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Complete Michigan state meet results, including Upper Peninsula, are on MHSAA web site.
Highlights by Steve (steveu) Underwood
Detroit Mumford sweeps Division 1 team titles. It is third in a row for the boys, and first state title in any sport for the girls.
Best Marks:
Boys:
***** Saline 7:41.27 #1 US (5 under 7:52) *****
Also ... Abraham Mach 1:52.01 (2nd, Saline’s Neil Atzinger 1:52.15 after 4x8), Justin Switzer 4:09.11 #4 US (not including conversions; also Saline’s Dustin Voss 4:11.53 2nd after 4x8), Matt Comer 37.85, Zach Burrington 15-9.25 (D3), Eltaro Hooper 6-10.5, Neil Naughton 9:08.81, Detroit Mumford 1:27.14, Terry Fambro 48.41.
Girls
Ann Arbor Pioneer 3:46.43, Rockford 9:17.78, Detroit Mumford 1:39.12 (Pioneer 1:39.64), Lisa Senakiewich 4:51.64 (D3: Nicole Bush 4:53.35, also 10:57.16), Geena Gall 2:10.45 (after 2:08.1 relay), Bekah Smeltzer (D2) 10:40.66, Jessica Jones 54.98, Tenisha Griggs 24.47/14.37/12.25 (2nd), Osamuede Iyoha 42.85, Christine Krellwitz (D2) 5-9 #11 US, Amber Smith 2:18.59/5:09.90/11:18.87 (triple win in U.P. D2)
the best came first - Saline's 4x800
The best came first at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division I finals Saturday. In the 4x800 final, which kicked off the day’s events on the track, Saline took down a venerated Michigan record and got a national leader to boot with a sterling 7:41.27.
That, plus additional points from Atzinger, Voss and others got Saline within 7 points of the team title, with 37, but it wasn’t quite enough. Instead it was Detroit Mumford which picked up its third straight title, using relay and sprint heroics to rack up 44 points. Flint Carmen-Ainsworth, on the strength of throws and relays, nipped Saline by two for the runner-up spot, 39-37.
On the girls side, Mumford used two sprint and two relay victories to claim its first state title in any sport with 81 points. They were followed by Ann Arbor Pioneer (69), Rockford (47) and Southfield Lathrup (34).
5 BIG STORIES FROM THE DIVISION I FINALS
1. Saline’s Fearsome Foursome
Saline’s quartet included two of the members who won the DMR at Adidas Outdoor Nationals last summer, including No. 3 runner Dustin Voss and anchor Neil Atzinger. Carter Bishop opened in 1:54.7, followed by Alex Muhs (1:59.0), Voss (1:54.2), and Atzinger (1:53.0).
“We knew it was out there,” said head coach Brian Boze of the record and fast time, “but we thought it would take AOC to get it out of us.” All but Atzinger hit PRs.
“I didn’t really think about it; I was just cruising,” said Atzinger, whose amazing day also included a 4:13.37 1600 for 3rd and a 1:52.15 open 800 for 2nd. “Then in the final straight I saw 7:36 and I tried to pick it up.”
“I didn’t think about the record, honestly,” said Voss, who gave his team the lead for good. “I was blown away when I looked up at the clock and saw we had the state record.”
Voss also came back for the runner-up spot in the 1600 (PR 4:11.53) and 4th in the 3200 (9:18.64) which wiped him out pretty good. “The first mile of the 3200 I actually felt pretty good,” he said. “Then when I had to pick it up, it was like, No way. I had the 4:11 on one shoulder and the state record on the other.”
Milford was 2nd in the 4x8 with 7:46.23, and three others broke 7:52.
2. Mumford’s Boys
Mumford’s total would have only gotten 4th in the girls meet, but the points were more spread out here. It took a 100-meter victory by Marcus Thigpen (10.82; all 100/200/short hurdle races were negative wind), a 4x200 win in 1:27.14, and five other places to wrap it up. The team was even able to survive a dropped baton that took away a possible win in the 4x400.
“This was the one I was worried about the most, of us not being ready,” said Mumford head coach Robert Lynch. He gave credit to athletes like Thigpen (who was also 3rd in the 200) and Keith Hewlett (4th in 400, 5th in long jump), but also to more unsung heroes, like Killebrew.
