Saturday, May 10, 2008
By Steve Ungrey
The Grand Rapids Press
CEDAR SPRINGS -- The Sparta boys track team proved no deficit is too tough to overcome.
Facing a 31-point shortfall after the first day of competition, the Spartans roared back with a strong second-day effort and won their third consecutive O-K Blue Conference championship Friday at Cedar Springs High School.
Sparta's girls won their fourth consecutive title.
In both cases, the Spartans had to hold off Forest Hills Eastern for the top spot. Sparta's boys roared to a 139-86 victory against the Hawks, and Cedar Springs finished a close third (85.66 points).
The girls scored 135.5 points, while Forest Hills Eastern had 102.5 and Cedar Springs 80.
Cedar Springs was within one point of the Sparta boys at one point Friday, but boys co-coach Ted Smith said he thought that would not last.
"We were behind by a lot going into today, but we had a strong effort from our sprint and our distance guys," Smith said. "Our sprint crew did a great job, and the distance guys also got some good results. A lot of different people made this happen."
Brandon VanDriel was Sparta's multiple-event winner, taking two events on his own and running part of two winning relays. He swept the 100 dash (10.98 seconds) and the 200 dash (21.93) and joined Mitch Arends and Nick Arends in both the 400 relay (44.25) and the 800 relay (1:31.61). Taylor Womack also ran the 400 relay while Devon Fairman was part of the 800 relay.
"Last year we were down by 34 points going into the second day. Our field events aren't as strong," VanDriel said. "The sprint and distance guys are so strong that we knew (the deficit) wouldn't last."
Sparta took all three individual distance events with wins from Alex Matthews in the 800 (2:02.31), Nathan Dahlgren in the 1,600 (4:28.84) and Nate Kober in the 3,200 (9:56.9).
Forest Hills Eastern took second without the benefit of a win in an event.
Cedar Springs won three events, getting victories from Jordan Kelly in long jump (20-9), Brandon Selleck in high jump (6-0) and Zachary Yeo in 400 dash (52.08).
Sparta's girls won twice, in the 800 relay (1:49.82) and the 1,600 relay (4:20).
Chelsea Andrews and Andrea Kober ran both relays and were joined in the 800 by Stephanie Hull and Chelsea Love, while Rachel Jantz and Samantha Pfeffer ran the 1600.
"It's always good, but we have a young squad and there's no question they stepped up and did well," Sparta coach Adam Pfeffer said. "We had a huge lead after Day 1 and that kind of pole-vaulted us into a good spot.
"I am very happy with how we did," Kober added. "I'm really proud of the girls and how hard we've worked every day."
Double winners included Wyoming Park's Ena Umoh in the long jump (17-4 1/2) and 100 hurdles (15.93), Rogers' Courtney Sorensen in high jump (5-3) and 100 dash (12.96) and Forest Hills Eastern's Ellen Junewick in the 800 run (2:24.61) and 1,600 run (5:14.01).