May 8, 2004

PREP TRACK - KEN BELL INVITATIONAL

Kemp, Plumstead dominate field events

Central 2nd; Glen Lake wins C-D

   The two seniors dominated again Friday at the Ken Bell Invitational at Traverse City Central.

   Kemp captured the discus with a heave of 161 feet. Plumstead won the shot put with a toss of 56’10½” — a meet record.

   In all, five boys’ records were set Friday.

   East Kentwood beat Traverse City Central 168.5-86.5 to win the Class A-B team title. Glen Lake claimed the Class C-D crown with 28 points.

   Kemp, who finished fourth in the discus in Division 4 last June, scored 18 of Glen Lake’s points. He was second in the long jump.

   But the discus is his specialty. He opened some eyes earlier this spring by uncorking a throw of 175’3” — a toss that would have won three of the four divisions in the state meet last year.

   “I’ve really focused on it,” Kemp said. “It’s mostly about technique, not strength. Our (assistant) coach, Mr. (Aaron) Heming, is known for (teaching) technique. He used to throw with John Powell, who set a world record. He knows what he’s talking about.”

   Kemp is a three-sport standout for the Lakers.

   “Everybody says he has the perfect build for (discus),” Lakers head coach Pete Edwards said. “He’s a great all-around athlete. He long-jumped today, and even though he doesn’t have his footing down, he still went over 18 feet without warming up.

   “I really think the decathlon could be his event in college. He could do 10 events and do them well.”

   Kemp has a scholarship offer on the table from Hillsdale College to play football and compete in track. But he’s also considering walking on at Michigan State in track.

   “I want to get the best coaching I can,” he said.

   For now, Kemp has his sights set on a state championship.

   “A couple of the guys who finished ahead of me last year are back so it will be fun,” he said.

   Plumstead won the Division 3 shot put state title last year with a toss of 57’11½”. That was the best in any of the four divisions.

   “I want to be out there a little farther,” Plumstead said. “Hopefully, I can hit 60. That’s the goal.”

   Plumstead, also a three-sport standout, is bound for West Point in July. He’ll play football and compete in track at Army.

   He, too, would like to close his high school career with a title.

   “I’ve had a good high school career — I’ve enjoyed it all,” he said. “Hopefully, the weather will warm and I’ll keep getting better in the shot and be a state champion again.”

   Traverse City Central’s Erik Burke set a school and meet record in the 200 with a time of 22.13. The school record was 22.2.

   Earlier in the meet, Burke narrowly missed beating his own school record in the 100, taking that sprint in 10.82.

   “I didn’t start the year like I wanted to,” he said. “But I’m gradually getting there. I’m peaking at the right time. I’m happy with my results right now.”

   Especially in the 200.

   “The 200 has been burning me up,” he said. ‘It was killing me not to get that school record.”

   In the 100, Burke trailed Muskegon Reeths-Puffer’s Jeremiah Newson until the last 20 meters.

   “We’re not training for speed yet because of the weather,” Central coach John Lober said. “Erik’s been running repeat 400s, repeat 300s, repeat 200s (in practice). He’s building an endurance base — and I think you saw how that came into play at the end of the 100.

   “Really, he’s right where he should be in his training. When the weather gets better, his times will come down. There’s no reason he can’t run a 10.6 or 10.7 100 and be under 22 in the 200.”

   Burke also ran the opening leg on the victorious 800-meter relay (1:34.66). Tyler Lake, Doug Garrow and Cam White followed Burke.

   Central’s Tyler Spagnuolo won the 800 in 2:00.01 and Nathan Breithaupt the pole vault at 13’.

   Central Lake’s Stephan Shay set a meet record in the 3200 with a time of 9:29.3. He won the 1600 in 4:20.46.

   Traverse City West’s Anthony Wolf captured the 300 hurdles in 40.72. The Titans took the 1600 relay in 3:30.92, another meet record.

   Mesick’s Kevan Remick won the long jump at 19’6¾”.

   East Kentwood claimed four events, including a record-setting performance in the 400 relay (50.8).




Record-Eagle/Lara Neel

Glen Lake’s Andrew Kemp gives the discus a heave at the Ken Bell Invitational.