“We had a few guys who were not ready today, but he made an effort,” said Lynch. “He ran the 4x1 (3rd, 42.63) and in the 4x4 he got the baton knocked out of his hand (3rd leg). But this was just his 2nd time on the mile relay and you never expect that to happen. I always look for kids who, in spite of injury or other things, put out their best effort.”
3. Mumford’s Girls Survive Sprint Wars
With the 1-2 punch of Porsche Ries and Jessica Jones, Detroit Mumford overcame the 1-girl wrecking crew of Southfield Lathrup Tenisha Griggs and Osamuede Iyoha-led Ann Arbor Pioneer to take the title.
Mumford had its best previous finish last year 3rd but was ready to unseat Pioneer this time. “The girls knew the caliber of athletes they were,” said Head Coach Marc Parker. “They were ready to win the state championship.”
Ries set the tone for the meet when she beat Griggs at 100 meters into the wind, 12.10 to 12.25. She also anchored the 4x1 and led off the 4x2, both of which topped Pioneer (47.78 to 48.69 and 1:39.12 to 1:39.64), and was 3rd in the 200.
After anchoring that winning 4x2, Jones achieved her goal of hitting the 54s in the 400 with her winning 54.98, ahead of teammate Sarda Grace. She added a runner-up spot in her 200 showdown with Griggs.
Parker also pointed out the points he got from girls like Shana Vinson, who impressed him with her 3rd in the long jump (17-0).
Griggs also won the 100 hurdles over Pioneer’s Iyoha (14.37 to 14.59), giving her two 1sts and a 2nd and 28 of Lathrup’s 34 points. By herself, she was 5th in the meet, scoring-wise.
Iyoha took the 300 hurdles in 42.85, then led off the 4x4 that finally got Mumford, 3:46.43 to 3:51.15.
4. Distance Queens: Geena Gall 2:10.45, Lisa Senakiewich 4:51.64, Annie Otwell 10:49.90.
Grand Blanc’s Geena Gall was the prohibitive favorite coming in, with a state-leading 2:07.9 and at least four clockings ahead of the state’s next best. But the junior had some business to take care of in the 4x8 first.
“We really wanted to place in the top eight,” she said. “We were 9th last year and I really wanted the girls (including two seniors) to get it this year.”
Gall pushed as hard as she could in the relay, making up a huge deficit with her 2:08.1 leg to sneak her team into that final scoring spot and a 9:32.50. It was well back of Rockford’s winning 9:17.78, but the primary goal was achieved.
So Gall, who has impressive 55-second 400 (relay) to 5:03 1600 range, just needed to get the job done in the open 800, running an even race to pull away from an also-tired Kelly Robinson of Holt for her 2:10.45 win. “I was kind of tired and the sun also wore me out. I just tried to run as hard as I could and win.”
Four weeks ago, Lisa Senakiewich of Davison could hardly have been considered a championship favorite.
She had just come off a month out of action with a stress fracture, which followed a 4:56 win for the state indoor title. She swam, biked and used an elliptical trainer during the layoff, but when she started running again, she felt “horrible. I wanted to quit and finish up the season.”
Times like 5:18 and 5:10 followed, the latter of which was her outdoor best coming in. But Saturday the magic returned, as she took the lead in the final 500 and pulled away to win over Robinson by six seconds.
“Today, I didn’t want to leave any regrets out there,” she said. “I felt strong, but I knew Kelly had a good kick and I was kind of waiting for her to catch me.
“I’m so excited. I did not expect this at all.”
Like Gall, Annie Otwell of Traverse City Central has impressive range. Incredibly, she qualified for the state meet in the 400 and the 3200. She used her 57.8 speed to break away from a pack of six in the final lap for a 10:49.90 victory.
“My sister (Claire, a senior, who was 4th in the 1600 in 5:07.74) runs the 800 and 1600, so I do the 400 and 3200,” the shy sophomore explained, when asked if the middle distances might really be her best events. “And I just really like the 3200.”
