Salem pole-vaulter John Krutty cleared the bar at 12 feet to help clinch Tuesday's victory over Northville. (photo by Marion Krutty)

Salem unbeaten track & field team raises the bar against Northville

May 5, 2010, 1:45 p.m.

  Tuesday's much-anticipated dual meet between the Salem and Northville boys track-and-field teams lived up to its pre-meet hype.

  The meet wasn't decided until the final moments when senior John Krutty won the pole vault event with a 12-foot effort. The Rocks needed to at least place in the vault -- the final event of the day -- to upend the Mustangs.

  Salem won, 74-63, to improve to 4-0 in the KLAA Central Division. The Rocks close out their division slate next Tuesday against South Lyon.

  In addition to Krutty, the Rocks received sterling efforts from Zack Gaskell, who won the 200-meter dash in a season-best time of 22.6 seconds; Scott O'Connor, who ran a personal-best time of 40.7 in the 300 intermediate hurdles; and the 400-meter relay team, which scorched the track in a season-best clocking of 44.7.

  Northville was led by Ali Arastu, who earned three firsts, including a 20-10 leap in the long jump.