SMCC rules 400-meter relay; Sweeney top three in three events

Adela Illes was playing softball at this time last spring.

This year, she was on the track.

Illes anchored St Mary Catholic Central’s girls 400-meter relay team that ran 49.80 to win the Division 3 state championship on Saturday at Kent City. She ran with MaryAlice Lynch, Ashley Ruhlig and Jessica Costlow.

SMCC girls track coach Jake Michaels continues to be impressed with the sophomore’s speed.

“I knew she was fast, but I didn’t know she was that fast – I’m still shocked at how fast she is,” Michaels said.

Illes flashed that speed again in the 200 meters earning a second-place finish with a time of 26.04. She also was fifth in the 100.

She wasn’t the only member of the Kestrels winning relay to take home an extra piece of hardware, though.

Ruhlig also earned a second-place medal in the long jump (16-7 3/4) – the performances were a perfect sendoff for the senior.

“We came into the relay super excited; we knew we could do it,” Ruhlig said. “It’s a really exciting way to finish my senior season.”

Erie Mason’s Beth Sweeny had three different podium worthy efforts in Division 3 – she took second in the high hurdles (15.37), third in the low hurdles (46.04) and third in the long jump (5-4).

Mason coach Julie Ravary said Sweeny’s showing is a testament to the type of competitor she is.

“This is her first year running the highs and to go out and finish second in the state meet tells you what kind of athlete she is,” Ravary said.

Sweeny said the high hurdles took some work to get used to and that her coach gave her a reminder of just how far she came.

District Baseball: Monroe, New Boston Huron, Whiteford take titles

District Softball: SMCC, Airport, Milan, Whiteford Summerfield all champs

“I wasn’t expecting to do this at the beginning of the season, I was struggling to make it to the hurdle,” she said. “But after today she (coach Ravary) came up to me and said ‘You’re second in the state.’”

SMCC’s girls were fifth and Erie Mason tied for sixth in the Division 3 team standings.

Jefferson’s Layla Tahmouch set a school record in the discus with a throw of 131-0, which was good enough for third place in Division 2. She also finished 11th in the shot-put.

Division 1

Monroe’s Teegan Simmons took 21st and Mason Shultz of Bedford 26th in the shot-put.

Division 2

Michael Armetta of Jefferson was sixth in the high hurdles, seventh in the long jump and ninth in the lows while Matthew Foor of Airport placed fifth in the shot-put and 13th in the discus.

Milan’s team of Nolan Matley, Noah Bussell, Adam Johnson and Virgile Gruwez-Guinet was fourth in the 800 relay.

Johnson was 11th in the 400, Airport’s Callum Bell 13th in the 800, Dyland Hudkins of New Boston Huron 13th in the low hurdles and Ben Merkel of Jefferson 15th in the long jump.

For girls, Courtney Bovair of Airport was fourth in the 1,600 and 14th in the 800. Keola Botts captured eighth in the discus for Flat Rock and Jefferson’s Jenna Pilachowski took ninth in the 3,200 and 11th in the 1,600.

Milan wound up 10th in the both the 800 (Madison Lancaster, Angelina Wilson, Marissa Beck, Malea Wourman) and 1,600 (Lancaster, Amerie Wilson, Angelina Wilson. Wourman) relays.

Division 3

Brandon Commet of Ida broke his own school record in taking fifth in the low hurdles with a time of 40.34.

Stepan Masserant of Whiteford took ninth in the pole vault, Erie Mason’s Landon Nastale ninth in the 100, Jess Saylor of Whiteford ninth in the 400, Whiteford’s Keegan Masters 13th in the 1,600 and Kolby Masserant of Whiteford 13th in the long jump.

Erie Mason’s Giuliana Natale placed fourth in the girls 200 meters, Ida’s Julia Hughes seventh in the low hurdles, Bella LaFountain of SMCC eighth in the 1,600, Whiteford’s Alaina McClain 12th in the 800, Kenzie Gray of Whiteford 14th in the shot-put and Erie Mason’s Paige Konrad 15th in the long jump.

Division 4

Summerfield’s Austin Taylor pole vaulted 12-0 to tie for fourth place and teammate Teddy Gault was 14th in the long jump.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: State Track Finals: SMCC wins relay, big day for Mason's Sweeney