Adrian, Tecumseh track and field teams ready for SEC White championships
The Southeastern Conference White Division championships will be held today and the two local teams entered have a lot riding on the six-team meet.
Tecumseh’s girls head into the meet undefeated in dual meets while Adrian’s boys are tied for second with Chelsea with the league meet and one dual meet remaining. Likely, the league champion will be crowned Friday.
“Chelsea and Pinckney are the top two teams and that’s who we will be gunning for,” said Adrian track and field coach Tammy Francis. “Those teams are going to be tough, but we’ll go after them.”
The Maples have had a great season thus far and will look to continue with a deep roster of long-distance runners and field event participants. Schools are allowed to enter up to three athletes in each event and are given six wild cards throughout the meet to boost points in events they have multiple contenders in.
“You never know how other teams are going to use those wild cards,” Francis said. “We’ll see how things are going when we get there.”
Adrian’s best chances in the boys event probably come from distance runners Braylon Petty and Aiden Smith, the two long relays and high jumper Joe Francis.
Francis cleared 6-feet-3-inches in practice this week, but his best in a meet was 6-2. He had a visit to Michigan State University this spring and is now contemplating if he wants to go to his dream school – MSU – for track or somewhere else for basketball.
He also competes in the long jump.
“He had a PR last week at 20-feet,” coach Francis said. “If he can do that, he could be league champion, but he hasn’t been as consistent in the long jump as he has been in the high jump.”
Petty has had the best time in the county so far this year in the 1,600 at 4:29.1 while Smith has run the fasted 3,200 at 9:39.38. Jake Eagling in the 800 is another long-distance runner to watch for Adrian.
“They have been 1-2 most of the season,” Francis said. “They are neck and neck in those events.”
The duo also helps anchor the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams that Francis said will compete for top honors at the league meet. Noah Gradeless is also having a solid season in the discus and shot put and could score some points for the Maples.
In the boys meet, Tecumseh has several athletes to keep an eye on, including Gavin Chenevey in the 100 (11.14) and 200 (21.94). His 200 time is a school record.
Tecumseh is also outstanding in the sprint relays.
On the girl’s side, Tecumseh’s girls are hoping to capture the league crown. It has had a great season thus far.
Dakota Schlorf in 100, Gabby Stintzi in the 200, Chesney Wilkie in the 800, Brianna Rhodea in the high hurdles, Jordyn Wright in the pole vault and Morgan and Lauren Stimpson in the high jump are among Tecumseh’s best bets. Tecumseh’s relays are also very strong.
Wright set the school record in the pole vault (11-4) while Schlorf has re-set her own 100 record multiple times this season with her latest being 12.70.
"We are looking to go out and have some of our best performances of the season," said Tecumseh head coach Wes Harden. "Now that it's championship time, we want to keep dropping our times."
Adrian’s Sophy Skeels should be among the top 3,200 performers. Her time of 12:28.37 is best in Lenawee County so far this season.
"There is some really good competition in the SEC," Harden said.
Chelsea hosts the SEC finals. The girls pole vault kicks things off at 2 p.m. with field events rolling at 2:30. The running finals are at 4:15 p.m.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Adrian, Tecumseh track and field teams ready for SEC White championships
