Photo by Davey, Runmichigan.com
Kendall Basiden and Dynasty McGee won three gold medals and one silver, as the girls youth movement looked stronger than ever. While Ann Arbor superstar Ariel Roberts leaped to a nation's #2 jump of 5'9". She would have been my choice for Field event athlete of the meet. Megan Gothels ran a nation's # 3 time in the 3,200 beating Grand Blanc star Gabby Anazlone by 12 seconds.
I will take a look back at the previews and the actual outcome of the meet.
Photo by Davey, Runmichigan.com
60 Meters
Preview: This will be a showdown of the top 100-meter sprinters in the State.
All-American's Southfield Lathrup sop. Jordan Clark who runs for Swift track club and Dani Drayton of Troy, who runs for Maximum output. These two will battle for year's to come after placing 1 and 2 in the Division, 100 meters as freshmen.
Outcome: Clark didn't compete in the 60 because she didn't want to tweak a hammy. Leaving Dani Drayton ahead of the competition. Dani ran well in all the rounds but in a photo finish edging Taylor Truman senior Noelle Bradley 7.89 to 7.90 for the victory
60 Hurdles
Preview: This event pits two of the States top hurdlers. Romulus Senior Christinne Linton versus Southfield junior Brigette Owens - Mitchell. Linton ran an outstanding time last weekend down in Kentucky (8.67), but Owens-Mitchell is a well-coached athlete that will compete.
Outcome: Like I said in the preview Owens-Mitchell was a well train athlete that would compete and compete she did running 4 tenth of a second faster than she had previously. Pushing Linton to a photo finish. With Linton being the winner but this was without a doubt the race of the day.
200 Meters
Preview: This will also showcase two of the State best young sprinters that are also All-Americans Dynasty McGee soph. from Flint Southwestern who runs for Swift, and Cass Tech Freshmen Kyra Jefferson who runs for Think Detroit Pal. After winning the 400 the last two year's McGee drops down to the 200.
Outcome: "The battle of genes'' turned out to be a easy win for Jefferson as McGee struggled in the tight curves at Central Michigan due to her new found height of 5'10". This should be a great match-up for years to come. Both athletes’ parents ran collegiate track and field with Jefferson's father winning a bronze medal.
Photo by Davey, Runmichigan.com
400 Meters
Preview: All-American and defending Meet M.V.P Bloomfield St. Regis Kendall Basiden (Swift) will take a step up to the 400 after setting the meet record in the 200 last years. She will face off against Detroit Mumford senior Asiha Osborne (Motor City). This will be a very good race only one tenth of a second separates them.
Outcome: I thought Basiden would push for Dynasty McGee's record (56.02) in this event and win by a big margin but Detroit Mumford senior Osbornre had other plans and pushed Basiden to the wire with the Middle schooler holding her off and winning 57,46 to 57.66
Photo by Davey, Runmichigan.com
800 Meters
Preview: This event also has All-Americans and two defending State champions Grand Haven's Becca Addison and Albion's Amelia Bannister. This rivalry may just be getting started with Addison signing with Michigan and Banister signing with Michigan State.
Outcome: Addison wins this in blowout fashion, as Bannister never really challenged the champion. Bannister came on strong at the end passing 4 athletes to take second.
1600 meters
Preview: The 1600 maybe the most competitive event in the entire meet with 3 girls less than a second apart. Livonia Stevenson's Courtney Calka 5:06.49, Ann Arbor Pioneer's Katie Hoevert 5:06.99, and Livonia Churchill's Sara Kroll 5:07.0. This should be another great race.
Outcome: Like I said in the preview this would be a very competitive race and was it ever Kroll edging Saline junior Alex Leptich 5:03.29 to 5:03.35. Calka had a bad day coming in 6th.
Photo by Davey, Runmichigan.com
3200 Meters
Preview: Defending State cross country champion and Foot Locker All-American Megan Gothels of Rochester against the queen of the fast takeoff defending state indoor champion Gabrielle Anzelone of Grand Blanc. This one will also be a great one.
