MCE dominates in track, but finishes second
ONEKAMA- Despite winning 10 of the 17 events, the Mason County Eastern girls track and field team was nosed out of first - place by Onekama - Bear Lake in the season's first Western Michigan D League jamboree on Wednesday.
Results of the boys meet were not reported.
Competing with just 10 girls, Eastern was defeated by the Portagers 183.5 to 171 for the top spot.
"I was really pleased with the girls' performances,"said Cardinal coach Matt Millspaugh. "We had a lot of firsts but we missed out on the seconds and thirds. That is where the lack of depth hurt us."
The Cardinals are currently without seniors Chelsea Lehrbass and Melanie Stickney, who are injured.
Senior distance runner Erica Knizacky paced Eastern in the meet. She won three individual events; the 1,600- meter run (six minutes, 24 seconds), the 800 (2:47.93) and the 3,200 (13:54). She also anchored the 3,200 relay which took second place.
Eastern also got two first-place finishes from junior thrower Michelle O'Neal. She won the shot put with a fine toss of 34 feet, three and one-half inches and took the discus with a distance of 91-0.
Sophomore Megan Wheeler posted a fast time of 50.46 seconds in winning the 300 low hurdles for Eastern.
The Cardinals also won the 800 relay with a team of Wheeler, Jessica Bruesch, Chelsea Orcutt and Kada Knizacky in a very good time of 1:58.35. The 1600 relay foursome of Jen Spinner, Wheeler, Kada Knizacky and Orcutt took that event in a strong 4:30 clocking.
Eastern Placers:
TEAM RESULTS: 1- Onekame-Bear Lake, 182.5; 2- MCE, 171; 3- Brethren, 60; 4-Pentwater, 35; 5- Big Rapids Crossroads, 28; 6-Walkerville, 21.5
POLE VAULT: 3-Jen Spinner, 6.6; 4- Jackie Eriksen, 5-6.
LONG JUMP: 1- Jessica Bruesch, 13-11.25; 4-Eriksen, 12-2.5
SHOT PUT: 1-Michelle O'Neal, 34-3.5; 4-Chelsea Orcutt,26-11; 6-Courtney Englebrecht, 25-8.5.
DISCUS: 1-O'Neal, 91-0.
HIGH JUMP: 3-Kada Knizacky, 4-6.
3,200 RELAY: 2- MCE (Spinner, Eriksen, Jenny Haner, Erica Knizacky) 12:33.
100 HURDLES: 2-Megan Wheeler, 17.98
100: 5-Bruesch, 14.8; 6-Stephanie Eichmeirer, 15.56.
800 RELAY: 1-MCE (Wheeler, Bruesch, Orcutt, K.Knizacky) 1:58.35.
1,600: 1- E. Knizacky, 6:24; 3-Eriksen, 7:00; 5- Haner, 7:30.
400 RELAY: 3-MCE (O'Neal, Englebrecht, Orcut, Eichmeier) 1:02.8.
400: 1- K. Knizacky, 1:06.05; 2- Spinner, 1:06.13;
300 HURDLES: 1- Wheeler, 50.46.
800- 1. E. Knizacky, 2:47.93; 6-Eriksen, 2:59.42.
200: 5- Bruesch, 30.9
3,200: 1- E. Knizacky, 13:54; 5- Haner, 17:15.
1,600 RELAY: 1- MCE (Spinner, Wheeler, K.Knizacky. Orcutt) 4:30.
Reprinted with permission from the ludington daily news