Tuscola girls win first sectional since 1995, competing in 12 events at state track meet
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By Ben Crane
The Tuscola Warriors girls track team used their home field advantage well Thursday, winning their first sectional in 30 years and sending seven athletes to compete in 12 events at the state track meet this weekend.
The Warriors beat out Shelbyville by 27 points, finishing with 119 total.
“It was a great night for the Lady Warriors as they claimed the 2nd ever sectional title,” said head coach Drew Sterkel. “The last one was in 1995. The significance of what they were able to accomplish is huge and that plaque that will be hanging in the hallway will signify such an amazing accomplishment that these girls achieved. I’m so proud of each and every girl on this team. It took a whole team effort as they scored in 15 of 18 events.”
The qualifications began with Lia Patterson, who continues to stack win after win, snatching three events including the 100m hurdles (14.81), 200m (25.68), and 300m hurdles (46.93).
The Ball State commit will have a busy day on Thursday as herself and Reese Davis, Rylie Vanausdoll, and Kenna Clodfelder also won the 4x200m with a time of 1:46.71.
Despite missing out on qualification, Chloe Bowden finished eighth in the 100m with a 13.61 and a career best 1:06.14 in the 400m.
Kate Foltz qualified in two events, finishing with a 5:08.36 in the 1600m and a 10:53.56 in the 3200m, winning both events.
Makayela Sexson, Clodfelder, Davis, and Vanausdoll missed out on a 4x100m berth by a placement, finishing third with a 53.06.
Bailey Ritter, Hannah Carswell, Sami Walker, and Celeste Rebollo finished out their seasons with a personal best 12:07.20 in the 4x800m.
Sexson, Grace Walker, Hayden Smith, and Bowden picked up points in the 4x400m, finished eighth with a personal best 4:41.01.
Over in the field events, Olivia Wallace won the discus with a 38.34m (125’ 9”) mark while Kali Gilpin finished fourth in the high jump, able to qualify for state with a fourth place, 1.52m (4’ 11.75”) jump. Bella Dueker finished seventh in the same event with a 1.40m (4’ 7”) personal best.
Lily Walker finished fourth in the pole vault with a personal best 1.85m (6’ 0.75”), good for fourth place.
Rounding out the qualifications, the duo of Vanausdoll and Clodfelder managed to do it in both the long and triple jump.
Vanausdoll marked a 5.31m (17’ 5.25”) jump in the long and a 11.05m (36’ 3”) jump in the triple, finished second and first. Clodfelder marked a 5.03m (16’ 6”) jump in the long and 10.53m (33’ 10.75”) in the triple, finishing sixth and fourth.