St. Mary's 2nd as Country Day wins regional track honors

BLOOMFIELD HILLS--Detroit Country Day has been a state Division 3 powerhouse in boys track and field throughout the decade -- until this year.

Country Day amassed 98 points Friday, out-dueling Orchard Lake St. Mary's (90) for top honors in a D-2 regional at Bloomfield Hills Lahser.

Farmington Harrison (80.5), Inkster (72) and Redford Thurston (66) rounded out the top five in the 13-school field. Host Lahser was seventh (48), Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood ninth (32) and Bloomfield Hills Andover 10th (27).

"The last time we didn't win a regional was 2003, and that year we lost to (Macomb) Lutheran North by a point, 141-140," recalled DCD coach David Wilson. "We're in Division 2 now and we still did a great job. We're a young team with a lot of newer kids who have come along. We had a lot of good performances."

Harrison's girls also won the team title, their first since 2003, by collecting 90 points, six ahead of runner-up Country Day (84). Dearborn Divine Child (74.5), Lahser (70) and Andover (64.5) followed in the girls meet. Pontiac Notre Dame Prep was sixth (55), Birmingham Marian seventh (43), Redford Thurston ninth (33) and Cranbrook Kingswood 12th (15).

"We've been at five different (sites) in the past five years, so winning this never crossed my mind beforehand," said Harrison girls coach Mark Babcock. "It wasn't until they started reading the scores during the meet that I thought that we had a good chance.

"We had a very good team effort," added Babcock. "We got a lot of girls (to qualify), and we qualified some relays. We had a lot of PRs today, which is nice to see." The top two finishers in each event, plus others that reached the predetermined state qualifying mark, advance to the Lower Peninsula Division 2 state finals May 31 at Zeeland West High School.

Harrison won the 400 relay (50.6), while Amira Ranklin took the 300 hurdles (47.0) and was second in the 100 hurdles (16.0). The Hawks also took second in the 800 relay (1:48.2).

Andover's Natalie Roberts won both the 100 (12.5) and 200 (26.1) and ran on the runner-up 400 relay (51.2).

"I qualified in three events. This is a great way to get ready for (the state meet)," said Roberts. "I really felt good out there today."

Lahser's foursome of Jami Rodes, Kayla Gawlik, Nicole Pentis and Erin LaFave won the 3,200 relay (9:59.8). LaFave was also second in the 3,200 (11:28.4) and third in the 1,600 (5:22.8) to qualify in three events for the Knights.

Lahser's Joylisa Davis won the long jump (16-10), edging Harrison's Aureil Bell (16-6). Davis also won the 400 (59.7), with Andover's Jordan Grantz earning second (1:00.8).

Thurston took the 800 relay (1:47.4). Chelsea Carradine won the shot put (37-9), with Country Day's Brittani Logan taking second (36-0.75). DCD was third in the 400 relay (51.3) but also qualified for the state meet.

Marian's Erin Asher won the 800 (2:29.6) ahead of Lahser's Nicole Pentis (2:30.0). Asher also anchored the winning 1,600 relay (4:12.7) that included Juliet Brown, Rachel Michalski and Colleen Ross.

Country Day's Troy Hambric took the high jump (5-1) ahead of teammate Erica Solomon (5-1) on fewer misses. DCD's Bennie Fowler had a productive day, leaping an area-best 23-2.5 to win the long jump while clocking in at 10.7 to win the 100.

Cranbrook's Mita Nagarkar was second in the 300 hurdles (48.1).

In the boys meet, Country Day's Kenny Demens won the discus (139-8) and Dartis Willis and Stefan Ede tied for the victory in the high jump at 6-0.

Lahser's Jordan Jones, Chris Pinter, Tobias Budde and Joey Grace won the 3,200 relay (8:14.0) and Anthony Perrotta was second in the 3,200 (10:04.0).

Inkster's Will Cranford out-dueled Thurston's Marus Bennett in the 110 hurdles (14.0 to 14.2), in a battle of two of the state's best. Bennett won the 300 hurdles (39.5), ahead of St. Mary's Demetrius Jackson (40.9).

Cranbrook's Daniel Suber won the 1,600 (4:31.1), ahead of Lahser's Joey Grace (4:32.4).

St. Mary's Tayler Peruski won the 400 (49.2) and teammate Charles Irmen won the 800 (1:59.5). Rodney Woodland also qualified by taking third in the 200 (22.7).

"Last year I was third and missed qualifying by two-tenths of a second," said Irmen. "It feels great this year. I really started to pick it up with around 200 to go and then really started to sprint with around 100 to go."

Harrison's Chris Pride won the 200 (22.3) and teammate Darius Davis was second in the 400 (50.0). Country Day's Nick Prys was second in the 800 (2:00.8).

Andover also made the cut by taking second in the 1,600 (3:31.2) after two teams were disqualified.

Thurston's Mark Tucker finished second in the shot put (44-10), Andover's Andrew Jimbo was fourth but still made the cut in the 400 (50.6).