Shrine Track Shines at Regionals, Sends 19 to States

Royal Oak 's track teams had an extremely good day at the Division 4 regional meet hosted by Lutheran Westland on Saturday. The girls team finished the day in second place among 13 schools; the boys were third out of 14.

"The regional is an important meet since it serves as the qualifying competition for the state championships," coach Wright Wilson said. Athletes who finish first or second in their events advance to the MHSAA track and field state finals, held in the Grand Rapids area on June 4. Shrine, which is in the smallest division, competes at Jenison High School.

"We've had at least one state qualifier in each year since 1988, and our 19 this year is our second-best total ever," Wilson said.

Shrine's first-place finishers

Girls:

Melanie Shaw, 100 meter dash (12.84)

Melanie Shaw/Taylor Kilgore/Tori Allen/Qianna Parham, 400 meter relay (53.74)

Anna Goike, 3200 meter run (12:54.63)

Boys:

Charlie Snyder/Matt Arce/Matt Sutton/Connor Lockman, 3200-meter relay (9:16.81)

Matt Sutton, 3200 meter run (10:55.02)

Other Shrine state qualifiers (second-place):

Girls:

Kendall Veasley, shot put (27' 1 1/2")

Clare Romano, high jump (4' 4")

Caitlin Snyder/Jemma Flood/Julia Walsh/Anna Goike, 3200 meter relay (10:45.16)

Qianna Parham/Taylor Kilgore/Joelle Gisstennar/Melanie Shaw, 800 meter relay (1:53.69)

Anna Goike, 1600 meter run (5:49.80)

Caitlin Snyder/Joelle Gisstennar/Clare Romano/Melanie Shaw, 1600 meter relay (4:37.45) 

Boys:

Jack Wangler, high jump (5' 7")

Jack Wangler/Dan Tresnak/Matt Nadai/Connor Lockman, 800 meter relay

Matt Sutton, 1600 meter run (4:55.77)

Ben Kendell, 3200 meter run (10:55.54)