By Staff
Had Wednesday's track meet between Niles and Dowagiac been a regional tournament, 11 athletes would have qualified for the State Finals.
Those kinds of performances make for an exciting meet, even when the final scores are lopsided. While Niles came out ahead in both the boys' and girls' competition, Dowagiac had its share of top performers.
At the Division 2 Regional Tournament, which will be held at Allegan High School on Friday, May 21, athletes must meet a minimum standard in individual events to qualify for the State Finals, which will be held at Caledonia High School on Saturday, June 5.
Taking a look at those qualifying standards, the Niles and Dowagiac teams may be well-represented at Caledonia.
Dowagiac senior Devon Jackson, who has yet to be beaten in dual meets, would have qualified in three events. He easily beat the qualifying time of 11.6 in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.64 on Wednesday. He also would have cruised to qualifying times in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. The qualifying time in the 200-meters is 23.7 and Jackson ran a blazing 21.97. The 400-meters qualifying time is 53.1 and Jackson turned in a time of 51.88.
Niles would have had qualifiers in two of those events as well. Freshman Isaiah Glaze ran the 100-meter dash in a time of 10.7 and the 200-meter dash in a time of 22.44. Sophomore Quinton King also could have qualified in two races, running the 100 in 11.23 and the 200 in 23.36. Niles junior Otis West ran a time of 23.21 in the 200-meters and missed the qualifying standard of 19-1 in the long jump by just an inch.
Dowagiac freshman hurdler Donta Young will likely make the State Finals in both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. The qualifying times in those races are 16.2 and 42.8, respectively. Young ran the 110 in a time of 15.51 and the 300 in a time of 42.19.
Niles senior Dane Ford would also have qualified in the 110-meter race with a time of 15.52. Niles senior James Edwards would have qualified in the discus with a toss of 135-9. The qualifying distance in that event is 129-1.
Four girls also eclipsed qualifying standards.
Niles sophomore Tasha Webster would have made the cut in the 100-meter dash with her time of 13.15. The qualifying time in that race is 13.5.
Niles sophomore Ashley Austin's toss of 33-8 in the shot put tied a school record and beat the qualifying distance by two feet, three inches.
Niles freshman Mariette Strauss ran the 200-meter dash in a time of 27.52 and Dowagiac junior Ashley Urbanski finished at 27.91. The qualifying time in that race is 28.1.
So, Niles and Dowagiac fans, clear your schedules for June 5!
Dan Weiss is sports editor of the Niles Daily Star. Email him at dan.weiss@leaderpub.com.