Placing second overall in the state in 2006 didn’t come with a host of top of the OAA predictions for this year’s Clarkston girls? track team, but like last year, they are racing among the best.
The girls are 3-1 after taking two wins at a tri-way meet at West Bloomfield April 17, knocking off their hosts 79-58 and Rochester 87-47.
‘We had a great day and it really helped our standing in the league. It put us up toward the top of the league and we weren’t expected by other teams to be up there this year. We’re happy to get there,? Clarkston coach John Yorke said.
‘We were a little disappointed because we barely got nudged out by Rochester Adams and that was our one loss. They were pretty happy about getting two wins against county-ranked teams. That’s a big day for us,? Yorke said.
The wins should be confidence builders for the girls as they move to take on a highly touted Troy team later this season, he said.
Autumn Touchstone had a win-filled day in the hurdles and as part of Clarkston’s 1600-meter relay team. She ran a personal best in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.1 seconds. She also took the 300-meter hurdles (48.7) against the Lakers and the Falcons. In the last event of the day, the 1600-meter relay race, she anchored a come from behind win.
?(Rochester and West Bloomfield) were both ahead of her when she got the baton and she ran her best time ever in that race. We barely touched out in that race and that put us well ahead of West Bloomfield,? Yorke said.
‘She knew the team was relying on her and she knew we could have needed that race to win the meet. She’s really matured in the last couple years and she can handle that kind of pressure.?
Yorke also praised his throwing foursome of Lauren Frank, Allison Spinweber, Stephanie Carlson and Emily Meissnest.
‘All four throwers really made a difference. They really pushed us ahead to get the wins,? he said.
Meissnest (31-feet-4-inches) and Frank (98-feet-5-inches) won the Shot put and discus respectively, against both opponents.
The boys team lost 76-43 to Rochester and 72-47 to West Bloomfield. The Wolves? 0-4 start is a bit off last season’s 2-2 beginning.
‘We know we’re a young team and that we’re short different positions. I like the way we’re approaching it, we’re working hard and our time performances are getting better. It’s a tough evaluation after Easter Break,? Clarkston coach Walt Wyniemko said.
‘We’re starting to see some of our kids get better. The cream comes to the top and you’re going to see better performances.?
Nick LaMora, who lost to Rochester as a member of the cross country team in the fall, rallied to win the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:43.6.
‘He knew what was at stake. Nick’s been around track for a long time and he knows all the ingredients involved with that,? Wyniemko said.
Clarkston’s 3200-meter relay team (8:27.7) comprised of LaMora, Jeff Kuhl, Phil Voorheis and Matt Alexander walloped both opponents by about 30 seconds each.
‘We were really happy about that,? Wyniemko said.
The Wolves put on the brakes in the race, slowing LaMora to rest him for his 1600-meter race. Wyniemko said at full-tilt, the Wolves could run an even faster time.
Alexander won the 800-meter run (2:05.3) versus both teams as did Kuhl (10:16) in the 3200-meter run. Clarkston’s 1600-meter relay team won on both sides also, with the Kyle Rivenburgh, Giovan McDougal, Alexander and LaMora posting a time of 3:38.8.
On Saturday at the Birmingham Groves Invitational, the boys took ninth place overall. The 3200-meter relay team took third place and Jeff Kuhl was fourth in the 1600-meter run.