Benzie’s Warsecke takes three races

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Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael StumpBenzie Central's Theresa Warsecke, right, and Alyssa Bennett lead the pack in the 1600 meters in Tuesday's Honor Roll Meet at Traverse City Central. Jan-Michael Stump/Traverse City

May 30, 2012

Benzie’s Warsecke takes three races

By MIKE ECKERT meckert@record-eagle.com The Record Eagle Wed May 30, 2012, 07:14 AM EDT

TRAVERSE CITY — For much of the 1,600-meter run at Tuesday's Record-Eagle Honor Roll meet, Benzie Central's Theresa Warsecke was all alone out front.

The Huskies senior jumped out to a quick start and won in 5:16.68, beating out teammate Alyssa Bennett (5:20.68).

"I always take off fast," Warsecke said. "I could hear my teammate behind me the whole time. I can tell (it was her)."

The win in the event earned Warsecke the Ryan Shay Memorial Cup. Last year, it was won by former teammate Michaela Carnegie.

"It feels really good," Warsecke said. "Last year, Michaela was here and I had never run the mile before this year. So with her gone, it's kind of nice to step into her shoes and pick up where she was."

Warsecke, who will run at the University of Toledo next season, will look to follow in Carnegie's footsteps again on Saturday. Last year, Carnegie won three events while leading the Huskies to the Division 3 state championship. This year, Warsecke heads to the finals with the top time in four events.

"We won cross country to start my senior season, so to finish with it (title) would be really cool," Warsecke said. "I do feel a lot of pressure for this last one. With Michaela gone and anchoring the relays, at the state finals it can come down to that last one. Last Saturday we got beat in the MITCA in the 4x400, so we'll be running against them again on Saturday."

Forest Area senior Marissa Ingersoll repeated as Honor Roll champ in both the 100 and 200.

"This meet has really, really good competitors," Ingersoll said. "It's really good practice for states. That's what I enjoy. I enjoy the competition."

She held off Benzie Central's Alikay Hamilton in both races, winning the 100 in 12.59 and the 200 in 25.95. Helping with both races was a strong wind at their backs for the final stretch.

"That helped tremendously," Ingersoll said. "The start was definitely a little harder, the curve you had the wind and then the straight-away the wind was at your back. And then you just go."

Saturday will be the final high school meet for Ingersoll, who will run next year at Aquinas College. She was third in both the 100 and 200 last year at the state finals.

"It's very bittersweet," Ingersoll said. "You meet a lot of girls and you compete with them over the years. Now, I'm going to go against new girls. It's hard to say goodbye. I have my whole high school behind me, because we're such a small school. It's been great."

Benzie Central won seven events on Tuesday. Besides Warsecke in the 1600, Bryce Cutler took the 800 (2:23.92) and Jordan Nye won the long jump (16-9.5).

The Huskies swept the relays. Jenna Smeltzer, Abigail Secor, Nye and Hamilton teamed to win the 400 (51.42) and 800 relays (1:47.18), Bennett, Warsecke, Nye and Miranda Besey won the 1600 relay (4:07.55) and Cutler, Makayla Huddleston, Bennett and Warsecke won the 3200 relay (9:32.69).

TC Central won three events. Molly Walker took the shot put (38-1), Taylor Olson took the pole vault (9-0) and Jordan Matterella rolled to a win in the 3200 (11:45) over teammate Ashley Ko (12:02.88).

St. Francis had a pair of wins as McKaely Ludka took the 100 hurdles (16.11) and Lauren Buckel won the 400 (1:00.11). The Gladiators will take a deep roster to Saturday's Division 4 state finals.

"We feel good," Buckel said. "Nine of our 12 girls made it in some event to states. We're feeling pretty confident. It's a big meet and a lot of good competition, but hopefully we'll do well."

TC West got a win from Quinn Hall in the 300 hurdles (48.8). She just edged out TC Central's Lauren Brennan (49.0) with a push on the final stretch.

"I don't know, I have this instinct to keep pushing it," Hall said. "I guess I just really wanted to get first."

Kalkaska's Haley Waddell won the high jump at 4-10 while Bellaire's Julie Winslow won the discus at 106-2.