Rematch between Huron's Maya Long and Ypsilanti's Dynasty McGee should be a highlight of D1 track meet
Two weeks ago, at a Division 1 track and field regional at Saline High School, Huron junior Maya Long did something no one in the state had managed to do all year long: beat Ypsilanti’s Dynasty McGee in the 200- and 400-meter dashes.
In both races, Long charged from behind down the final straight away to surpass McGee, who was state champion in the 400 in 2009 and has twice been all-state in the 200.
There have been two opportunities since for a rematch, but neither have come to fruition.
STATE FINALS PREVIEWS
The Southeastern Conference championships were canceled due to weather last week and Long was out of action at Tuesday’s Larry Steeb Meet of Champions at Ypsilanti High School. That sets the stage for this weekend’s Division 1 state finals at Rockford High School.
“A good champion has a short-term memory, so (regionals) is in the back of my mind,” McGee said on Tuesday. “I didn’t run the race I was supposed to (at regionals) and now I need to trust in my practice and have faith in my coaching like I have been for the past years.”
Huron coach Keri Kirk held Long out of Tuesday’s meet as part of a specific training plan. McGee participated and won the 200 and long jump. Ypsilanti coach Torin Moore said her participation had nothing to do with trying to beet Long, or anyone else in particular.
“She’s got nothing to prove,” Moore said. “(Regionals) was a minor setback. People have a bad race, that was her bad race. We don’t want her bad race to be at the state meet. Her's happened to be at the regionals.”
Washtenaw County athletes will be participating in all four track and field state finals on Saturday. Here are some stories to look for at each meet.
DIVISION 1 GIRLS
Where: Rockford High School.
Local schools: Pioneer, Huron, Saline, Dexter, Ypsilanti, Lincoln, Skyline.
Local storyline: A multitude of local athletes have all-state potential, but the team with the best chance at winning top prize is Huron. Using regional results as a guide, Huron is the favorite with multiple relay and individual top seeds.
Projected team scores, by seeds: 1. Huron (62), 2. Detroit Cass Tech (46), 3. Grosse Pointe South (38), 4. Grand Ledge (26), 5. (tie) Novi, Waterford Mott, West Bloomfield (25), t10. Dexter (18), t12. Pioneer (17), t14. Ypsilanti (15), t16. Lincoln (14), t45. Saline.
QUALIFIERS
Top qualifying times and all Washtenaw County participants in each event:
Discus: 1. Taylor Gunn, West Bloomfied (143-1); 11. Emily Everett, Saline (116-6); 13. Randi Bennett, Saline (115-4).
Shot put: 1. Angela Bursey, Pontiac (41-4); 10. Randi Bennett, Saline (37-5 1/2).
High jump: 1. Nyki Caldwell, Dexter (5-7); 20. Sam Richart, Saline (5-1); 23. Stevi Smith, Huron (5-0).
Pole vault: 1. Katie Rancourt, East Kentwood (11-8); 2. Claire Tewksbury, Dexter (11-6); 11. Micaela Conter, Dexter (10-2); 15. Wendy Szuminski, Saline (10-0); 21. Sam Szuminski, Saline (9-8); 23. Nicole Ferguson, Dexter (9-8); 24. Michelle Klein, Dexter (9-8); 25. Kamie Powell, Dexter (9-8); 26. Katie Callaghan, Dexter (9-8).
Long jump: 1. Tory Schiller, Grand Ledge (17-9 3/4); 12. Dynaty McGee, Ypsilanti (17-0 1/2); 16. LaMicah Hughbanks, Huron (16-9 1/4).
100 meter dash: 1. Kyra Jefferson, Detroit Cass Tech (11.90); 2. Cindy Ofili, Huron (12.00); 8. LaMicah Hughbanks, Huron (12.10); 11. Alina Luurtsema, Saline (12.20); 20. Jamaika Jones, Lincoln (12.30); 27. Michele Lagrand, Ypsilanti (12.40).
