Northville goes the distance in conference 5 peat

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Northville goes the distance in conference 5 peat"

Leo Marsh
5 years ago
Views:

1 Northville goes the distance in conference 5 peat Brad Emons, hometownlife.com Published 11:23 p.m. ET May 12, 2017 Updated 12:29 a.m. ET May 15, 2017 Mustangs fend off strong challenges from Plymouth, Churchill Northville's Cayla Eckenroth has enjoyed a distinguished four year career as a distance runner, but the senior had never taken home an individual title at the KLAA Kensington Conference girls track and field meet. But that all changed Friday as she swept the 1,600 and 3,200 meter events as the Mustangs brought home their fifth consecutive conference crown with a team high 130 points at Plymouth Canton's Centennial Educational Park. (Photo: BRAD EMONS) Plymouth earned its highest finish ever placing runner up with points, while Livonia Churchill claimed third with Eckenroth, along with junior Ana Barrott and sophomore Olivia Harp, accounted individually for 45 points of the Mustangs' points in the two distance events. They also teamed up with Emily Assemany to place second in the 3,200 relay with a time of 9:22.4, while Churchill took first in 9: "We got really lucky with the weather," Eckenroth said. "It was super nice so everybody had the chance to run great P.R.'s or faster times. And in the 4 x 800 even though we got second we got a P.R. for our relay and everyone in our relay got their own 800 P.R. So that was really exciting for everyone." Eckenroth posted a personal best 5:01.56 in the 1,600 holding off Churchill's Gabrielle Swider (5:02.30), Harp (5:02.71) and Barrott (5:02.72). "At the 200 I just knew I had to go," Eckenroth said. "I had a lot of energy and I said, 'I just have to do this.' It's my last conference meet, so I was really excited." Takia Bradley, of Churchill, wins her heat in the prelims for the 100 meter hurdles. (Photo: Bill Bresler staff photographer) Northville essentially clinched the meet when Eckenroth (11:01.19), Barrott (11:02.24) and Harp (11:02.36) went one two three in the 3,200. That enabled the Mustangs to put some distance between themselves and Plymouth. "For the two mile we all stuck together, the three of us," Eckenroth said. "We knew we needed the points to help our team win the meet because it was super close. Some things went our way, some things didn't, but we pulled it through. It went well and I'm really proud of everyone on the team for doing their job and working hard together here."

We knew they were going to be hard to beat just with the points they were going to score in the mile and two mile. But I was really proud of what my girls did today.

2 Plymouth stayed right on Northville's heels until the 3,200 when the Mustangs used a 24 3 point scoring advantage. "They're very talented in the distance, they've always been," Plymouth coach Ricky Styes said. "You look at their cross country performance over the past five years. We knew they were going to be hard to beat just with the points they were going to score in the mile and two mile. But I was really proud of what my girls did today. We kept things interesting and close. We had a lot of girls P.R. today and we told them just put you best times out there and the score will work itself out." The Northville coaching staff were seen constantly checking the team standings as the meet wore on. "We were down going into that (3,200) and we knew that," Northville co coach Jack Dalton said. "We knew it would be a tough match with Plymouth, Salem and Churchill today. "It was nice because we can count on those three kids. Cayla is a senior. She's been pretty reliable. And Ana Barrott and Olivia (Harp)... can't say enough about those kids. I think they benefit from each other training together every day. The three really work well together. Their plan to was to work together and pull away about halfway through, which they did." Northville put an exclamation point on the victory by taking the 1,600 relay as Abby Dunn, Savannah Manley, Yasmine Affes and Clare McNamara were clocked in 4: McNamara, just a freshman, was the conference long jump champion with a school record leap of 17 feet, 11 inches. She was also runner up in the 400 (57.47) only behind Plymouth senior standout Ryen Draper, who set a meet record in Reghan Draper wins her heat in 100 meter dash prelims. (Photo: Bill Bresler staff photographer) "There were a lot of surprises," Dalton said. "Barbara Davis did really well in the discus (second). She did a lot better than she was seeded. High jump we scored more points with Lauren Lambert (seventh) and Emma Sheehan (eighth) than we were anticipating. Emma Smith came up big in the 800. The 400 we did really well. Clare McNamara has been 'on' all season long. Going 57 seconds for a freshman... she's going to be a lot of fun to watch the next three years. Our 4 x 100 (relay) also came up big. Just across the board, really. We had had a few things that didn't go our way, but overall really some pleasant surprises." Northville (left) and Churchill (right) make the baton exchange in the 4 x 800 meter relay. (Photo: BILL BRESLER STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER) Draper, headed to Bowling Green, set a 400 meet record eclipsing the mark of set last year by Northville's Chloe Abbott (Purdue). Meanwhile, Plymouth's 400 relay team of Erin Bradley, Paige Sanders, Delia Brennan took first (49.80), while the Wildcats' 800 relay foursome of Sanders, Faith Washington and the Draper sisters were also victorious (1:40.89).

