With the regular season over and state individual competition looming ahead, there’s not much left in between for the members of Oxford’s Track Team, right? Wrong.
This past week the Wildcat runners took on some of the toughest competition in the state at the Oakland County Track and Field Competition and the Flint Metro League Tournament.
On May 28, Oxford’s men took thirteenth of the 49 schools competing in the Oakland Tourney at Milford High School. The men finished with a score of 18. Leading the pack for Oxford was senior distance runner Donnie Richmond. Richmond took first place in the 3200 meter with 9:20.60 – breaking the Oxford High School record of 9:23.00 held by Jim Goodfellow since 1970.
Supporting his teammate was Oxford High School’s field star junior Vince Belitsos, who finished second in shot put with a throw of 52?09?. Belitsos, who has qualified for state competition, was barely beaten for first by Southfield’s Gerald Gersham, who threw 55?11.25?.
In final league competition, held on May 26 at Holly High School, the boys took second place with a 90 point finish. Once again Richmond and Belitsos took top honors in several events including the 1600 meter, 3200 meter, 3200 meter relay, 800 meter, discus and shot put.
The lady runners finished fourth in the league with 76 points. Oxford’s Krysten Slyva took a first place finish in the 100 meter with 12.60. She was supported by relay teammate Keann Kujawa, who took first in the 200 meter with 26.80, and Ashlee Eller who took third in the 200 meter with 28.10.
On the field, the Cookingham sisters finished their season with top place finishes in both discus and shot put. Kalyn Cookingham wrapped up an impressive season on shot put with a first place league finish of 33?09.75?. She was followed closely by sister Kacey Cookingham who wrapped up her throwing season with a second place finish of 101?03?.
Senior Donnie Richmond and junior Vince Belitsos are the only Wildcat track team members with competitions yet to go for the season. The two will try to maintain their strong records – and recording breaking trends – at state competition over the next week.

Boys Track Results
Flint Metro League Tournament
100 meter – Andrew Darin; third; 11.80
1600 meter – Donnie Richmond; first; 4:36.60
3200 meter – Donnie Richmond; first; 10:07.80 and Tim Rowland; third; 10:25
3200 meter relay – German Guerrero, Kevin Brown, Pat Streit, Donnie Richmond; 8:14.40
Discus – Vince Belitsos; first; 138?10?
Shot Put – Belitsos; first; 52?04.25?
800 meter – Donnie Richmond; first; 1:59.90