All-staters, Stephanie Thorstad, Autumn Touchstone and Kristen Smith, will make another appearance at the state meet this year.
The girls track team took first place at the regional meet with 122.2 points on Saturday. They had a 50 point lead over second place Grand Blanc.
‘We didn’t expect to win by that much, so that was pretty exciting,? said Clarkston varsity girls coach John Yorke. ‘We have won five out of six regionals now. That’s neat to keep that going. It was a great day. We had a lot of great performances and a lot of girls made the state meet.?
Thorstad, Touchstone, and Smith are returning to state in their events.
During the regional meet, Thorstad took first in the high jump with five feet and two inches. She placed second in the long jump at 16 feet and seven inches.
Touchstone took first place in 100 hurdles (14.82) and 300 hurdles (44.88).
Smith kept hydrated and fought through the flu to qualify for states. She placed second in 1600 meter (5:11.03) and 3200 meter (11:23.53).
‘The flu wiped her out pretty bad,? said Yorke. ‘She got it together for the two mile. She was pretty gutsy.?
Dana Johns was a regional champ from last year. She will be returning to states again this year. She took first in her pole vault event with ten feet and two inches.
They had a few new members make it to states. Kristin Cross a new high jumper tied for second in the high jump with five feet.
‘She has had a really good year,? said Yorke.
Freshmen Andrea Butler and Caitlyn Post will be going to regionals as part of the 1600 meter relay team with Jena Manilla and Touchstone. They took second with a time of 4:11.55.
Manilla and Butler were also part of the 3200 meter relay that took first place. Tiffany Kincaid and Smith helped the team finish the relay with 9:47.42.
Post will also be going for the 800 meter run. She placed second (2:21.95).
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The boys had their own success at the regional meet.
They had four qualifiers for the state meet and tied for fifth place with Oxford.
‘We did a really good job,? said boys varsity track coach John Bennink.
‘The 400 meter relay team was real consistent again. They have been consistent all year. I expect them to do well in the state meet, if they continue to stay healthy and keep running well.?
The relay team made up by Erik Thompson, John Verros, Adam Sharp, and Duane George came in first place with 43.44.
Thompson took first in the long jump with 21 feet.
‘He didn’t have his best day, but he competed well. In his second to last jump, he put himself in position to go to the state meet,? said Bennink. ‘We are happy for Erik. I am happy for Erik, he has done a good job.?
George will go to states and compete in the 100 meter dash. He took third place (10.89).
Jeff Kuhl will compete in the 1600 meter run at states after taking second place at regionals (4:31.22)
‘Jeff was kind of beaten up all year long by some of the competition from Orion and Adams, even Rochester. He runs against a lot of good competition,? said Bennink. ‘He finally made some strides on Saturday by running a smart race. It’s a testament to him for changing things up like Coach Taylor told him to do.?
We had just as many guys go this year as last year.
We have a lot of good kids coming up in the program in the next couple years.
While some members didn’t make it to states, Bennink noticed his throwers did a good job and senior Dan Moore has gotten better from last year.
‘He was eighth in pole vault. He doesn’t get a lot of competition,? said Bennink.
The teams have an Oakland County Meet at Farmington High School on Friday.
‘We were third last year. We plan to do better this year,? said Yorke.
The freshmen will compete on Saturday at the ninth grade county meet in Milford.
‘The boys took second at the Pontiac meet,? said Bennink. ‘They are a good group of kids.?
Bennink expects to see a lot from the class of 2011 in seasons to come.
The state meet is next Saturday at Rockford High School. Gates open at 8 a.m.