The younger Otwell crushed her previous PR by 17 seconds and led three others under 10:54. Grand Ledge freshman Emily Langenberg had made a mid-race break, but Otwell and four others had stayed within three seconds. “I just planned to stay strong until the end,” she said. “I thought the group would catch her.”
5. Distance Kings: Justin Switzer 4:09.11, Neal Naughton 9:08.81.
Good friends and rivals Justin Switzer of Waterford Kettering and Neal Naughton of Walled Lake Western had surprised prognosticators last fall when they each qualified for Foot Locker Cross Country Nationals. Saturday, they each confirmed their status with big PRs.
Unlike the Saline crew, both finally decided to focus on one event. Switzer closed his last 800 in 2:02 to pull away from Voss in the 1600, 4:09.11 to 4:11.53, crushing his PR by six seconds.
Afterwards, despite a state-leading mark of 9:11.4, he left the 3200 to Naughton, who used a solid pace and last lap to chop five seconds from his PR with a 9:08.81.
Despite coming in at 4:15.5, Switzer had designs on sub-4:10. “The quality of the field was pretty deep; anyone could have taken the race,” he said. “I felt pretty comfortable. I wanted to use a long kick, so I made my move with 500 left. Coming around the last turn, I just had to hold on and the crowd noise kept me going.”
Suddenly the junior is close to the nation’s leaders and will be one of the top returnees for 2005. Feeling a little pain in his left knee and with AOC looming ahead, he decided not to chance the 3200.
That left Naughton the favorite. Even without his friend, the senior found someone willing to work with him in Milford’s Seth Thibedeau. The two were together with a lap left, but Naughton had the best finish and Thibedeau (9:15.33) was passed by Pioneer’s Morty Stensones-Fornnaes (9:14.70) for second.
“I didn’t run the 1600 because I wanted to keep fresh legs,” said the senior. “I was nervous, but I hung on the first mile, then tried to start breaking away. Seth and I said Our region has to represent, so we kind of worked together. I was confident in my finish because at the region meet I had good kicks in both races.”
DyeStat Elite
77 Performances qualifying for DyeStat Elite top 100 national ranking
B-800 1:52.01 Mach, Abraham, , East Lansing , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-800 1:52.15 Atzinger, Neil, , Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-800 1:53.58 Kaijala, Tim, 2004, Mona Shores , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
B-1600 4:09.11 Switzer, Justin, 2005, Waterford Kettering , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-1600 4:11.53 Voss, Dustin, 2004, Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-1600 4:13.37 Atzinger, Neil, , Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
B-1600 4:13.83 Roberts, Dan, 2006, Vicksburg , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
B-3200 9:08.81 Naughton, Neal, 2004, Walled Lake Western , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-3200 9:12.14 Perrin, Josh, 2004, Hillsdale , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
B-3200 9:14.7 Stensones, Morton, , Pioneer , Ann Arbor MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-3200 9:15.33 Thibodeaux, Seth, 2004, Milford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
B-300H 37.85 Comer, Matt, , Portage Northern , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-300H 38.07 Fiorillo, Rob, 2005, Holly , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-300H 38.12 Harmsen, Dan, , Rockford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
B-HJ 23' 5 Hoskins, Justin, , Creston , Grand Rapids MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-HJ 6' 10.25 Hooper, Eltaro, 2004, Lincoln Ypsilanti , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-HJ 6' 9 Dodson, Andrew, 2005, Frankenmuth , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
B-HJ 6' 9 Faison, Chris, 2005, Lahser , Bloomfield Hills MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
B-HJ 6' 8 Libiran, Ryan, , Okemos , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-LJ 23' 7 Carter, Demea, 2004, Country Day , Detroit MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
B-PV 15' 9.25 Burrington, Zach, 2004, Oakridge , Muskegon MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
B-PV 15' 6 Stornant, Tom, , Portland , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 2
B-4x200 1:27.14 Boys Relay, , Mumford , Detroit MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-4x200 1:27.52 Boys Relay, , Carman-Ainsworth , Flint MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-4x200 1:27.67 Boys Relay, , Portage Northern , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
B-4x200 1:28.57 Boys Relay, , Northern , Pontiac MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 4
B-4x800 7:41.27 Boys Relay, , Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
B-4x800 7:46.23 Boys Relay, , Milford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
