Source: Observer/Eccentric

Author: Dan O'Meara / John Stormzand

Farmington Hills Mercy earned its first Catholic League dual-meet victory in girls track and field Tuesday with a 76-52 win over visiting Birmingham Marian.

The Marlins swept four events, taking the top three places in the high jump, discus and the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, to offset the Mustangs winning three of four relays.

"That was the key since we didn't win any of the sprints or relays except for the 3,200 relay," Mercy coach Gary Servais said.

Allysen Eads was a triple winner in the three longest races. She ran 5:54.9, 2:32.4 and 13:15.8 in the 1,600, 800 and 3,200, respectively.

Mercy won three of the four field events with Ogechi Nwaopara, high jump, 4-9; Courtney Weaver, discus, 74-9; and Bianca Berger, shot put, 27-7.

Arianna Allman won the 300 hurdles (55.7). Lauren Lytle, Julie Lilley, Hannah Blakey and Natalie Wilson combined to win the 3,200 relay with a time of 11:36.4.

Allman also was second in the high jump (4-9) and Catherine Best third (4-6). The sweep of the discus included Indya Hood (66-10) and Berger (63-1).

Lytle was the runner-up to Eads in the 1,600 (6:02.6) and 3,200 (13:23.5). Third place in those events went to Kaitlin McHenry (6:15.3) and Wilson (13:51.5).

Blakey finished second in the 100 and 200 dashes with times of 13.6 and 28.9. Mercy had other seconds from Mallory Demeter, 300 hurdles, 58.2; Weaver, shot put, 26-4.5; and Nwaopara, 400 run, 1:07.1.

The Marlins are 1-4 in the league and 2-5 overall. They will run a nonleague dual meet Tuesday against Detroit Cristo Rey at Mercy.

"Hopefully, it's a sign of things we can build on for next year," Servais said of the win. "Hopefully, we're coming together in time for some good performances at the regional and league meets."

Mercy had a number of top-six finishes May 2 in the Livonia Stevenson Invitational in which no team scores were recorded.

Nwaopara and Eads were third in the high jump (4-10) and 1,600 run (5:25.59), respectively. Mia Flynn placed fourth in the 100 hurdles (16.79).

Nwaopara and Eads also were fifth in the 400 run (1:03.52) and the 800 run (2:28.75). Allman was fifth in the high jump on misses (4-10); Blakey was sixth and close behind Nwaopara in the quarter (1:03.75).

Eads, Lytle, Lilley and McHenry were fifth in the 3,200 relay (10:35.20). Nwaopara, Blakey, Flynn and Jordan Tomei finished sixth in the 800 relay (1:53.38).

The top six individuals and the top three relay teams received medals.