Outcome: Gothels never let Anzalone get away from her spelled disaster for Gabby. Gothels pulled away from the Grand Blanc star to win by 12 seconds 19:33 to 10:45. Running the 3rd best time in the country Besting Anazlone last years winning time by almost 30 seconds.
Photo by Davey, Runmichigan.com
High Jump
Preview: Defending Field event M.V.P. and State record-holder Ariel Roberts of Ann Arbor Pioneer returns with a leading jump of 5'7". Three inches higher than the competition. Look for her to win this event.
Outcome: Roberts rebounded from a not-so-Roberts like long jump to win the High jump with the second best leap in the country 5'9". She would have been my field event athlete of the meet.
Long Jump
Preview: Romulus Senior Christinne Linton has the farthest jump with a leap of 18'8. The Ohio State bound jumper is nearly a whole foot ahead of Fruitport senior Mona Auveroulle.
Outcome: The biggest upset of the meet came in the girls long jump were Auveroulle beat both Linton and Roberts and brought the title back to Fruitport.
Triple Jump
Preview: Dynasty McGee of Flint Southwestern has the farthest jump with a leap of 37'0". The former National Champion is nearly 4 feet ahead of Stevensville Lakeshore's senior Catilyn Ramirez.
Outcome: McGee who holds Michigan top 4 triple jumps all-time won the triple jump by over a foot and a half over Ramirez
Pole Vault
Preview: Rockford junior and State record-holder Sarah Birkmeier has nearly a foot and a half lead over the competition. She should win this one easy along with chasing the meet record.
Outcome: Like I said in the preview Birkmeier would win with ease and also break the State record she also walked away with the MVP award.
Weight Throw
Preview: Carleton-Airport soph Shana Flanary has dominated this event this indoor season and has a 5-foot lead over the competition in this event. She is for certain going to post a new state record in this brand new event. (Smile).
Outcome: Call me Mrs. Cleo (smile) because like I said in the preview Flanary would win and also set the state record and she did winning by almost 4 feet.
Shot Put
Preview: Junior Alysha Johnson of Walled Lake Western has the farthest throw with a toss of 40’11. 75". She is followed by Frankenmuth Junior Sam Cormier's 40'8". This will be another great event to watch at this action packed meet.
Outcome: AAU National Champion Johnson won this event by almost two feet over Lansing Sexton's Sam Lockhart.
Distance Medley
Preview: This one looks to be one of few were we know who the winner will probably be with Crossroads coming in with an almost 20 second advantage I must note it was on a 300 meter surface.
Outcome: The outcome was just like the preview as Crossroads ran away with this one with Mile champion and runner-up Kroll and Leptich leading the way along with two-mile runner-up Anazlone.
4 x 800 relay
Preview: Motor City and Michigan Accelerators will push for the State record in this event with Motor City running a smoking 9:39 last weekend in Akron. This should be one to get you out of your seat early.
Outcome: With Motor City not running the relay with athletes focusing on open events and sprint relays the Accelerators won the event by over 20 seconds.
4 x 200 relay
Preview: This race will be a doo-zee Mich. Accelerators have the top time with 1:44 but will have to contend with Motor City and Think Detroit Pal along with ATDF.
Outcome: In a very exciting race Swift track club pulled away from a field packed with the fastest girls in the state. Running the 5th fastest time in State history 1:43.0. The squad of McGee, Basiden, Clark and Rochester Adams frosh. Candice Mack proved too much for the field.
4 x 400 relay
Preview: Michigan Accelerators have ran a super fast 3:53 indoor on a 300 meter track look for Motor City to come after them along with the 400 meter combo of Dynasty McGee and Kendall Basiden running for Swift T.C.
Outcome: The same four girls from Swift waited one event and came back and ran away from the field to beat Motor City by over 3 seconds. Giving McGee and Basiden their 3rd gold medal of the Championship and just think they will run together for two more years!
photo by Fremom Tate