BY HEATHER SMITH

Special to The Oxford Leader

The Oxford Wildcats boys Track & Field team were defeated by the Lake Orion Dragons boys 74-54, April 26 on the home track.

However, the Oxford 4x800m relay continues to stomp out their competition as freshman Scott Masterson, senior Riley Feeney and juniors Zachariah Smith and Sam McMaken placed first in a personal record of 8:15. The boys 400m was a fantastic race with many athletes posting personal bests.

Feeney ran a PR of 51.47 taking first while Masterson also ran a PR in 53.19 placing third. Feeney also set a new PR(2:03) in the 800m placing second.

In a photo finish, the 4x200m relay team of seniors Gage Cabanillas, Ethan Moll and Chris Hankins with junior Peter Bagans ran a 1:36.53 to place second. Hankins also shaved time off his 200m, placing second in 23.60. Despite feeling under the weather, junior Dominic Bruce prevailed in the 3200m placing first (10:09) with fellow junior Ulises Rodriguez placing second (10:10).

In the field, Oxford throwers dominated as junior Parker Fleming threw 42’5″, junior Ben Krause 40’6″ and senior Joseph Sweet 40’4″ sweeping the Shot Put, while Krause and Sweet placed first (131’3″) and third (123’7″) respectively in the Discus. Fleming also placed first in the High Jump leaping 6’ while sophomore Anthony Romeo placed third (5’8″).

At the Long Jump pit, many of the jumpers set personal bests, including Oxford senior Trayveion Huntsman who placed second (19’2″). Sophomore Sam Murray posted a personal best in the Pole Vault with a leap of 11’6″ placing third.

The Oxford girls team was also defeated by the Dragons 96-32, but there was still plenty to celebrate.

Freshman Antonia Vackaro decisively won first in the 200m (27.49) and placed second in the 100m (13.69) achieving a personal best. In the distance events, junior Bridget Cusick took first in the 800m (2:32) and second in the 1600m (5:34). Junior Molly Long placed second in the 3200m (12:31) and third in the 1600m (5:45). Hurdler Micah Dymond, a junior, placed second (18:09) at the 100m distance.

Thrower Jessica Campbell, a junior, threw 29’7″ (Shot Put) and 105’1″ (Discus) to claim second in both events. Although freshman Jillian Hagberg (High Jump 4’8″) and sophomore Abby Mooney (Long Jump 15’5″) both placed fourth in their events, they each set personal records. Freshman Mattie Johnson set a PR in the pole vault with a jump of 6’6″ placing third.

Wednesday marked Senior Night for the 29 graduating athletes who gratefully voiced their appreciation to the coaches for making them better athletes as well as preparing them for life experiences (including military service for some). Feeney hoped that he had fulfilled his freshman desire to be a leader and someone that others could emulate as a senior. Coach Matt Johnson asserted, “Riley has exceeded those expectations.” Michael Abbott choked back tears as he thanked the coaches for being there when his parents couldn’t. It is all about being part of the “track and field family.” Track records may be broken but “Tradition never graduates.”

Oxford Track and Field teams will take on Rochester and Stoney Creek at 4 p.m. on May 3 at Stoney Creek High School (6755 Sheldon Rd., Rochester Hills).