The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
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Milan track teams down rival Riverview
By Jerry Hinnen, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: May 3, 2007
Last season, the Milan boys' track team tied Riverview in their regular-season dual meet before edging the Pirates for the Huron League title. To judge by the two teams' meeting last week, however, the margin between them isn't nearly so close in 2007.
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Milan flew past the Pirates at home April 24 by a score of 91.5 to 36.5, winning all but four of the 16 events contested. The win runs Milan's dual meet record to 2-0 on the young season.
"Last year, the Riverview meet was the only blemish on our record before winning the league championship," said Milan boys' head coach Rich Pellegrini. "I am impressed with how our distance runners are improving each week. Going down the stretch, getting closer to championship time, we will be counting on our distance kids to make an impact at the championship meet."
Among those Milan distance runners was Kyle Anderson, who set a new personal best with a time of 10:42 in the 3200 meters. Brian Kirkpatrick matched Anderson's accomplishment with a win and career-best time of 2:08.75 in the 800. Kirkpatrick also joined Erik Myyra, Anthony Mann, and Sam Rowe in winning the 3200 relay in 8:55, the team's best time yet this season.
Impressive as the distance runners might have been, the Big Reds' drew points across the board. Milan swept the field events, with Jake Hill taking the shot put, Hamid Thompson the discus, Ron Spears the long jump, and Eric Betts the high jump.
Spears added to his growing early-season collection of first-place finishes by winning the 100-meter dash as well. The 200 dash was taken by Milan's Anthony Marshall with Leandro Gabrielzyk winning the 400 in a personal-best time of 53.9. Milan was also strong in relay competition, with Gabrielzyk, Cedric Douglas, Kyle Love, and Marshall taking the 800 relay in a season-best 1:35. Douglas, Spears, Love, and Marshall won the 400 relay in 45.1.
Love led Milan in the hurdles with second-place finishes in both the 110 and 300 hurdles. Other runner-up finishes included Gabrielzyk in the long jump; David Box in the shot put; Marshall in the 100 dash; Spears in the 200; and Rowe in the 400 and Anderson in the 1600, both with career bests.
For the Milan girls, the Riverview meet was much closer. But the Big Reds prevailed, winning 65 to 63 when the 1600 relay team of Ashley Agar, Mareisha Lala, Loren Weber, and Remina Reed took first with a time of 4:35.68. The win improved the Milan girls to 2-0 as well.
That win was only one part of Milan's dominance in the distance events as the Big Reds outscored the Pirates 36-1 in the 800, 1600, 3200, and 3200 and 1600 relays. Leading the way was senior Emily Wilson, who won the 800 (2:34.1), 1600 (5:52.5), and the 3200 (12:24).
"Our distance runners made the difference," said girls' head coach Steve Porter.
Wilson also joined Kara Porter, Jordan Tomecek, and Tiffany Stoddard in winning the 3200 relay in 11:16. Tomecek was Wilson's equal in terms of consistency, taking second (and critical points) in the 800, 1600, and 3200.
Stephanie Kanitz gave the Big Reds their only other first-place in the shot put by throwing 31'2.5" and added a second-place finish with an 81'9" throw in the discus. Other runner-up finishes included Taylor McGovern in the high jump; Reed in the 100 dash; Agar in both the 100 and 300 hurdles; Lala in the 400 dash; and Samantha Beeler, Katie Okonski, Jade Clark, and Jenna Manor in the 3200 relay.
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