Jefferson on track for Huron League title after sweeping quad

Jefferson is on track for two more titles.

Both the boys and girls track and field teams moved to 6-0 in the Huron League by sweeping a quad meet with St. Mary Catholic Central, Milan, and Riverview Tuesday.

The Bears are looking for a pair of repeats.

Photo Gallery:Jefferson, Milan, SMCC in Huron League Quad

The boys shared the title last season with Milan and the girls had the trophy all to themselves.

Why is Jefferson a consistent contender for the league championship?

Boys coach Josh Ludwick pointed at girls coach Phil Speare, who coaches the Bears' cross country teams in the fall, when asked that question.

"Phil demands greatness in cross country, then we have strong distance runners," he said. "And sometimes they become our middle-distance runners. That's our base."

That base was evident Tuesday as the Jefferson girls beat St. Mary Catholic Central 106-22, Milan 96-32, and Riverview 104-24 and the boys took care of SMCC 102-26, Milan 81-47, and Riverview 78-50.

The girls took the top three spots and went 1-3-4 in the 1,600.

Jenna Pilachowski won both races, running a personal-best 11:26.23 in the 3,200. Teammates Riley Peer and Madison Duvall were her best competition.

Carter McCalister did yeoman's work for the boys, winning the three longest individual races of the day and running with Gabe Gelso, Orion Galloway, and Blake Schroeder on the winning 3,200 relay.

Alexa Glancy won the 100, 200, and 400 meters for the Bears in the girls meet and also anchored the winning 800 relay. She hit a season-best time of :26.47 in the 200.

Veronica Fitzgerald also had a big day, winning the 800 in a season-best 2:23.49 and running on the winning 800 and 1,600 relays.

Layla Tahmouch hit a personal-best of 36-2 to win the shot-put and also took the discus.

Katie Powell ruled the long jump. Peer, Duvall, Lindsay Masserant, Alyssa Masserant, Ellie Hintz, Mia Schroeder, and Kim Miller all ran legs on winning relays.

"I am pretty happy we are at 6-0 (in the league), but it's not over yet," said Speare, which will use performances at the league meet to settle a dual meet against New Boston Huron that was called off because of weather. "Everyone did pretty much what they have been doing all year today."

Michael Armetta turned in a pair of personal-bests to sweep the hurdles (:15.84 in the lows and :40.99 in the highs) for Jefferson's boys. Myles Tackett (:52.04 in 400) and Joey Duvall (135-9 in discus) both logged personal-bests to win events and Ben Merkel ruled the high jump.

The Bears took the 1,600 relay with Merkel, Tackett, Galloway, and Schroeder.

"I felt good to win against Riverview," Ludwig said. "They have some burners."

SMCC also has a burner in Cole Jondro. He tied Jacob Shank of Riverview at :11.51 and won the 200 in :22.88. Both were season-best times.

"Riverview has some fast kids," SMCC coach Stan Smith said. "I was impressed with Cole."

MaryAlice Lynch took the high hurdles for SMCC's girls with a personal-best time of :16.79. The Kestrels got seconds from Ashley Ruhlig (long jump, 200) and Bella LaFountain (1,600).

"It was a good day," Smith said. "We had some notable performances … This is kind of a rebuilding year."

The highlights for Milan came in the field where Flannery Wayne won the shot-put and Noah Bussell was tops in the long jump for the boys, and Malea Wourman was the girls winner in the high jump.

Cami Heath, a softball player who joined the track team a few weeks ago, was second in both the 100 meters and the low hurdles.

Other Milan seconds came from Carson Baugher and Marissa Beck.

"It was a great day," said Chad Lawver, who coaches both Milan teams. "We had a lot of personal bests. I am super proud of the kids. We were not on top, but we improved."

Milan's girls went 2-1 for the day with wins over SMCC 73-55 and Riverview 87-41. Riverview nipped SMCC 64-63.

Milan's boys beat SMCC 78-50 and fell 84-44 to Riverview, which beat SMCC 103-25.