BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
EAST KENTWOOD — Dominic Dimambro kept the 3,200 meters state crown within the Fenton family.
The senior fought off a tight pack of competitors June 3 at the MHSAA Division 1 state finals at East Kentwood High School to win the event with a blistering 9:07.79 clocking in one of the fastest 3,200 meters races in state history.
A total of 23 runners dipped under the 9:30 mark and nine runners were under the 9:20 barrier. Senior teammate Andrew Bond also finished eighth (9:17.70) to medal and earn All-State accolades.
Former teammate Jacob Lee captured the 3,200 meters crown (9:07.72) in 2016. Both Lee and Dimambro will be teammates again this fall at the University of Michigan.
“I saw what Jacob Lee did last year and knew if I worked hard that I could have a chance,” said Dimambro. “I knew there was some amazing distance runners in that race and I knew I would have my hands full. I stayed with that front pack and used my kick in the end. I really trained on my foot speed and it paid off in the end. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Fenton finished seventh with 22 points in a field where 60 schools registered points, capping one of the more successful campaigns for the Tigers.
Fenton placed in the top five at numerous invitationals, won the Flint Metro League title and finished second at the Milford regional.
Fenton senior Zach West had the most productive day for the Tigers, placing in two events for Fenton’s other 11 points. West was third in the 400 meters (47.98) and fourth in the 200 meters (22.02).
BOYS TRACK: Okemos’ Hartman aids Chieftains to fourth-place finish
BY DAN STICKRADT
CORRESPONDENT
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
EAST KENTWOOD — Okemos’ fourth-place finish at the Division 1 state finals was aided by the legs of Vail Hartman.
while teammate Napoleon Outlaw placed in three events, Hartman, a senior, finished second in the open 400 meters (47.88) in a race where three runners dipped under 48 seconds and 12 runners were under 50-flat.
Hartman also joined Outlaw, Spencer Alexander and Davis Williams for a third-place finish in the 800-meter really (1:27.45).
Okemos rang up 33 points overall.
DEBUT LEAP
Grand Ledge freshman Kevin Autrey was one of the surprise finishers at the D-1 finals, as he placed third in the long jump (22-4), one of the better freshman leaps in some years.
Senior teammate Christian Hubaker placed fifth in the 1,600 meters (4:13.89), as Grand Ledge finished in a six-way tie for 17th place with 10 points.
NESBITT FAREWELL
Bay City Western senior Brendan Nesbitt wrapped up his encore state finals with a pair of medals.
Individually, Nesbitt placed fifth in the 800 meters (1:55.26), while he teamed up with seniors Matt Billette, Collin Krygier and Evan Vorwerck for a fourth-place finish in the 3,200-meter relay (7:50.61).
Bay City Western tied for 23rd in the team standings with nine points.
Elsewhere, Grand Blanc, a team regional champion, collected just one point, as the Bobcats 3,200-meter relay unit of Jeronn Body, Spencer Atkinson, Austin Ripped and Jacob Popyk finished eighth (7:52.58).
Mt. Pleasant senior Sloan Felton ran fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (38.90). Howell senior David Mittner was fourth in the 3,200 meters (9:09.96).