Bowsher's Meshawn Graham wanted to make the most out of her final opportunity to run before a hometown crowd on the bright blue track at St. Francis de Sales.
The senior responded yesterday with an all-around impressive performance at the Division I district track and field meet to help Bowsher capture the district team championship.
The University of Michigan-bound sprinter was responsible for four of the Rebels' six first-place finishes, claiming victory in the 100, 200, 400-meter races and the long jump.
St. John's Jesuit's Joe Miller also made the most of his last time running on a local track, sweeping the 1600 and 3200 to lead the Titans to their second straight district championship.
Miller, who also ran the anchor leg on the victorious 3200 relay team, was the only Titan to win more than once.
"It has definitely been a very long day," said Graham, who was limping around on a sore knee after a full day of competition. "I'm trying to finish on a good note and I think I did that today."
The Rebels, who also won the 800 and 1600 relays, finished with 125.5 points. Their biggest challenge came from runner-up Central Catholic, which tallied 111.5 points. Sharise Calhoun paced the Irish by successfully defending her titles in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.
Anthony Wayne, led by sprinter Erika Schmidt, finished third with 96 points, followed by Whitmer with 69, Southview 66 and Notre Dame 52.
The Titans posted 138.5 points. Andy Hills (shot put) and Cody Riffle (discus) also contributed a victory for the Titans.
"It worked out very well," St. John's coach Steve Spenthoff said. "We really rely heavily on our big-points scorers. Joe Miller] is starting to peak at the right time."
The Titans fought off Whitmer, which finished runner-up with 112.5, followed by Southview (59.5), Rogers (59) and Northview (55).
Rogers high jumper Erik Kynard won his third straight district by clearing a meet-record 6 feet, 11 inches to give him a sweep of the jumping events. He had already won the long jump Thursday with a mark of 22- 1/2.
Southview's Shaun Joplin challenged Kynard by clearing a personal record of 6-10, which also surpassed the previous meet record of 6-9.
Kynard, who has cleared an Olympic Trials-qualifying 7-3 3/4 this year, didn't attempt his first jump until the bar was set at 6-7. Only Joplin was still hanging around at that point of the competition.
"He's the only real competition I've faced this year, not only that, he was the only one still in it today when I started," said Kynard, who failed on his attempts at 7-1. "I was happy with setting a new meet record, but we've got to go back and fix a few things."
Bowsher's Princeton Bryson proved he's clearly the top sprinter around after repeating as district champion in the 100 (10.94) before running to victory in the 200 (22.29) and 400 (48.93).
Whitmer's Derek Hopkins and Courtney Siebenaller swept the pole vault competitions in record-setting style. Hopkins won the boys competition by clearing a meet-record 15-1. Siebenaller broke her girls' meet record of 11-1 by clearing 11-6 to repeat as champion.
"It felt good to break the record but I was hoping for 12 feet," said Siebenaller, who failed on her attempt to clear that height.
Bowsher's Shannon Franklin, Kaila Gardner, Paris Littleton and Jade Brown helped the Rebels' cause by closing out the meet with a win in the 1600 relay in a meet-record time of 3:55.42. Chantel Cross, Joy Franklin, Littleton and Gardner accounted for Bowsher's other first place by winning the 800 relay with a time of 1:43.19.
"We have a lot to work with," Bowsher's first-year coach Solomon Branch said, crediting his team's all-around performance. "This is the basic plan we had for this team at the beginning of the season."
Graham got the day started for the Rebels by winning the 100 in a photo finish with AW's Schmidt.
Graham was timed at 12.42 and Schmidt 12.43. The two went at it again in the 200 with Graham crossing the finish line at 24.77 and Schmidt at 24.80. Graham won the 400 in 55.45 and the long jump with an effort of 18 1/4.
Calhoun led the Irish by winning the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.15 before taking first in the 300 hurdles at 44.89. Central's Anne McCarthy won the 800 (2:18.16) and also teamed with Kaitlyn Krizman, Emma Kertesz and Kristyn Tusin to win the 3200
relay (9:37.24).
Notre Dame's Lauren Duncan ran to first in the 1600 (5:24.49) before teammate Ashley Aberl claimed victory in the 3200
(11:36.61).
Scott's Shatora Lewis continued to dominate the throwing events by sweeping the discus (125-4) and shot put (41-8).
AW's Alecia Zaper, Brittany Green, Carrie Gerhardinger and Schmidt won the 400 relay (48.96). Ashley Zaper won the high jump (5-3) for AW's other victory.
In the boys competition, Miller won the 1600 (4:14.83) before coming back and making it look easy winning the 3200 (9:26.65). Hills' heave of 58-7 won the shot put while Riffle's launch of 157-5 was good enough to win the discus. Northview's Brian Hehl finished a close second with a mark of 157-3.
Rogers' DaJon Booth took first in the 100 hurdles (14.83) before Whitmer's Anthony Allen prevailed in the 300 hurdles (39.34).
St. Francis' Colin Pettiford put together a strong kick at the end to win the 800 (1:53.94).
Southview won the 800 relay (1:29.25) and the 1600 relay
(3:20.59).
The top four finishers in each event qualified for the regional scheduled to take place Wednesday and Friday at Amherst Steele.
Contact Donald Emmons at:
demmons@theblade.com
or 419-724-6302
First Published May 25, 2008, 12:06 p.m.