Girl’s Track: Chemics dominant in win

by Jason Wolverton

The Midland High girl’s track team was just three victories away from winning every event Tuesday in a triangular meet that pitted the Chemics against Saginaw High and Flint Northern.

Only victories in the shot put, long jump, and 100-meter eluded the Chemics as they totaled 136 points on the evening. Saginaw finished second with 19 points.

“We actually had some very nice times for the beginning of the year,” said coach Diane Sugnet. “We had some personal bests already or some very close to their personal bests.”

Senior Stephanie Lucas led the way for the Chemics with four first-place finishes. Lucas won the 1600-meter (5:46.16) and 3200-meter (12:30.46) and was on the top team in the 1600-meter and 3200-meter relays.

Meanwhile, senior Kayla Prieto took home three top finishes, winning the 200-meter (28.02) and 400-meter (1:03.38) and winning the 800-meter relay along with teammates Ashley Lang, Maria Beach, and Jessica Jarema.

“We ran well and we competed well,” Sugnet said. “I was hoping that Saginaw High would give us more competition in the relays, so I was kind of surprised they didn’t push us more.”

Sugnet had some concern over how the team would fare in the field events coming into the season, but those concerns were eased a little Tuesday as the Chemics took top finishes in three events. Freshman Danielle Danso won the discuss (76-11), junior Kelsey Schiel won the pole vault (7-6), and freshman Catherine Cielinski won the high jump (4-10).

Sugnet also had some concern over the team’s depth in those events, but Midland would get four second-place finishes, five third-places, and three fourth-places in field competion.

“I just think the girls did a great job,” Sugnet said. “They had to push themselves and each other.”

Next up for the Chemics is Friday’s SVSU Outdoor. Sugnet says Tuesday’s strong showing provides her with a challenge, since she can only take the top two athletes for each event.

“It made it difficult to pick some of the top two because there are some that are very close,” she said. “It’s a good problem, but I’m going to be stepping on some toes not taking some girls, and I always feel for them.”