By Wendi Reardon Price
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The Clarkston Boys Track and Field team dominated in their first win in their home dual meet against Rochester, 91.5-36.5 on April 19.
“They did a nice job,” said Kevin Breen, head coach. “Rochester has a solid squad, and we beat them pretty handedly. It just shows we are getting stronger. We are getting faster. Our sprint program this year has really made some huge improvements over the last couple of years. A shoot out to my coaches. They are doing a phenomenal job. They have done a lot of work in the off season to try to retool the program. They are really developing some speed and explosiveness among our sprint athletes.”

Finishing in the top three places to score points for the Wolves in the track events were: in the 100-meter dash, junior Keehan LaVell in first place in the time of 11.83; sophomore Gabe Van Goor, second, 11.84; sophomore Leon-Fountain Rence, third, 12.19; 200-meter dash, senior Mark Palmeter, first, 23.37; sophomore Micah Chaney, second, 23.90; LaVell, third, 24.45; 400-meter dash, Palmeter, first, 50.99; Van Goor, second, 54.11; 800-meter run, senior Henry Poploskie, second, 2:11.55; junior Bryce Nowik, third, 2:13.97; 1,600-meter run, Poploskie, first, 4:41.07; junior Andrew Floros, second, 4:41.81; 3,200-meter run, sophomore Cayden DeGrendel, first, 10:25.24; 110-meter hurdles, senior Colin Bastuba, first, 15.93; freshman Daniel Hein, third, 19.31; 300-meter hurdles, Bastuba, first, 41.93; junior Aksel Hopkins, second, 47.14; and Hein, third, 47.86.
The Wolves finished in first place in three relay events, finishing in 46.10 in the 400-meter relay; 1:34.49 in the 800-meter relay; and 3:33.10 in the 1,600-meter relay. They finished in second place in the 3,200-meter relay in 8:33.92.
“Our sprint relays are really coming along strong. They are running times that are among the best times ever run in Clarkston by Clarkston athletes,” said Breen. “They are starting to crack the top five relay performances in 4×100, 4×200, 4×400. Things are moving along smoothly.”
Finishing in the top three places to score points for the Wolves in the field events were: in the shot put, junior Nick Waszczenko in second place with the distance of 39-03; discus, Waszczenko, second, 119-11; high jump, sophomore Thomas Schafer, second, 5-03; senior Aidan Kersjes, third, 5-00; pole vault, sophomore Cole Hedstrom, first, 7-00; freshman Spencer Brandon, second, 6-00; long jump, Rence, first, 18-03.75; Kersjes, second, 17-11.75; and Chaney, third, 17-09.25.
The girls team lost to Rochester, 80-48.
“We have some runners still out with various things,” said Breen, adding some are being careful and others had other school activities at the same time. “The kids who were there really did a nice job and held up their end of the bargain. They did a nice job stepping up into those positions of competing.”
Finishing in the top three places to score points for the Wolves in the track events were: in the 100-meter dash, senior Jurney Harris in first place in the time of 13.53; sophomore Scarlett Keenan, third, 13.61; 200-meter dash, Keenan, second, 28.27; sophomore Keira Zorski, third, 28.42; 400-meter dash, Zorski, second, 1:03.69; 800-meter run, junior Emily Valencia, third, 2:33.56; 1,600-meter run, senior Rebekah Wilson, third, 5:57.19; 100-meter hurdles, junior Sammie Carpentier, first, 17.90; freshman Caitlin Poterak, third, 18.20; 300-meter hurdles, Poterak, second, 53.55; and sophomore Athena Tedder, third, 54.56.
The girls also finished in first place in three relay events, finishing in 52.16 in the 400-meter relay; 1:50.15 in the 800-meter relay; and 4:35.72 in the 1,600-meter relay. They finished in second place in two relay events, finishing in 5:02.78 in the 1,600-meter relay; and 10:55.68 in the 3,200-meter relay.
Finishing in the top three places to score points for the Wolves in the field events were: in the shot put, senior Emma Larkins in first place with the distance of 26-10; junior Allie Danatzko, third, 26-05; discus, freshman Kennedy Baillie, third, 67-01; pole vault, junior Genna Golab, first, 9-06; sophomore Audrey Morgan, second, 9-00; sophomores Lily Banka and Lily Prainito, tied for third, 6-00; and long jump, Golab, third, 15-02.
Clarkston hosts Lake Orion in a dual meet this Wednesday.
“I believe both teams are going to be within 10 points of each other,” said Breen. “It’s going to be really close. Lake Orion has won the league championship the last 10 years in a row. They have been a hard team to beat. This year might be the year we might be able to take them in the dual meet. Lake Orion always produces really deep teams. They have a lot of athletes out, multisport athletes coming out.”
He added they talked to the athletes during practice about doing their part leading up to the meet.
“It’s making sure we are doing the right things as we prepare – eating right, sleeping, doing right things at practice to make sure we will be competitive and put the best team forward going against them on Wednesday,” Breen said.
They head to the Brighton Bulldog Invitational on Saturday at Brighton High School.

  Clarkston Track and Field, Track and Field