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The Citizen-Journal



Sports

PUBLISHED: Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Rambler girls second at LMC meet



Rambler girls second at LMC meet By Greg Gielczyk Sports Writer KALKASKA - Depth is hard to beat in track and field. In fact, it's almost impossible to overtake a team that can score points in every event. Charlevoix had only two girls win Lake Michigan Conference championships last Wednesday, May 23 at Kalkaska High School.

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But the Rayders picked up points in all 17 events in locking up the league title, 145-123 over the Ramblers. Harbor Springs finished third (91) and Traverse City St. Francis fourth (85).

Ramblers' coach Andy Place was filled with pride of his team's effort after the meet, despite his team's coming up short of bringing home the conference championship.

"Coach Mary Plude, of Charlevoix, has a very talented and deep team," Place said. "No matter what our girls did, we could not catch them.

"We had our best meet of the year. We feel blessed to finish ahead of such talented teams as Harbor Springs and East Jordan. Our girls really stretched their athletic talents. Our second place finish is a huge improvement over our last couple of years. This was truly a team effort, as 16 of our 20 girls helped in the scoring."

The Ramblers were responsible for setting three new meet records, which helped them stay on the Rayders' heels throughout the day.

Natasha Bell had a tremendous day, setting conference meet records in both the 100-meter (12.61 seconds) and 200-meter dashes (26.06 seconds).

For good measure, she also won the long jump with a personal best leap of 15 feet, 9 1/2 inches. Jessica Nichols shattered the third meet record for the Ramblers when she won the 300-meter low hurdles in a time of 48.15 seconds, surpassing the previous mark of 48.47.

"We nearly burned Jessica out with the 100-meter, 200-meter, 300-meter hurdles and the 1600-meter relay," Place said. Perry Fish stepped up in the throwing events, winning the shot put (32 feet, 8 1/2 inches) and finishing second in the dsicus with he personal best throw of 104 feet, 7 inches.

Lacee VanAlstine provided some support to Fish in the throwing events with a fourth place in the discus, uncorking a personal best throw of 99 feet, 3 inches.

Kristina LaVake (29-8) and Laura Lounsbury (28-9) both threw their personal bests in the shot put to finish fifth and seventh, respectively.

Caitlyn Wonski was the regional champion in the pole vault (9 feet), and the 1600 relay team of Bell, Lounsbury, Wonski and Nichols finished third (4:27.02).

"The team showed tremendous character," said Place. "Conference runnerup is an awesome way to end the season."





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