B-4x800 7:49.85 Boys Relay, , Pinckney , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
B-4x800 7:51.05 Boys Relay, , Howell , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 4
B-4x800 7:51.72 Boys Relay, , Pioneer , Ann Arbor MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 5
B-4x800 7:55.22 Boys Relay, , Ford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 6
B-4x800 7:56.12 Boys Relay, , Brighton , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 7
G-200 24.47 Griggs, Tenisha, 2004, Lathrup Southfield , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-400 54.98 Jones, Jessica, 2005, Renaissance Det , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-400 55.95 Watson, Jamie, 2005, Allendale , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
G-800 2:10.45 Gall, Geena, 2005, Grand Blanc , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-1600 4:51.64 Senakovich, Lisa, 2004, Davison , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-1600 4:53.35 Bush, Nicole, 2004, Kelloggsville , Grand Rapids MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
G-1600 4:55.44 Jones, Janee, 2005, Goodrich , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 2
G-1600 4:56.8 Squires, Sarah, , Unionville-Sebewaing , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 3
G-1600 4:59.46 Smeltzer, Rebecca, 2007, Monroe , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
G-1600 5:00.53 Creutz, Eileen, 2006, Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
G-1600 5:00.56 Treece, Marissa, , Glen Lake , Maple City MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 4 MI, # 1
G-1600 4:575.68 Robinson, Kelly, 2004, Holt , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-3200 10:40.66 Smeltzer, Rebecca, 2007, Monroe , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
G-3200 10:49.9 Otwell, Annie, 2006, Trav City Central , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-3200 10:52.15 Canty, Lisa, 2004, Milford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-3200 10:52.97 Creutz, Eileen, 2006, Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
G-3200 10:53.84 Langenberg, Emily, 2007, Grand Ledge , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 4
G-100H 14.34 Ofili, Tiffany, 2005, Ypsilanti , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
G-300H 42.85 Iyoha, Osamuede, 2004, Pioneer , Ann Arbor MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-300H 42.94 Sabra, Jennifer, , Taylor Kennedy , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-300H 43.57 Lavalley, Kathleen, 2005, Forest Hills , Grand Rapids MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
G-300H 44.32 Trumbull, Sara, 2005, Pinckney , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 4
G-300H 44.34 Brown, Danielle, , Kalamazoo Central , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 5
G-HJ 5' 9 Krellwitz, Christine, 2004, Big Rapids , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
G-PV 11' 8 Maxey, Angie, 2004, Caledonia , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
G-PV 11' 6 Orosz, Stacy, 2004, Rockford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-PV 11' 3 Rosloniec, Janine, 2004, Rockford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-PV 11' 3 Mehl, Jennifer, 2004, Novi , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
G-SP 43' 9.75 Buresh, Lauren, , Morley Stanwood , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
G-DT 141' 5 Camacho, Sara, 2004, Byron Center , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 2 MI, # 1
G-DT 137' 2 Dwyer, Maggie, , Grand Haven , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-4x100 47.78 Girls Relay, , Mumford , Detroit MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-4x200 1:39.12 Girls Relay, , Mumford , Detroit MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-4x200 1:39.64 Girls Relay, , Pioneer , Ann Arbor MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-4x200 1:42.91 Girls Relay, , John Glenn , Westland MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
G-4x400 3:46.43 Girls Relay, , Pioneer , Ann Arbor MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-4x400 3:51.15 Girls Relay, , Mumford , Detroit MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-4x800 9:17.78 Girls Relay, , Rockford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 1
G-4x800 9:20.8 Girls Relay, , Saline , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 2
G-4x800 9:22.05 Girls Relay, , Clarkston , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 3
G-4x800 9:24.33 Girls Relays, , Goodrich , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 3 MI, # 1
G-4x800 9:24.81 Girls Relay, , Milford , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 4
G-4x800 9:25.36 Girls Relay, , Holt , MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 5
G-4x800 9:29.79 Girls Relay, , Stevenson , Livonia MI 6/5/2004, LP State Div 1 MI, # 6
DyeStat Michigan
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