Rain, Rain Go Away!

I know that weather tends to feed our collective short-term memory loss and that the current weather pattern we are in feels like "the worst it's been for a while" but this is ridiculous! With our intermittent semi-sunny days scattered throughout (not on a meet day mind you), it seems that heaven's floodgates have been open frequently this spring, and this was especially evident at last Thursday's meet at Kentlake.

I also feel that the meet fit into our theme for the week, mental toughness, because just to get to the end of that meet without a mutiny displayed the mental state of our team. In despite of all that, I was astonished at our performances. By my semi-accurate count, there were 42 PR's this meet from our boys team and 27 for our girls team... which I just think is amazing! It all amounted to a 104-31 victory for the boys team and a 59-83 loss by the girls.

Our girls were highlighted by several impressive performances, including a newcomer who stole the show. Freshman Dana Wareham began her Kentwood Track and Field Career with an amazing 3 first place finishes in individual events (Long Jump 15'1", 200m 27.9, 400m 62.3) and ran a leg on the winning 4x400 relay. With those performances Dana captured the Freshman records for each of those events, and also moved into the All-Time Top 10 List for the 200m and the 400m. There were several other impressive performances by the girls team, highlighted by event winners Sophomore Kyra Gaines (100m, 13.9), Freshman Clarisa Hammer (300m Hurdles, 54.3), and Sophomore Lindsey Moore (High Jump, 5'6") along with the 4x200 Relay (Rachel Gilstad, Kristen Olenick, Hammer, and Karyn Hauch) in 2:00.5, and the 4x400 relay (Abby Brauer, Gaines, Wareham, Meghan Hoffman) in 4:41.0. Freshmen Karyn Hauch (Pole Vault, 6'6") and Meghan Hoffman (1600m, 5:57.0) jumped into the Top Ten lists with their performances last week against Kentlake. Juniors Erin Bradfield and Teddi McGuire both moved up on the Top Ten list with both clearing 5'0" in the High Jump.

The boys also were able to overcome the rainy conditions and put up some amazing marks. Perhaps the most intriguing race of the day was between two of our own, Senior Michael Chinchar and Junior Chris Selvar in the 800m. In what turned out to be a great race for the both of them, Michael won in a time of 1:55.1 (a time that would have placed 3rd at last year's state meet), and Chris set a season PR with a 2:01.4. We had many event winners including three double-winners, led by Junior Demetrius Bronson who won the 100m (11.2) and the 200 (23.2), Senior Eric Brill who won the 1600m (4:40.0) and the 3200 (10:24.0), and Sophomore Steven Warner who won the 110HH (15.2) and the 300H (41.7), both of these times move Steven onto the Top Ten List). Other event winners were Sophomore Junior Gauldin in the 400m (53.6), Junior Adam Smith in the Discus (114'6"), Sophomore Cody Fishel in the High Jump (6'3", which moved him up to 3rd on the Top Ten List), and Senior Chris Jenks in the Pole Vault (8'0").

This week we go up against the Decatur Gators at home. Decatur has several very talented athletes, led by Ezra John Griffey in the sprints. Decatur also has a solid distance running core, so they should provide a good challenge for our boys squad. Their girls team is highlighted by a tandem of very talented jumpers and throwers, Amanda Stewart and Geena Woodke. Stewart is the only other athlete in the state thus far to match Lindsey Moore's 5'6" in the High Jump.

So, we're hoping for some warm, dry weather for Thursday, but at this point we'd settle for just dry. Hope to see a huge crowd on Thursday to cheer on your Conks!

Coach Roche