After repeating as regional champions two weeks ago, replicating an Oakland County track championship wasn’t in the cards for Clarkston’s girls Friday. The hand they dealt themselves by electing not to goal full-bore for another title, produced a solid enough hand for third place at the 48th annual Oakland County Track and Field Championships at South Lyon High School.
Troy (76 points) took the meet, dusting nearest challenger West Bloomfield. The Lakers finished as the runners-up with 61 points. The Wolves, choosing to use the event as preparation for the state finals this weekend in East Kentwood, finished third with 49.5 points. Rochester Adams and Southfield tied for fourth place with 49 points.
‘It was a good performance. For not really having our eyes on a county title, we took third,? Clarkston coach John Yorke said.
‘We were really trying to prepare for the state championships.
‘The competition at the county is a good way to prepare. That’s the reason most schools go there. It’s a deep, high-level preparation for the state meet. It’s probably the closest replication to the state meet.?
Clarkston boys coach Walt Wyniemko echoed Yorke’s thoughts about the county meet as he prepares his runners for the weekend.
‘It was the first time we ran when everybody in the heat was running a comparable time,? he said.
‘It was great experience because at the state meet, the competition is very close.?
The boys? highest placer was Nick LaMora in the 800-meter run where he finished in 1:57.8, about four seconds faster than his time at the regional.
‘Anytime you get under two minutes is quite an accomplishment,? Wyniemko said.
‘He ran extremely well, it was good for him. Coming in third at the county meet is a tough feat.?
The state-finals-qualifying 3200-meter relay team with LaMora, Matt Alexander, Jeff Kuhl and Phil Voorhies finished 12th at 8:25.
Kuhl ran 4:34.1 in the 1600-meter run, which he qualified in for the state meet.
Although the finish was not what the sophomore wanted, Wyniemko said, Kuhl is doing well.
Autumn Touchstone placed second in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles for the girls.
‘I would have liked it better if I had gotten a better time. To me, time is everything, the placing is extra,? Touchstone said of her performance in the first hurdling event.
Dana Johns finished second for Clarkston in the pole vault, leaping 9-feet, 6-inches. Stephanie Carlson hurled the discus 107-feet, 4-inches for a third-place finish.
The Wolves finished fourth, fifth and sixth to lock up points in the high jump. Stephanie Thorstad (5-feet, 1-inch), Alyssa Swindlehurst (five feet) and Jena Manilla (4-feet, 10-inches) were the placers in that event.
Thorstad (15-feet, 10.5-inches) placed sixth in the long jump.
Kristen Smith (11:02.87) was fourth in the 3200-meter run and fellow distance runner Tiffany Kincaid (5:29.17) took 15th in the 1600-meter run.
‘We were strong throughout all the events. All-around team scoring helped us take third place,? Yorke said.
Clarkston’s state qualifiers will venture to East Kentwood Saturday. All running finals except the 3200-meter relay are expected to begin at 1:30 p.m.