By Chris Zadorozny
For the Dearborn Divine Child boys’ track squad, another run at a regional title and the possibility of a state championship are motivation for the 2013 season.
Of its stars from last season, only one all-state runner, the graduated Nicholas Soter, isn’t returning.
Junior all-state middle-distance runner Sean Soter is returning and will help to anchor the team.
All-state cross country runner Griffin Miller returns and will look to improve his mile and two-mile runs. He was the first-place finisher in the 800-meter at the Catholic League championships last season.
Along with Miller, senior and mid-distance all-stater Chris Martian and all-area 300-meter hurdler Fred Boyd will look to take the reigns and improve upon their results from last year.
Sophomore George Sawaya, who made all-area last year, will compete in the high jump, long jump, and also run hurdles this year.
Coach Bob Glenn said he hopes that the Falcons will have another good 4×800 relay team, just like their all-state relay squad last year.
“We expect the kids to perform as well as they can,” said Glenn.
“We have a great group of young men,”” said Glenn. “We expect them to win a majority of the meets they are in.”
Fordson
The Fordson track program is going through a bit of change. There are new coaches for both the boys’ and girls’ squads and for the boys, Hassen Berry will take up the position.
Fordson’s one first place-finisher in last year’s regional has graduated, so the team will be quite young and inexperienced
As a first-year coach, Berry isn’t sure who his top runners will be, his top runners be, but hopes to figure that out as the first meet draws closer.
There are some returning athletes that will make an impact for the Tractors.
The only returning athlete that placed in the top five in regionals is junior Mohammaed Faraj, who was second in the 300-meter hurdles. He also placed sixth in the 110-meter hurdles at regionals.
Sophomore Mustafa Saleh will look to improve his 11th-place finish at regionals in the 800-meter run and buckle down to be the top mid-distance runner. Saleh also competed in the 1600-meter run (one mile), and placed seventh.
Sophomore Merwan Ghadieh placed eighth in the high jump as a freshman, and will be counted on to score for the Tractors.
“My expectations for the team are to compete and to build a strong program,” said Berry.
To read the original post that appeared online in the MI Prep Zone website on March 22, 2013, go to www.miprepzone.com/pressandguide.
Chris Zadorozny 