in the pole vault; Hauk in the 100 hurdles (6th, 20.24); Bessie McCollough, Shannon McDougall, Lynette Pashak and Kerkau in the 4x200 (3rd, 2:01.42); Jessica Vidalez in the 1600 (5th, 5:59.55); Kerkau, Hauk, McCollough and McKay in the 4x100 (3rd, 55.58); McDougall in the 300 hurdles (5th, 58.37) and 200 (8th, 31.57); and Samantha Szeszuslki in the 800 (8th, 2:55.04).
... for Oscoda were Ashley Schonfeld in the high jump (3rd, 4-6); Jeri Carl in the shot put (8th, 30-3.5); Sarah Inman in the 100 hurdles (5th, 19.94); the 4x200 relay (2nd, 1:58.72); Maggie Ungurean in the 1600 (8th, 6:18.49) and 3200 (7th, 13:54.19); the 4x100 relay (4th, 56.18); Brittany Lynch in the 400 (6th, 1:07.76); and Chelsea LaLonde in the 300 hurdles (7th, 58.93).
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