Six straight for Gladstone track

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KINGSFORD - It was a bit more challenging this time, but the Gladstone boys gained their sixth straight Upper Peninsula Division 1 track title Saturday, outlasting Marquette 101-88.

The second-place Redmen scored 74 points in the distances, contributing to Gladstone's narrowest margin of victory during its championship reign.

"This is the sweetest one of all," said Braves' coach Gary Whitmer. "We knew it was going to be close. Marquette is just so strong in the distances."

Gladstone sealed the verdict by placing third in the 1600-meter relay, two spots higher than the Redmen.

Sophomore Nick Olesak also helped the Braves by outdueling Marquette's Sam West for fourth place in the previous race (3200 run).

Marquette sophomore Mickey Sanders won the 3200 (10:08.01), followed by teammate Reed Payant (10:28.2) and Gwinn's Clinton Bergman (10:37.19).

"We knew we had to beat Marquette in the 1600 relay," said Whitmer. "Nick taking fourth in the 3200 was huge. His best time in the 1600 was 5:12, but in the 3200 he ran the first mile in 5:08. He had to go with them. The kid from Gwinn (Bergman) also helped us by breaking up Marquette's pack in the 1600 and 3200."

Outscoring Marquette 36-8 in field events was another key to Gladstone's victory.

"Our field events actually didn't go as well as we would have liked," said Whitmer. "But we got 10 points in long jump. which was also huge. Andy Lauscher and Steve Seronko helped us out there by taking third and fourth."

Senior Bill Morrow retained his 300 hurdles title in 41.43 seconds, slightly more than a week after taking a spill during the Great Northern Conference meet at Menominee.

"That was definitely a motivator," said Morrow, who was runner-up to Negaunee's Dillon Menard in the high hurdles Saturday. "It was definitely a relief to be able to bounce back. A lot of people stepped up for us today. As a team we got the job done. We can't ask for more than that."

Gladstone's Alex Harvala overcame a crash in the corner to finish sixth. He won the GNC a week earlier.

Morrow also helped Gladstone win the 800 relay and place second in the 400. The Braves again were forced to revamp the 800 relay after Bruce Anderson tweaked his hamstring Friday.

Esky again ran without junior sprinter Mitch VanEffen, who was still nursing a groin injury.

"Obviously, not having Mitch certainly hurts our team," said Esky coach Terry Duval. "But I'm happy for Paul Wakefield (fourth in the 100). To place with our sprint relays was outstanding, and Max VandeWiele winning the high jump was big for him. All but one of the kids we took here today placed. We left with a good taste in our mouths."