Nationals: Day Two

Nike Indoor, Boston: Ariel Roberts stole the show. The Pioneer senior tried her first pentathlon ever, and obliterated the state record by more than 600 points! Her 3617 not only topped the old best of 2996 by Tofunmi Akeredolu last year, but only eight collegians in Michigan history have ever done better. She hurdled 9.24 (a PR), high jumped 5-8, threw the shot 32-2.25, long jumped 17-9.75. That put her into the lead, but her top opponent, Shakeia Pinnick, is a solid half miler. Roberts clocked a 2:31.89, but Pinnick's 2:15.09 gave her a 10-point win over Roberts. Also notable today was the 18:22.04 in the 4 x mile that Final Boss (Monroe) put together--that was good for 6th place.

National Scholastics, New York: The highlight from a Michigan standpoint was the third place finish of the Breen/Troy girls in the 4 x mile in 21:19.47 (No. 4 in state history). The Breen B team ran 22:43.52. Also impressive was the sprinting of Lathrup's Jordan Clark. She made the finals of the 60 with her state-leading 7.70 (passing through 55 in a FAT 7.18). Dynasty McGee (57.45) and Aisha Osborne (57.39) both ran seasonal bests in the 400 but failed to make the final. The Motor City women did make the final of the 4 x 200 (1:42.93, good for No. 6 all-time in Michigan). The Motor City boys clocked 1:31.38 and missed qualifying. Also, Kellie Littlejohn (Motor City/Mumford) finished 14th in the pentathlon at 2703. The Breen/Troy boys ran 18:47.89 for 16th in the 4 x mile.

NCAA Div. 1, College Station: Tiffany Ofili conquered all amid what turned out to be a tough day for our homegrown talent. Ofili captured another NCAA crown, this time in 8.00. Geena Gall finished 6th in the 800 (2:05.39). Alexandria Spruiel finished 7th in the 400 (53.67). Josh Hembrough ran 7.94 for 8th in the hurdles, and Justin Switzer, after leading for the first half of the mile (2:05) finished 7th in 4:02.99.

NCAA Div. 2, Houston: The Grand Valley women finished second in the team standings with 48 points to Lincoln's overwhelming 100.5. Candice Wheat (ex-Pontiac Northern) took second in the hurdles with a PR 8.29. Back in 4th was frosh Raven Clay (Det. Cody/Findlay) at 8.49. The GVSU women's DMR also took second, in 11:43.03; in the 4 x 4 they finished 3rd (3:50.62). Nate Miller (ex-Trenton) high jumped into 3rd at 6-11.5. And Monica Kinney (GR West Catholic/GVSU) showed bright promise as a college rookie with her mile third in 4:48.98.