The Wolves are quickening their speed and adding distance after finishing their league season and preparing for the post-season.
The Clarkston Boys Track and Field team finished in second place in the OAA Red league meet at Stoney Creek last Thursday. They scored 124.33 points with Ian Eriksen taking first place in three events.
With the 1,600-meter relay team of Scott Cousino, Joe Definis and Blake Sutherland, Eriksen helped them finish in 3:35.08.
In his individual events Eriksen finished the 200-meter dash in 22.81 and the 100-meter dash in 11.42.
“He did a great job leading the team,” said John Bennink, coach for the boys team.
Merrick Canada and Caine Watlington took first and second place in the long jump. Merrick finished 19′ and 11.75″ and Watlington 19′ and 9.5″.
Nick Matich finished in third place in the shot put with 44’9″ and Chris Scott took second place in the discus with 125′ 6.5″.
Blake Sutherland took second place in the 400-meter dash in 50.44 – his fastest time for the season and Austin Draving finished in second in the 3,200-meter run.
“Draving has been one of the most consistent kid we have had since I have been here as far as running well every meet he has been in,” said Bennink. “I was really happy with how the guys competed.”
The girls team finished the OAA Red meet in third place with 83 points and second overall for the league.
“We did pretty well,” said Coach John Yorke, adding the Lady Wolves used it to get ready for regionals.
Erin Billette led the team, finishing the 1,600-meter run in 5:01, while Maicey Peterson had 9’6″ in the pole vault.
For third place finishes Taylor Mullins in the long jump; Courtney Roland, high jump; Franzi Loetzner, 300 hurdles; Madison Wilson, 100-meter dash; 400-meter relay team and the 800-meter relay team.
The teams head to MHSAA Regionals at Brandon High School on Friday.
“We can be in the top three if we wanted to be,” said Yorke. “We are going to focus our line up on getting as many girls to the state championship as possible. We should be pretty solid in a lot of the events. We might not place in first but we will place high.”
He added Rochester Adams, who finished the league in first place, is the favorite team to win the region and will be a tough team.
“After that is is pretty close,” he said.
The top two placers or meeting the qualifiers time or distance for the event qualifies the athlete for the state finals.
He added strengths going in are the relay teams, the pole vault event and the mile.
The boys team also looks to place as many as they can to head to the state finals.
“It is going to be tough,” said Bennink. “No matter what happens I have been really pleased with all of the performances from all of my guys. They have been a great group to work with and a fun group to coach.”