The Lady Jags thinclads entered Tuesday’s Downriver League Championship meet in the driver’s seat after finishing the regular season with an undefeated record (6-0). After losing the Metro Classic All-Area meet to the Warriors of Woodhaven by 21.5 points, our Allen Park squad certainly would have a say in how the rubber-match would play out. The thrilling, roller coaster of emotion played out during the course of the 9-hour contest. As with any Championship contest, every event yielded surprises, upsets, and plenty of excitement.

The day started off with the morning field event sessions, where the Jags jumped out to a 63-58.5 point advantage over the Warriors. Izzy Conn led off in shot put, pulling off a 2^nd-place upset with a season-best put of 30’6.25”.

In the High Jump, the contest ended in a 4-way tie for 1^st, which resulted in a sudden-death jump-off to determine 1^st place, with 2 Jags in the mix. After 3 rounds of extra jumps, Lyric Spears claimed a 2^nd-place tie with Woodhaven and Kylee Dietz falling to 4^th.

In Pole Vault, all 3 Lady Jags posted scores, with Alaina Goulasarian clearing 6’0” for 8^th place, Julia Beaudrie clearing 6’6” for 7^th place, and Gianna Tiberia clearing 9’0” for a personal-best and a League Title.

In Long Jump, the trend continued where all 3 Jaguar contestants acquired points. Adri Carone placed 7^th, Gianna Tiberia placed 5^th, and Lyric Spears claimed the League Title, out-jumping the nearest contestant by 1-foot.

The Discus concluded the morning, with yet another 3 Lady Jags seizing points. Izzy Conn took the 8^th place spot, Rebekah Reckling pulled off a mild upset by out-throwing a pair of Warriors and taking 4^th place, and Maddie Scroggins claimed the silver-medal place.

AFTER 5 EVENTS – Allen Park 63 Woodhaven 58.5

In the afternoon, the 4x800 m relay of Lisa Luecke, Kenzie Lada, Melena Sclesky, and Chloe Bateman led things off, pacing to 2^nd place with a season-best time.

AFTER 6 EVENTS – Allen Park 71 Woodhaven 68.5

The biggest statement from the Jaguar contingent came in the 100 m High Hurdles, where Lyric Spears, Adri Carone, Morgan Cartwright, and Kylee Dietz dazzled the venue by dominating the field with 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, and 6^th places, respectively! The hurdle squad amassed a point total of 26-points and extended the lead over the Warriors to 27.5 points, the largest of the day.

AFTER 7 EVENTS – Allen Park 97 Woodhaven 79.5

After the Jags were shutout in the 100m dash, a disqualification by Woodhaven in the 4x200 m Relay improved the Allen Park squad’s (Emma Watson, Abby Raftis, Avery Beamon, and Lia Raftis) place in the event from 6^th to 5^th, a 1 point gain, and a 5-point swing.

AFTER 9 EVENTS – Allen Park 101 Woodhaven 88.5

In the 1600 m, Lisa Luecke battled Trenton’s Madison Price down the final 100 m, coming up just short of the gold, but posting a personal-best performance in the event. Teammate Chloe Bateman also out-performed her projected place, finishing in a crucial 6^th place, 2 spots ahead of another Warrior.

AFTER 10 EVENTS – Allen Park 112  Woodhaven 100.5

The 4x100 m Relay unit of Paige Allen, Lyric Spears, Emma Watson, and Marisa Kepes held off a charging Warrior squad to claim another crucial silver medal place.

AFTER 11 EVENTS – Allen Park 120 Woodhaven 106.5

Abby Raftis continued to build upon recent successes in the 400 m dash to solidify a 5^th place performance and shutout Woodhaven in the event.

After 12  EVENTS – Allen Park 124, Woodhaven 106.5

The next event, the 300 m Low Hurdles presented some unexpected results from the opposition, with Woodhaven claiming gold and the Jaguars Morgan Cartwright and Adri Carone having to settle for 3^rd and 4^th, respectively. The event ended with an 11-point stalemate between purple and green.

AFTER 13 EVENTS – Allen Park 135 Woodhaven 117.5

More unexpected developments aided the Warriors in the 800m, when the top Wyandotte Bear was disqualified, vaulting the Woodhaven duo into the silver and bronze medal positions. Not to be outdone, Megan Mathews put up a calculated and gutsy performance, having been on the sideline for the past month with a foot injury. As she entered the final 100 meters, she hunted down the third Warrior and bested her with 60-meters remaining, cruising to a 5^th place finish.

AFTER 14 EVENTS – Allen Park 139 Woodhaven 134.5

The Warriors held a distinct advantage going into the 200 m dash. The Warriors posted their expected 3^rd and 4^th. Nevertheless, Gianna Tiberia was not to be outdone, stealing a 7^th place from the slow heat.

AFTER 15 EVENTS – Allen Park 141 Woodhaven 145.5

Going into the penultimate event, the 3200m run, trailing by 4.5 points, the Jaguars had a distinct advantage, being the only team in the field with 4 competitors. Lisa Luecke, once again battled into the final lap challenging for the gold medal, but was outdone in the final stretch by the Senior, Mikayla Borg, from Southgate Anderson. Kenzie Lada and Chloe Bateman worked together and locked up 5^th and 6^th place, respectively, early in the race and never looked back. The trio earned 15 points to Woodhaven’s 7, making it a 3 ½ point Jaguar lead going into the final event.

AFTER 16 EVENTS – Allen Park 156 Woodhaven 152.5

The Lady Jags needed a 3^rd place to solidify victory heading into the 4x400 m Relay. The squad of Emma Watson, Abby Raftis, Lia Raftis, and Morgan Cartwright were battle tested just days prior at the MHSAA Regional meet. Knowing they had to keep purple and white in immediate sight, Emma Watson led-off with an over-zealous start, but was able to hold on to handoff neck-and-neck with Woodhaven. Next, Abby Raftis remained within a stride around the track handing off to her twin, Lia, who maintained the stride deficit. Going into the final handoff Morgan Cartwright increased the lead over the trailing Carlson Marauders and finished just a few strides behind Woodhaven, sealing the deal and clinching the meet in a season-best time.

“This is a special team, a special group of girls. A full team effort was needed and that is what they delivered. The season had plenty of ups and downs, and a mountain of adversity. However, that is where our ladies always stepped up. The preparation by our coaching staff, especially my assistant Joe Donnelly, was outmatched by none! This was 12-months in the making and to finish the journey in such a thrilling matchup makes this Championship even more spectacular.”

NOTES: - Lyric Spears and Gianna Tiberia earned Downriver All-League Honors with their 1^st place finishes

• This is Allen Park’s first Downriver League Championship and first League title in 14-years
• This was the 10^th Anniversary Downriver League Championship Meet
• The Lady Jags scored in 16 of 17 events
• The team went undefeated in regular-season dual meets
  • AP 95  Gibraltar Carlson 42
  • AP 92  Wyandotte Roosevelt 44
  • AP 112  Trenton 25
  • AP 115  Taylor 22
  • AP 74  Woodhaven 63
  • AP 105 Melvindale 27

• This was the 7^th Allen Park girls’ athletic program to claim a Downriver League Title this school season!!!
• Chloe Bateman became the first athlete (along with Abby Slate – softball) to achieve team championships with 3 sports (Cross Country, Basketball, Track & Field) in 1 school season in school history.

Results

(photo credit: Heather Lada )