Published: April 23, 2008 10:24 am         

Danzele dazzling for NW

NorthWood junior Danzele Johnson was a triple winner as the Panthers defeated Goshen 78-53 and lost to Plymouth 79-53 in a Northern Lakes Conference high school boys track and field meet Tuesday night at Goshen’s Foreman Field.

Plymouth was an 85-47 winner over the host Redskins.

Johnson finished first in the 100 (11.30) and 200-meter (23.25) dashes and long jump (20-11).

“Our goal was to come away with two wins, but we are happy with a 1-1 record,” NorthWood coach Adam Yoder said. “Plymouth has done a great job of rebuilding after graduating some quality kids.”

NorthWood is still missing senior sprinter Kent Biller on the track. Biller is nursing a hamstring injury. He did compete in the discus.

“Biller is coming along,” Yoder said. “One goal is to have him back next week at Wawasee, but we are not pushing it. Our realistic goal is to have him back for Kelly Relays (May 2 at Concord).”

Injuries continue to bother the Panthers.

“(Senior) Alex Rethlake was going to run Biller’s four events, but he pulled up lame in the 100,” Yoder added. “But it does not look like a season-ending injury.”

Coming off a Class A 13th-place finish Saturday in the Goshen Relays, the Redskins were a little off Tuesday evening.

“Missed opportunities is the way I would sum this meet up,” Goshen coach Brock Maust said. “The opportunities were there. We just didn’t take advantage of them. But the good thing is the kids know they missed them. I have never seen kids look so disappointed.”

Goshen senior Michael Murto won the 800 (2:00.90), classmate Brock Goodman high jump (5-10) and freshman Tyler Wynn the 3,200 (10:10.69).

“Murto won the 800 and Goodman continues to score points for us in high jump,” Maust said. “(Junior) Ross Yeater was right behind Goodman in high jump and (senior) Zach Prater went 11-6 in pole vault.

“I’m happy about (freshman) Jordan Falin in long jump. He competed in the event for the very first time tonight and went 19-0.

“Another bright spot was the throwers. We got third (senior Scott Flory at 45-9 1/2) and fourth (junior Thomas Gingerich at 43-0) in shot. We had five guys over 40-0. Three of them with personal bests. We had three guys over 100 feet in discus, including (freshman) Aaron Frost at 110.”

NorthWood senior Robby Burns won the 110 high hurdles (15.37) and 300 intermediate hurdles (40.40). Senior teammate Micah Shaw was second in both events.

“Burns looked very good and how about Shaw,” Yoder said. “It would be nice if we could score a second hurdler in the NLC meet.”

NorthWood senior James Reynolds won pole vault (14-6).