"Ryen Draper is a really special runner," Styes said. "She'll graduate the fastest girl ever to come through the Plymouth Canton Schools. She ran a 54.

3 "Ryen Draper is a really special runner," Styes said. "She'll graduate the fastest girl ever to come through the Plymouth Canton Schools. She ran a in the 400, which might be the fastest time in the state right now. Everyone knows how good Chloe Abbott was and she (Draper) broke the meet record. Our 4 x I knew they were good and they ran a really special time today (1:40.89). I just saw a Tweet and it's one of the top 20 times in state history. We knew they were going to run well, but that was a time that my eyes got as big as the stadium when I saw that. The Drapers (Reghan and Ryen) lead us and we're deep in the sprints and they really shined today." Plymouth's Natalie Janke tied for first in the pole vault (10 9 each) along with Churchill's Cate Visccher. "This is our highest finish and we're pretty happy," Styes said. "We've never been second. We have some special, talented girls that helped us get first place in some events. And a lot of gritty performances of getting fifths, sixths and sevenths... it does add up a lot. Total team effort." The Chargers 3,200 relay team of Christina Murphy, Caroline George, Megan Gendjar and Swider, who was battling a stress injury, won in 9: Swider, a state placer (seventh) last year, was held out for precautionary reasons in her speciality, the 800, in lieu of next Friday's MHSAA Division 1 regional meet at Canton. "She (Swider) ran very fast mile and a very fast 4 x 800 leg," Churchill first year coach Bruce Rivera said. "She P.R.'d in both of those today, but sometimes that can take the toll on the body. She P.R.'d by 11 seconds today in the mile. That's crazy. We had a beautiful day for it, so decided to rest her up for the rest of the meet." Senior Takia Bradley accounted for 24 points individually for Churchill with a first in the 300 hurdles (46.56), a second in the 100 hurdles (15.31) and a third in the 200 (25.30). "Takia was stellar today," Rivera said. "We had some worries with all the races she had to do. She was in the 200 semis and the 100 hurdles semis and she came on just as Bradley does. She's been stellar for us all year, never falters." Emma Ryan, of Stevenson, throws the shot. (Photo: Bill Bresler staff photographer) Another one of the meet's individual standouts was Wayne Memorial senior sprinter Anavia Battle, who took firsts in the 100 (11.85) and 200 (meet record 24.09). Other individual conference champions included Haven Essien (Salem), 100 hurdles ); Emily Lauzon (Livonia Stevenson), 800 (2:20.80); Makayla Ward (Salem), high jump (5 2); Lyniah Wilson (Salem), shot put (37 10); and Emma Hammelef (Novi), discus (109 9). KLAA KENSINGTON CONFERENCE GIRLS TRACK & FIELD MEET RESULTS May 12 at Canton (CEP)

