Source: Observer/Eccentric

Author: Dan O'Meara

Three of Farmington Hills Mercy’s top athletes in girls track and field will be seniors Allysen Eads and Ogechi Nwaopara and sophomore Arianna Allman.

Eads is a veteran distance runner who was a two-time state qualifier and all-area selection in cross country. She was third in the Catholic League in the 1,600-meter run.

Eads, who will run cross country at Hillsdale College, also competes in the 800 and 3,200 meters and is a member of the 3,200 relay team.

Nwaopara is the team’s most accomplished sprinter. In the 400, she placed third in the league meet and seventh in Oakland County.

Nwaopara was sixth in the 100 and 200 at the A-B Division league championships, and she also was fourth in the high jump.

That will be a good event for the Marlins since the high jump is Allman’s forte. She was the regional runner-up and went to the state meet. Her best jump last year was 5-1, and she has topped that in practice this year.

After those three, the Marlins have a thin roster in regard established athletes. Mercy has 45 girls on the team, but more than half are new to the sport.

“We don’t have a lot of experience,” coach Gary Servais said, adding it’s a rebuilding and learning year for the Marlins. “By next Tuesday, we’ll have a better idea. Right now it’s like a Chinese fire drill.”

In the first dual meet Tuesday, Mercy lost to host Grosse Pointe South, 111-26. Allman was the lone winner in the long jump with a leap of 14-9.5.

Freshman Mia Flynn was second in the long jump (14-3) and third in the 100 hurdles (18.0). Allman also was second in the high jump (4-9) and third in the 300 hurdles (55.0).

Mercy had three other seconds from Nwaopara in the 400 (1:00.8), Lauren Lytle, 800 (2:51.1); and Eads, 3,200 (12:28.2).

The Marlins were third in the Catholic League meet, but they were well behind first-place Regina and runner-up Divine Child. Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard will be part of the A-B Division this year.

It will be difficult to get a state qualifier in the regional at North Farmington, according to Servais, since defending state champion Oak Park will dominate the sprints and Seaholm the distance events.

Mercy will host a double dual at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Country Day girls and boys will run against Mercy and Detroit Loyola, respectively.