Pictured are (from left) Salem throwing coach Steve Kaptur, Bekah Hendrian, Kristy Righter and Ashley Kretschmer. (photo by Marion Krutty)

Salem takes fifth at Stafford Relays

May 2, 2010, 4:45 p.m.

  Fueled by a strong performance from its field-events crew, Salem's girls track-and-field team placed fifth at Saturday's 10-team Stafford Relays, which were  hosted by Walled Lake Western.

   Farmington won the event for the second straight year, chalking up 71 points. The three Walled Lake schools -- Northern (67 points), Western (65) and Central 48) -- finished second third and fourth, respectively, ahead of the Rocks, who compiled 37 points.

  Canton took eighth with 27 points.

  The highlight of the day for the Rocks was Bekah Hendrian's personal-best effort of 31 feet even in the shot put, two feet further than her previous best throw. Hendrian, Kristina Righter and Ashley Krestschmer combined forces to lift Salem to a sixth-place showing in the shot.

  The same trio placed second in the discus, led by Hendrian's personal-best effort of 95-5.  Righter also PR'ed with an 80-2 effort.

  The Rocks earned second-place points in the  high jump as Kretschmer, Nancy Krutty and Sarah Martin all posted 4-5 heights.

  Krutty, Clarissa Carvalho and Ade Jepperson vaulted Salem to a third-place showing in the pole vault. Krutty and Jepperson both cleared season-high heights of 8-0 while Carvalho soared 7-6.

  The Rocks' long jump trio of Adrianna Beltran, Khyli Ray and Jepperson placed third.

  Four Salem running teams took fourth in their respective events: the field event relay foursome of Kretschmer, Hendrian, Righter and Carvalho; the 4,000-meter distance relay foursome of Alex McHugh, Victoria Tripp, Shannon Flynn and Madison Goodpasture; the 6,400-meter distance relay team of Emily Bizon, Kelly Kerwin, Alyssa Garbarino and Autumn Burin; and the four-by-800 quartet of Jordyn Moore, McHugh, Jepperson and Tripp.

  Salem travels to Northville Tuesday for a key KLAA Central Division dual meet against the Mustangs.

Kristina Righter is pictured competing in the shot put event. (Marion Krutty photo)

Pictured are Salem pole vaulters Ade Jepperson (left) and Nancy Krutty. (photo by Marion Krutty)