100 hurdles: 1. Alexandria Johnson, Lake Orion (14.10); 2. Sophia Kunselman, Pioneer (14.30); 6. Tierra Williams, Lincoln (14.70); 13. Bria Williams, Lincoln (15.20); 14. Sabrina Kunselman, Pioneer (15.20); 19. Savannah Roberson, Lincoln (15.30).
200 meter dash: 1. Kyra Jefferson, Detroit Cass Tech (24.20); 2. Maya Long, Huron (24.60); 3. Dynasty McGee, Ypsilanti (24.70); 7. LaMicah Hughbanks, Huron (25.20); 13. Lauren Ross, Lincoln (25.40); 26. Alani Letang, Pioneer (26.00).
300 hurdles: 1. Latica Sims, Farmington Hills Harrison (43.60); 5. Sophia Kunselman, Pioneer (44.70); 9. Anna Masini, Huron (45.90); 20. Cindy Ofili, Huron (46.90); 28. Sabrina Kunselman, Pioneer (47.30).
400 meter dash: 1. Maya Long, Huron (54.80); 5. Dynasty McGee, Ypsilanti (57.00); 12. Chinyere Onimo, Huron (58.50).
800 meter run: 1. Hannah Meier, Grosse Pointe South (2:08.90); 5. Annie-Norah Beveridge, Huron (2:15.60); 8. Kennedy Beazley, Huron (2:16.50); 25. Kristen Green, Saline (2:20.20); 28. Katherine Hoevet, Pioneer (2:20.60).
1,600 meter run: 1. Hannah Meier, Grosse Pointe South (4:46.80); 5. Katherine Hoevet, Pioneer (4:55.70); 11. Annie-Norah Beveridge, Huron (5:01.30); 16. Amy Creutz, Saline (5:09.10); 21. Elianna Shwayder, Saline (5:11.10).
3,200 meter run: 1. Erin Finn, West Bloomfield (10:33.80); 12. Amy Creutz, Saline (11:09.80); 17. Elianna Shwayder, Saline (11:17.80); 26. Annie-Norah Beveridge, Huron (11:27.70).
400 meter relay: 1. Novi (48.30); 2. Lincoln (48.60); 4. Ypsilanti (49.00); 15. Pioneer (50.00); 19. Saline (50.20).
800 meter relay: 1. Huron (1:41.10); 6. Lincoln (1:43.60); 8. Pioneer (1:44.10).
1,600 meter relay: 1. Detroit Cass Tech (3:53.00); 2. Huron (3:54.70); 11. Pioneer (4:04.00); 23. Saline (4:07.60).
3,200 meter relay: 1. Huron (9:19.90); 6. Saline (9:28.60); 10. Pioneer (9:35.80).
DIVISION 2 GIRLS
Where: Houseman Field, Grand Rapids.
Local schools: Chelsea, Milan.
Local storyline: Chelsea had a strong showing at regionals, finishing second behind Adrian, and has three sprint relay teams with top-six qualifying times. That includes the top time in 1,600 relay, an event the Bulldogs won last year.
Projected team scores, by seeds: 1. Detroit Country Day (61), 2. Flint Southwestern (47), 3. Lansing Sexton (35), 4. Chelsea (34), 5. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (32).
QUALIFIERS
Top qualifying times and all Washtenaw County participants in each event:
Discus: 1. Brittany Mann, Detroit Country Day (149-7 1/2).
Shot put: 1. Brittany Mann, Detroit Country Day (41-4).
High jump: 1. Arielle Byl, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (5-3).
Pole vault: 1. Tori Wesley, Marine City (12-6); 4. Lauren Dark, Chelsea (11-0).
Long jump: 1. Joylisa Davis, Bloomfield Hills Lahser (18-2).
100 meter dash: 1. Kendall Baisden, Detroit Country Day (11.70); 31. Jealissa Kitchen, Milan (12.80).
100 hurdles: 1. Christal Wilson, Flint Southwestern (14.00).
