After starting off the season with five straight Flint Metro League wins, the Brandon girls track team finally came down to earth.
The Blackhawks earned a split in their dual meet against Lapeer East and Linden May 17 at Lapeer East, defeating East 83-54 before losing to Linden 74-62. Brandon is now 6-1 in league action.
Coach Greg Hyde said the Blackhawks? improvement from 4-2 in the league last season to this year’s record is an indication of how far the Blackhawks have come.
In addition, he said he is proud of how many Brandon competitors have earned a spot in the county meet May 28. ‘We have a lot of kids who qualified for that meet,? he said.
Against East, the Blackhawks earned nine first-place finishes on their way to a commanding win. The Blackhawks had more success in distance events than field events, as Sarah Bond was the only Blackhawk to win a field event, capturing the shot put with a throw of 31?8-1/2?.
In the solo distance events, the following Blackhawks turned in first-place finishes: Amy Boot (100 meters, 14.58); Mandy Noonan (400 meters, 1:04.45); Danie Ashford (300 hurdles, 51.5); Kayla Doan (800 meters, 2:36.6); Jamilla Richardson (200 meters, 29.24).
The Blackhawks also turned in three wins in relay events. The team of Boot, Noonan, Richardson, and Ashford won the 800 relay in 1:55.08; the team of Boot, Mariah Andre, Richardson, and Kayla Vaughn won the 400 relay in 58.84; and the team of Noonan, Richardson, Kelly Wilson, and Ashford won the 1,600 relay in 4:27.06.
The Blackhawks were not as successful when matched up against Linden, winning only four events. Three of the four were repeat winners: Bond in the shot put, Doan in the 800 meters, and Richardson in the 200 meters.
The other Brandon competitor to break through against Linden was Savannah Stedman, who captured the high jump (4?8?).