Rochester Athletes Run, Jump to First-Place Finishes at Track Regionals

senior and Michigan-bound Brook Handler was a top runner Saturday at the Division 1 Track and Field Regional meet in West Bloomfield.

Handler won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:54.80. She also won the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.86.

Overall, the boys finished fourth and the girls finished third at the meet.

Besides Handler, other highlights included:

• Rochester senior Emily Leppek finished first in the long jump with a jump of 16 feet, 7.5 inches.
• A win in the girls 400-meter relay, led by Monjoa Likine, Emily Leppek, Tequazha Terry, and Teanna Murray, who finished at 49.56.
• Brian Beecher finished first in the 800-meter run with at time of 1:59.2.
• Marcel Johnson placed second in the shot put with a score of 49-10.5.
• And senior Blake Pozolo finished the 3,200-meter run in first with a time of 10:01.12.

Pozolo was racing in the fifth lap in a tight pack when he saw that he had an opening. According to Pozolo, the pack was getting tired and he raced ahead to win. His time was 6.76 seconds faster than second-place finisher Bloomfield Brother Rice’s Thomas Girardot.

“I was trying to stay with (the pack) as a long as I can, but I felt the pace dropping, so I just went with 800 to go and no one went with me,” said Pozolo, who added that he did not qualify last year. “At the county (championships), I hope to medal and get a top-six or eight (place finish). At states, I hope to place with them.”

Farmington High School won the boys meet; Farmington Hills Harrison won the girls meet.

The girls team lost its chances at a third-straight regional championship win due to a series of disqualifications, but still finished third with 68 points.

“I wasn’t running with anyone, so I just did the best I could,” said Handler of her two solo victories. Handler was also on a 1,600-meter relay team which finished second with a time of 4:03.88.

For complete results, visit mhsaa.com.