River Rats, Pioneers Win Titles

River Rats, Pioneers win titles

By JIM RUSS

NEWS SPECIAL WRITER

WESTLAND The Class A regional championship here Saturday won't be recorded as one of the most efficiently operated track and field meets ever, but two Ann Arbor teams - the Huron boys and the Pioneer girls - will have fond memories of the John Glenn High School oval for years to come.

Kent Overbey’s River Rats and Bryan Westfield’s Pioneers each topped 17 other teams while gaining their respective titles. They endured everything that makes for a 10-hour regional championship: numerous race protests, cones placed incorrectly on the track, and heavy rain and hail.

Huron, in defense of its 1984 regional title, totaled 92 points and Belleville followed in a distant second with 65. Wayne Memorial finished third (53), Plymouth Salem fourth (47), Ypsilanti fifth (42) and Livonia Churchill sixth (41).

Heading into the final event - the 1,600-meter relay - the Pioneers led the Huron girls by only four points. However, the Pioneer team of Karin Surratt, Sabrina Jordan. Rolanda Officer and Victoria Shields topped third-place Huron in that event by 50 meters to secure the team title.

The Pioneers, defending state runner-ups, finished with 103 points and were followed by Huron’s 95 1/3. Ypsilanti was the third best team checking in at 57 1/3, while John Glenn (46). Churchill (27) and Romulus rounded out the top six girl’s teams.

Huron’s Alex Polakowski proved to be. by far, the region’s top thinclad. He’ll likely bring home many points for Huron June 2, when Saturday’s top three finishers from each event will travel to Flint for the state championship.

Polakowski, a senior, won the 100- and 200-meter dashes and anchored the River Rats’ winning 400- and 800-meter relay teams. His 100 time was : 10.9 and he was clocked in the 200 at :22.3.

Huron’s 400 relay (:43.8) was comprised of Franklin Gay, Lannie Jackson. Andre Hawkins and Polakowski. while the 800 squad (1:30.4) had Jackson. Donnie Elam, Gay and Polakowski as its members.

Stanford Strong also picked up 10 first-place points for the River Rats, soaring 21-4 3/4 in the long jump.

Guy Pace was the Pioneer boys’ superior performer Saturday, taking firsts in the 1,600-meter run (4:19.93) and the 800-meter run (1:57.48).

Other than their first in the 1,600, the Pioneer girls won two additional relays: the 400-meter and the 800-meter.

Jordan, Michele Kennedy. Rafennia Paige and Sabrina Pattillo bettered the 400 field in a winning time of 49.81. Kennedy, Officer. Surratt and Shields teamed up for a 1:44.72, first-place time in the 800.

Jordan was also the 300 hurdles champion (43.60).

Nikki Williams was a standout for the Huron girls, topping the field in the 100 hurdles (: 14.77) and the 200 dash (25.40).

NEWS PHOTO-JOHN MARKS

Huron's Stanford Strong won the long jump.