The Oxford track team split in their dual-meet against Brandon on April 28. The Lady Wildcat runners lost to Brandon 52.5-83.5, while their male counterparts won 82-55.
Helping the lady runner’s cause was freshman Tiara Tatarczuk who stepped into the 400 meter relay team after a teammate had to leave the meet. Tatarczuk also scored points with a 13.5 second place finish in the 100 meter dash.
Another top runner for the day was Krysten Sylva, who took first with 13.0 in the 100 meter and second with 28.04 in the 200 meter. Coach Andrew McDonald said the junior sprinter ‘had an outstanding day.?
‘She is really going to make some noise at regionals and the conference meet,? McDonald added.
Junior Carly Gailey also had an outstanding meet with a second place finish at 2:37 in the 800 meter, a personal best for the runner. She also anchored the winning 3200 meter relay.
Other Wildcat ladies placing that day were: long jump – Jenelle Parker, third, 13?3??; shot-put – Kacey Cookingham, first, 31?7??; discus – Kacey Cookingham, third, 84?2?; high jump – Jenelle Parker, third, 4?6?; 3200 meter relay – Cribb, Anderson, Heacock and Gailey, first, 11:39.5; 800 meter relay – Davis, Collier, Kujawa and Sylva, first, 1:57.7; 1600 meter – Lauren Cribb, second, 6:26, and Sarah Lukas, third, 6:28; 400 meter relay – Parker, Tatarczuk, Kujawa and Sylva, first, 53.5; 400 meter – Nicki McKay, second, 1:09.56; 200 meter – Deann Kujawa, first, 27.31; and the 3200 meter – Lauren Cribb, second, 13:39, and Sarah Lukas, third, 14:51.
For the men, two Oxford runners set records for their personal best. Junior Kam Mueller, who took second in the 100 meter hurdles with 17.07 and third in shot-put with 37?9?, set a personal best with 43.5 in the 300 hurdles. Freshman Derek Lewis set his own personal best at 1:00 with a third place finish in the 400 meter.
‘It was the biggest surprise of the meet that he scored the first time running the event,? said McDonald.
Reaching a personal goal of his own was Elliot Skylis who took his first top finish at the varsity level with the 800 meter relay team.
And it’s no wonder the younger Wildcats are succeeding. The team had three upperclassmen with great showings against Brandon. Senior Donnie Richmond took the top spot in four events; senior Andrew Darin took the top spot in three, and junior Pat Streit won four events.
‘Donnie is a true team leader that will give you everything he has to win the meet for the team,? said McDonald. ‘Pat has really started to make great strides in all the events, and Andrew just did an excellent job of stepping up to the challenge of leading the sprint team.?
Placing for the Oxford boys team were: long jump – Andrew Darin, third, 16?5?; shot-put – Vince Belitsos, first, 51???; discus – Vince Belitsos, first, 134?1?; 800 meter relay – Kevin Brown, Kenny White, Pat Streit and German Guerrero, first, 10:00.7; 100 meter – Andrew Darin, first, 11.65, and Dave Kourtjian, third, 11.93; 800 meter relay – Austin, Kourtjian, Skylis and Streit, first, 1:39.36; 1600 meter – Donnie Richmond, first, 4:46.6, and Adam Richmond, third, 4:54.7; 400 meter relay – Austin, Kourtjian, Duval and Darin, first, 47.2; 400 meter – Pat Streit, first, 54.46, and Derek Lewis, third, 1:00.12; 300 hurdles – Kevin Brown, third, 45.22; 800 meter – Donnie Richmond, first, 1:58.7, and German Guerrero, second, 2:03.37; 200 meter – Andrew Darin, first, 24.0, and Alex Austin, second, 24.23; 3200 meter – Donnie Richmond, first, 10:04, Tim Rowland, second, 10:55, and Adam Richmond, third, 11:04; and the 1600 meter – Guerrero, Brown, Streit and Richmond, first, 3:38.71.
The Wildcat runners traveled to Algonac on May 1 and faced off against Lapeer East at home on May 5, but results were not available at the time of publication.
The teams will take to the track again this Saturday, May 8, at the Oxford Invitational. The annual event begins at 9:30 a.m. and will host several area teams.