200 meter dash: 1. Kendall Baisden, Detroit Country Day (24.80); 8. Corinne Carpenter, Chelsea (25.80).
300 hurdles: 1. Tori Desira, Dewitt (43.60); 6. Emily Cottrell, Chelsea (46.90).
400 meter dash: 1. Kendall Baisden, Detroit Country Day (55.60).
800 meter run: 1. Megan O’Niel, Remus Chippewa Hills (2:17.70); 2. Danielle Dahl, Chelsea (2:18.30); 14. Tess Odegard, Milan (2:23.00).
1,600 meter run: 1. Megan O’Niel, Remus Chippewa Hills (4:58.60).
3,200 meter run: 1. Breanne Lesnar, Freeland (11:11.20) 25. Jessi Battaglia, Chelsea (12:07.40).
400 meter relay: 1. Lansing Sexton (49.00); 5. Chelsea (49.90).
800 meter relay: 1. Flint Southwestern (1:43.00); 6. Chelsea (1:44.50); 16. Milan (1:48.10).
1,600 meter relay: 1. Chelsea (4:02.80).
3,200 meter relay: 1. Grand Rapids Forest Hills Eastern (9:32.70); 19. Chelsea (9:58.70).
DIVISION 3 GIRLS
Where: Comstock Park High School.
Local teams: Willow Run, Father Gabriel Richard, Manchester.
Local storyline: Willow Run sophomore Dream Kelley won both the 100- and 200-meter dashes at regionals two weeks ago. Though her qualifying times don’t stack up against the top in the state, this sophomore definitely has all-state potential.
Projected team scores, by seeds: 1. Frankenmuth (44), 2. Grand Rapids West Catholic (38), 2. Reed City (38), 4. Benzie Central (36), 4. Onsted (36), Father Gabriel Richard (5).
QUALIFIERS
Top qualifying times and all Washtenaw County participants in each event:
Discus: 1. Tonia Pratt, Michigan Center (130-2).
Shot put: 1. Tonia Pratt, Michigan Center (41-6).
High jump: 1. Rachelle Sandbrook, Ovid-Elsie (5-5).
Pole vault: 1. Kassie Powell, Durand (11-6).
Long jump: 1. Sami Michell, Reed City (16-11 1/2); 21. Caitlin Brown, Father Gabriel Richard (15-10 1/2).
100 meter dash: 1. Kelsie Williams, St. Charles (12.30); 15. Dream Kelley, Willow Run (12.80).
100 hurdles: 1. Sami Michell, Reed City (14.00); 6. Kelly Bindon, Father Gabriel Richard (15.90).
200 meter dash: 1. Angie Ritter, Frankenmuth (25.10); 22. Dream Kelley, Willow Run (27.30).
300 hurdles: 1. Sami Michell, Reed City (43.70); 18. Kelly Bindon, Father Gabriel Richard (48.60).
400 meter dash: 1. Jordan Anderson, Union City (58.10); 7. Caitlin Brown, Father Gabriel Richard (59.80).
800 meter run: 1. Jordan Anderson, Union City (2:19.10).
1,600 meter relay: 1. Ali Wiersma, Allendale (5:01.60); 26. Andrea Bodary, Father Gabriel Richard (5:31.20).
3,200 meter relay: 1. Emily Short, Tawas Area (11:18.40); 23. Andrea Bodary, Father Gabriel Richard (12:05.00).
400 meter relay: 1. Bronson (51.10); 27. Father Gabriel Richard (53.20).
800 meter relay: 1. Onsted (1:46.00); 18. Father Gabriel Richard (1:50.20).
1,600 meter relay: 1. Onsted (4:03.30); 26. Father Gabriel Richard (4:19.80).
3,200 meter relay: 1. Leslie (9:48.30); 20. Manchester (10:17.20).
DIVISION 4
Where: Jenison High School
Local team: Greeenhills.
Local storyline: Greenhills’ lone participant, Grace Gardner, will compete in the 100- and 200-meter dashes.