Six heading to track finals

RCHS had a terrific regionals meet at Central Lake Saturday, with no less than six track team members qualifying for state — five with personal record times. In the girls? competition, Lauren Fairbanks had three firsts and two personal records, one in the 1600m run (5:17.80) and another in the 800m run (2:20.45) and first place in the high jump (5?2?), although not her best this year. Charity Lewis was first in the discus (110?2?) with a PR and was second in the shot put (30? 5.5?). Lacey Kreft took second in the 3200m run with a PR time (12:07.42).

THE BOYS will be sending three competitors to the state finals as well. Senior Rocky DeRoque was first in the 800m run (2:03.53), shaving .32 hundredths off his record time this year. Kyle Greene had a PR with his second place in the discus (144?6.5?), upping his best effort by nearly three feet, and took first in the shot put with 46?8.25?. Tony Fleming took third place in the high jump (6?0?), a tad under his best effort this year, but good enough to secure a slot at the state finals. The state finals will be May 31 at Forest Hills Northern in Grand Rapids.

?We had an amazing day at regionals,? said coach Stacey Malocha. ?State is an honor and is the reason these kids work so hard.?

MALOCHA HAD lots to say about those going on to the state finals: ?Charity?s hard work and dedication has paid off. She earned her second trip to state finals. Her PR in discus proved to herself and to me that she has an enormous chance to stand on the platform at state. ?No one deserves three gold regional medals more than Lauren. She did an amazing job in all three of her events. She works very hard and is very dedicated and managed a new PR in the 800m and 1600m runs.

?Lacey is a very strong runner and surprises me with lower PRs every week. At regionals she did it again when she knocked off 11 seconds! As long as she runs her own race at state, she will do excellent.

?Rocky had no competition in the 800m run, but I was satisfied with his time. I cannot wait to see him at state with competitors there to push him faster. ?Tony missed some great meets because of the Close Up Washington trip, but he came back and picked up right where he left off. Even though he got third place, he jumped 6? to qualify himself for the state finals.

?Kyle Greene hit a new PR in discus and is confident he can break it again at state. He was disappointed with himself in shot put because he didn?t throw as well as usual, yet still earned first place.

?I really have to mention Aaron Smuda, he didn?t make the cut for state, but he ran a better finish than I have ever seen from him before. He ran a new PR of 10:29.09, unfortunately, the qualifying time for state is 10:26.7.(1.39 seconds faster and he would have qualified). Aaron is a strong runner, and works very hard, and it breaks my heart that he missed by such a close time.?

IN THE GIRLS? events, the Hurons (56) placed fourth out of 14 teams with Maple City-Glen Lake taking first with 119.5 points. In the boys? events, Rogers City was sixth (42) with Gaylord St. Mary taking first with 112.5 points. Other girls placing at regionals were Jessica Hempel, 14th in the shot put (23?11.5?), and also ninth in the discus (74?5.5?). Sara Belusar, kristyn Blackmer, Jessica Brown, and Amy Hopp were eighth in the 400m relay (56.99). Other results for the boys were, Fleming, fifth in the long jump (17?5.75?), and fourth in the 100m dash (12.15). Greene also placed sixth in the high jump (5?7?).