4 TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Northville, 130 points; 2. Plymouth, ; 3. Livonia Churchill, 94.33; 4. Salem, 76; 5. Novi, 70; 6. Wayne Memorial, 41; 7. Canton, 38; 8. Livonia Franklin, 34; 9. Livonia Stevenson, 27.33; 10. Westland John Glenn, 17; 11. (tie) South Lyon and South Lyon East, 15 each. FINAL RESULTS Shot put: 1. Lyniak Wilson (Salem), 37 feet, 10 inches; 2. Emma Hammelf (Novi), 37 2; 3. Ashley Micheaux (WM), ; 4. Darletta Robinson Oden (WM), ; 5. Alexis Browning (LF), ; 6. Jenna Sydlowski (Salem), 32 0; 7. Sydney McCaig (Ply.), ; 8. Sara Ismail (N'ville), Discus: 1. Hammelef (Novi), 109 9; 2. Barbara Davis (N'vuille), 107 0; 3. Ashley Rebain (LC), 103 2; 4. Browning (LF), ; 5. Anna Lauber (LF), 100 7; 6. Rachel Lepper (Salem), 99 5; 7. Alexandra Johnson (Salem), High jump: 1. Makayla Ward (Salem), 5 2; 2. Hannah Hood Blaxill (Novi), 5 2; 3. Lily Mueller (SL), 5 1; 4. Ryan Sparks (Canton), 5 1; 5. Kate Prisby (Novi), 5 1; 6. Kennedy Chastang (Ply.), 5 1; 7. Lauren Lambert (N'ville), 5 0; 8. Emma Sheehan (N'ville), Long jump: 1. Clare McNamara (N'ville), 17 11; 2. Haven Essien (Salem), ; 3. Paige Sanders (Ply.), ; 4. Ward (Salem), ; 5. Mikaela Hille (LF), 16 6; 6. Sommer Isley (Novi), ; 7. Amanda Radke (Ply.), 15 8; 8. Iamani Moultrie (LC), Pole vault: 1. (tie) Cate Visscher (LC) and Natalie Janke (Ply.), 10 9 each; 3. (tie) Natalie Yurgil (LC), Hammelef (Novi), 10 6 each; 5. (tie) Daryn Lobingier (N'ville), Emily Caragay (Ply.), Victoria Faber, 10 0 each; 8. Elise Daniel (N'ville), meter hurdles: 1. Essien (Salem), 14.85; 2. Takia Bradley (LC), 15.31; 3. Micheaux (WM), 15.4; 4 Brittany Moeller (Novi), 16.62; 5. Kayla Dudek (Ply.), 16.82; 6. Ward (Salem), 16.90; 7. Allison Range (Ply.), hurdles: 1. Bradley (LC), 46.56; 2. Taylor Stone (Novi), 47.55; 3. Sparks (Canton), 48.04; 4. Danielle Booth (SL), 48.27; 5. Jada Sabir (Canton), 48.56; 6. Moeller (Novi), 48.58; 7. Kayla Dudek (Ply.), 49.19; 8. Gabby Chouinard (Ply.), dash: 1. Anavia Battle (WM), 11.85; 2. Reghan Draper (Ply.), 12.36; 3. Alona Oshevska (WJG), 12.48; 4. Kayla Savage (Novi), 12.55; 5. Tiffanie Hollingsworth (SLE), 12.62; 6. Paige Sanders (Ply.), 12.73; 7. Erin McCallum (N'ville), 13.01; 8. Lauren Marshall (N'ville), : 1. Battle (WM), (meet record); 2. Ryen Draper (Ply.), 24.55; 3. Bradley (LC), 25.30; 4. Jada Sabir (Canton), 25.69; 5. Reghan Draper (Ply.), 25.87; 6. Hollingsworth (SLE), 26.20; 7. Yasmine Affes (N'ville), 26.66; 8. Faith Washington (Ply.), did not start. 400: 1. Ryen Draper (Ply.), (meet record); 2. McNamara (N'ville), 57.47; 3. Affes (N'ville), 59.14; 4. Donae Adams (Canton), 59.20; 5. Savannah Manley (N'ville), 1:00.70; 6. Washington (Ply.), 1:01.70; 8. Hille (LF), 1: : 1. Emily Lauzon (LS), 2:20.80; 2. Lexi Jenkins (LS), 2:24.30; 3. Megan Gendjar (LC), 2:25.80; 4. Ana White (Ply.), 2:26.50; 5. Jessica Leigh (WM), 2:28.30; 6. Olivia Masse (N'ville), 2:28.60; 7. Emma Smith (N'ville), 2:29.50; 8. Hannah Jeffress (Salem), 2: ,600: 1. Cayla Eckenroth (N'ville), 5:01.56; 2. Gabrielle Swider (LC), 5:02.30; 3. Olivia Harp (N'ville), 5:02.51; 4. Ana Barrott (N'ville), 5:02.72; 5. Erin Seibert (LF), 5:16.00; 6. Kathleen George (LC), 5:18.04; 7. Katherine Ray (Novi), 5:24.15; 8. Christina Murphy (LC), 5: ,200: 1. Eckenroth (N'ville), 11:01.19; 2. Barrott (N'ville), 11:02.24; 3. Harp (N'ville), 11:02.36; 4. K. George (LC), 11:25.17; 5. Murphy (LC), 11:46.89; 6. Annie Bonds (Ply.), 11:48.67; 7. Seibert (LF), 11:53.51; 8. Ray (Novi), 11: relay: 1. Plymouth (Erin Bradley, Sanders, Delia Brennan, Reghan Draper), 49.80; 2. Salem, 50.28; 3. John Glenn, 51.03; 4. Northville, 51.52; 5. Novi, 51.70; 6. Franklin, 52.11; 7. S.L. East, 52.26; 8. Stevenson, relay: 1. Plymouth (Sanders, Washington, Reghan Draper, Ryen Draper), 1:40.89; 2. Northville, 1:44.21; 3. Salem, 1:45.90; 4. John Glenn, 1:47.22; 5. Churchill, 1:48.33; 6. S.L. East, 1:49.24; 7. Novi, 1:50.49; 8. Franklin, 1: ,600 relay: 1. Northville (Abby Dunn, Manley, Affes, McNamara), 4:02.50; 2. Canton, 4:10.37; 3. Churchill, 4:14.93; 4. Franklin, 4:15.48; 5. South Lyon, 4:17.28; 6. Plymouth, 4:17.71; 7. Salem, 4:17.77; 8. Salem, 4: ,200 relay: 1. Churchill (Murphy, Caroline George, Gendjar, Swider), 9:19.85; 2. Northville, 9:22.45; 3. Stevenson, 9:42.89; 4. Salem, 9:49.18; 5. Plymouth, 10:17.83; 6. Canton, 10:41.14; 7. S.L. East, 10:43.11; 8. Novi, 11: bemons@hometownlife.com

Northville runs away with another KLAA girls track championship

Northville runs away with another KLAA girls track championship Brad Emons, hometownlife.com Published 12:54 a.m. ET May 12, 2018 Updated 1:32 p.m. ET May 13, 2018 Freshman Mansi leads way as Mustangs