Perfect weather for Bears: Jefferson boys, girls sweep invitational

This spring hasn’t provided much good weather for track and field.

But it has been good weather for Bears.

Cool temperatures and a stiffy chilly breeze seemed to suit the Jefferson Bears perfectly Saturday as both the both and girls won their own invitational.

“It was warm enough for the Bears to be out of hibernation,” girls coach Phil Speare quipped.

Photo Gallery:: Jefferson Invitational Track and Field

Speare’s team was dominant, ranking up 161 points to easily outdistance runner-up St. Mary Catholic Central with 95.

Airport placed third with 87 followed by Milan with 84.5, Woodhaven with 78, Grosse Ile with 69, Erie Mason with 24.5 and ida with 13.

“We always take pride in winning our own invitational,” Speare said. “Our girls don’t take it lightly. They know they are good, but they are respectful. We took the attitude of ‘Let’s take care of business.’ This was the last home meet for all of our seniors.”

The road to the title was much tougher for Jefferson’s boys.

Coach Josh Ludwick’s squad scored 159 points to 145 for second-place Milan. Erie Mason ran a strong third with 124 followed by SMCC with 58, Airport with 56.5, Grosse Ile with 35, Woodhaven with 23 and Ida with 20.5.

“My field events really stood up today,” Ludwick said. “They really did a job along with our distance guys.”

Jefferson has not been able to win both the boys and girls trophies at its own invitational very often.

“We’ve done it before, but not very often,” said Speare, who is in his 26th year as head coach of the Bears. “It’s kind of fun when it happens.”

Ludwick was thrilled to be part of a Bear double dip.

“This is what we try to build at the school,” he said. “We tell the kids we’re trying to build something special that they want to be a part of. Sometimes there will be days like this where we get to celebrate awesome moments.”

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Speare doubted early that his girls were ready to do awesome things Saturday.

“It didn’t start out great,” Speare said. “Our jumpers were acting like cold little girls, not high school athletes ready for a track meet.”

But the mood changed once the running events began.

The 3,200-meter relay of Veronica Fitzgerald, Kim Miller, Jenna Pilachowski and Alyssa Masserant won the eventh in 10:16.68.

“The 4x800 relay really took care of business,” Speare said. “That was their personal best by a lot. They run as well in cold weather as any group I’ve ever had.”

Alexa Glancy had a big day for the Bears, winning the 100 (:12.83), 200 (:26.59) and 400 (1:01.07) and running with Fitzgerald, Ellie Hintz and Masserant on the winning 1,600 relay.

Fitzgerald took first in the 800 (2:25.21), Madison McKinney ruled the shot-put (32-4) and Pilachowski captured the title in the 3,200 (:11.48.62).

Riley Peer (3,200) and Mia Schroeder (low hurdles) took seconds for Jefferson.

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Cami Heath (:52.21 in low hurdles) and Marissa Beck (95-0) in discus were champions for Milan and SMCC’s MaryAlice Lynch won the high hurdles in a personal-best :17.04.

Airport took the 800 relay with Jameira Eby, Madison Rice, Madison Hoppert and Gianna LaFata.

Alex Mansfield was a double winner for Jefferson’s boys, throwing the shot-put 59-2.5 and the discus 162-5.

The Bears also had wins from Carter McCalister (10:04.8 in 3,200), Ben Merkel (6-2 in high jump) and the 3,200 relay of Ty Grube, McCalister, Blake Schroeder, and Isaac Merkel (8:39.89).

Cole Jondro of SMCC dominated the sprints, winning the 100 (:11.45), 200 (:23.31) and 400 (54.24).

Erie Mason’s Jackson Ansel had a huge day.

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Despite being tired from coming off running the anchor leg in the runner-up 3,200 relay, he won a great duel with McCalister in the 1,600 meters, then also ruled the 800.

His times of 4:34.48 and 2:05.29 both were personal bests.

“Jackson brought is best today,” Mason coach Alex Russeau said.

Chris Worden won the long jump in 19-5.75 and the Eagles took first in the 400 relay with Cooper Kinsey, Landen Nastale, Shane Pauwels and Grant Shadler (:46.38) and the 800 relay with Kinsey, Mark Sweeney, Worden and Nastale (1:35.65).

Zach Spradlin of Milan was first in the high hurdles (:15.70) and ran with Trent Spradlin, Noah Bussel, Brayden Humes and Eli Larette on the winning 1,600 relay (3:42.5).

Joben Sayles won the low hurdles for Airport in :42.91.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Perfect weather for Bears: Jefferson boys, girls sweep invitational