The Lake Orion boys track and field team returns strong after winning a regional title last season, while the girls have a victory under their belt already.
The Dragon boys return seniors Ryan Allison and Mike Fingado in the hurdles, and senior Billy Peterson in the hurdles and distance.
Senior Kojo Asiedu also returns, as well as junior Rob Shinouskis and senior Justin Smith in the sprints. This year’s team captains are Smith, Peterson and Allison.
The girls return six seniors: Lindsey Gaudard, Katie Reilly, Lauren Rose, Suzanne Rose, Blaire James and Meaghan Walters.
Last year the boys team were undefeated in OAA I, and were regional champs as well as winning the league title.
Coach Stan Ford said Southfield has moved up to Division I this year, and will be very tough as well as West Bloomfield, a team that the Dragon boys defeated, 70-58, in on April 12.
‘We’re as ready as we can be,? Ford said. ‘Our hurdles and distance events will be strong, and we’ll need help in the shot and discus. Our sprints will be Ok.?
Ford said the team has solid high jumpers this year in Ben Hopkins and Allison, as well as sophomore JP Findlay.
‘That gives us a lot of depth,? he said. ‘The depth is unbelievable, also in our distance.?
Ford said a lot of the kids, ‘especially the distance crew,? did work in the off season.
‘Billy is our primary senior, and a lot of new people trained,? Ford said. ‘We have 120 on the roster this year, that’s big for track.?
Fords said he is concerned there are not as many freshmen this year as last year.
‘It was pay to play this year,? he said. ‘But from the new kids we have, Max Hock, a sophomore distance guy, is running well, and we have JP in the long jump and freshman Drew Maynard in the high jump.?
The Dragon boys started the season with a 86-42 victory over Pontiac Northern on April 7, and Ford said their first ‘true test? of the season was facing West Bloomfield.
‘We have good seniors,? he said of the team’s leadership.
As for the girls, they dropped to the Lakers on April 12, 67-60, but started the season with a victory over Pontiac Northern on April 7, 76 and 1/3-51 and 2/3.
‘We have lots of point getters on the team this year, and we’ve already won as many matches as we did last year,? said girls coach Sharon Kline.
Kline has 60 girls this year, and said they are missing a few seniors.
‘We have no seniors in the shot put,? she said. ‘But 60 is a good size. I have a good core group.?
Kline said her freshmen and sophomores are going to help the team.
‘We’ll be strong in the shot and discus,? she said. ‘And the 3200 with Lindsey (Gaudard).
‘Our relays should also be strong,? said Kline. ‘We’re pretty well rounded.?
The team only won one regular season meet last season, so Kline said they have no where to go this year but up.
Against Northern on April 7, Alex Hartley won the shot put and discus for the Dragons, while James took the high jump.
The team took the 3200 relay, 1600 relay, and the 800 relay, while Laura Lieblein won the 1600 run and Hartley took the 300 hurdles.
Reilly was first in the 800 run and Gaudard won the 3200.
Against West Bloomfield, the girls took the 3200 relay, Hartley won the 100 and 300 hurdles and the discus, while Lieblein took the 1600.
Reilly was first in the 800, while Gaudard won the 3200 and Jessica Hutchison won the long jump.
On April 14 against Rochester, both the boys and the girls team brought home victories.
The girls won, 70-58, as Hartley took the discus, shot put, 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
James won the high jump, and Lake Orion relay teams won the 3200, 800 and 400.
The boys won, 78-50, as Shawn Vernon won the disucs and Findlay took the long jump.
Hopkins won the high jump, while Allison had victories in the 110 hurdles, 100 dash and 300 hurdles.
Billy Peterson took the 1600 run, Fingado won the 400 dash, and Lake Orion also celebrated wins in the 800 run and 1600 relay.