Northwood News ♦ June 2010

Northwood Lady Gladiators Win Regional Track Championship

The Northwood High School Lady Gladiators are the 2010 MPSSAA 3A West Track and Field Regional Champions, reports Mark Brown, Northwood’s Head Track Coach.  He says it’s been 28 years since the track team won a regional championship, 26 years since any athletic team at NHS has won a regional championship.

The meet was held 19-20 May 2010 at Clarksburg High School.  Originally thought to have lost by one point, the team was already on the bus to return home when a controversial finish in the 300-meter hurdles was reviewed on video and it was determined Mallory Kea came in 3rd, not 4th.

“As you can imagine,” said Brown, “the bus erupted with cheers as they began to unload off of the bus and run onto the track for their victory lap.”

The problem was, there were no fans left in the stadium, and all of the other teams went home believing that Clarksburg High School had won!

“We were left to celebrate by ourselves, just as we competed for much of the season — without fanfare,” said Brown.  “This was the perfect ending to a long two-day meet.  It was like a scene from a movie and I could not have scripted it any better if I wanted to.”

The team included Carolyn Bruch, Tifani Gay, Sina Ghirma, Elyse Green, Mallory Kea, Morgan Kershner, Darcy Miranda, Blair Morales, Le’Quisha Parker, Zoey Rowley, Yamu Sarr, Vanessa Scretchen, and Naami Wagner.

Northwood Cross-Country Coach Mike Sauter, who lives on Malta Lane, supplied the following details about the girls’ performance:

• Le’Quisha Parker and Yamu Sarr had a 1-2 finish in the 100 and Parker’s 12.04 this season is the best time in the state for 3A girls.
• Le’Quisha Parker and Carolyn Bruch had a 1-4 finish in the 200 and ’Quisha’s 24.31 this season is the best time in the state for 3A girls.
• Yamu Sarr finished 1st for the 400 in 57.95, the 3rd fastest time in the state for 3A girls.
• Mallory Kea was 5th in the 100 hurdles.
• Mallory Kea was 3rd in the 300 hurdles and her 48.33 is tied for 8th fastest in the state for 3A girls.
• Northwood’s 4x200 relay team (Zoey Rowley, Yamu Sarr, Vanessa Scretchen, and Le’Quisha Parker, all pictured above) finished 1st.  Their 1:43.43 this season is the best time in the state for 3A girls.
• Northwood’s 4x400 relay team (Mallory Kea, Le’Quisha Parker, Zoey Rowley, and Yamu Sarr) finished 1st in an amazing 3:57.56, the best time in the state for 3A girls.  “Sub-4 for a 4x400 girls [is] stunning!” said Sauter.
• Naami Wagner finished 4th in the Pole Vault at 8'4".  Her 9'0" vault earlier this season is the 5th best in the state for 3A girls.

For photos of the day, visit mocorunning.com.

The day “was a roller coaster ride for our team,” said Brown.  “I am truly proud of what our girls have accomplished when not one person or team in the county or region thought that we could do it, except, of course, for us and you all.”

By the time you read this, the team will already have competed in the state meet during the last week in May at Morgan State University.

What’s neat is that Naami Wagner is the only senior among these athletes, so the rest will be back to compete next year!  Congratulations, girls!  Great job.   ■