(Chelsea Update would like to thank Head Chelsea Track and Field Coach Eric Swager for the information in this story.)
Chelsea boys Track and Field won the regional track meet on Friday, May 17 at Livonia Ladywood.
“What a great day,” said Head Coach Eric Swager. “Our performance was outstanding across the board.”
Swager said, “This is the most dominant performance by any team I have coached, and I am sure one of the most impressive Chelsea team performances in any sport in school history.”
Chelsea tripled the score of the second place team, scoring 189 points while winning 10 of 17 events. The bulldogs scored in all but two events.
He said 20 of the 22 athletes who went to the meet earned regional medals.
“We were focused, prepared, and competed hard,” he said. “I am very proud of how this group came together, and how they executed on this day.”
Here are some of the highlights:
- Berkley Edwards was once again dominant, winning both sprints easily, with the 200 being another school record. He also anchored the 800 relay that qualified for state.
- Hurdlers Shane McGrath, Christian Vosters, and Beau Prenevost – scored 40 individual points between them. All three qualified in the 110 hurdles, while Shane’s time gets him to state in the 300 race.”That time puts him among the five fastest Chelsea hurdlers ever, and (more importantly) beat his older brother’s best time,” Swager said.
- The 3200 relay won in dominating fashion, and Zach Rabbitt earned a second gold by winning the 800 in another lifetime best performance. Tony Vermilye also placed well in the 800.
- The mile was a strategic affair, with both Austin Horn and Jacob Stubbs running a perfect tactical race, and closing with a sub-63 second last 400. Both earned a state qualifying trip. In the 2-mile, Horn pulled away in the last kilometer to dominate the field, while David Trimas and Joe Vermilye battled hard to also earn medals.
- Valuable points were also scored by quarter miler James Biller, and the 400 and 1600 relay teams – another instance of how everyone contributed today.
The field event performances were also outstanding.
- In the shot put, after sophomore Michael Smith barely made the finals, he leapfrogged all eight competitors ahead of him by blasting his last throw 47’11”. He did a similar trick in the discus,with his throw in the finals traveling over 146 feet.
- Sam Katon was consistent in the discus to also qualify for state. In short, the throwers came up huge today.
The pole vault event (held the night before) showed more dominance, as Chelsea took 3 of the top 4 spots, and qualified all three men for the state finals.
“I am humbled and thankful to be a part of such a great group of athletes, coaches, and parents,” Swager said, adding, “This was truly a special day, and I hope these guys keep the memories of this event forever.”
The Bulldogs travel to Dexter Wednesday for the SEC finals.
