Two Oxford High School track members will be competing in state competition next month.
Senior Donnie Richmond finished first in two different events at regional competition. He won the 1600 meter with 4:21.87 and the 3200 with 9:37. Neither of the times were personal or school record breakers.
Qualifying for state competition is nothing new for this Wildcat senior, but the opportunity is still significant. Richmond, who also runs cross country, is getting another shot at a state distance title after not being able to compete at the cross country level due to injury earlier this year.
The other Wildcat to qualify for States is thrower Vince Belitsos. The Oxford field star has held onto a perfect record in discus, taking first at regionals with 151? even. The distance set a new personal record, and a new Holly track and field event record.
Belitsos also qualified for states in shot put with a second place finish of 51?6??. The Oxford thrower had also maintained an untarnished record in this event until this point. Head Coach Andrew McDonald said the distance was not entirely representative of what Belitsos could accomplish, but it was enough to get states.
‘I’m just not sure what happened,? he added.
Oxford also had three top relay teams going into regionals with high hopes for state qualification, but all three teams missed the mark ever so slightly.
The girls 400 meter relay (comprised of Theresa Miner, Tiara Tatarczuk, Darci Kujawa and Krysten Sylva) missed qualifying for state by .5 of a second. The team came in third with 51.8.
The girls 800 meter relay (comprised of Theresa Miner, Ashley Eller, Darci Kujawa and Krysten Sylva) also finished third with 1:49.23. Both of the girls relays set personal best records.
The boys 3200 meter relay (Kevin Brown, Pat Streit, Donnie Richmond and Tim Rowland) did not do as well as expected with a fourth place finish of 8:12.79.
Girls thrower Kacey Cookingham also set a new personal best in shot put with 32?11??; however, her third place finish was not enough to qualify for states.
‘It was a tough day,? said McDonald. ‘I was pretty drained by the end of it all.?
The Oxford track and field team is finishing up their season with the Flint Metro League Tournament this past Tuesday and the Oakland County Inviation on Friday. The Oakland County Invite is the toughest competition of the season for the Wildcats as a whole.