Back-to-back on the track

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

Southfield’s Owens-Mitchell repeats as state champion

When Bridgette Owens-Mitchell arrived at Rockford High for the MHSAA girls track and field state finals June 5, she wasn’t worried about the competition.

The Southfield High senior wasn’t concerned with any pressure from being the defending state champion in the 100-meter high hurdles, either.

With countless first-place finishes and titles to her name, Owens-Mitchell was hoping to etch her name into history with a record-setting performance before graduating from Southfield.

But that plan took a hit when it was realized a strong wind that day would be detrimental to her effort.

“Once we arrived and saw we had a head wind, it went out the door,” Southfield coach Calvin Washington said.

Owens-Mitchell still turned in an impressive performance, winning the race by a little more than a half second, the largest difference between any of the top-five finishers.

“It was exciting, even though I didn’t run as fast as I wanted to,” she said.

Her final time was 14.29 seconds. The Division 1 and overall state record is 13.66, posted by Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Candice Davis in 2003. Owens-Mitchell has come close to that, recently turning in a 13.7 en route to a first place at the June 12 Midwest Meet of Champions. She ran a 14.13 in last year’s state championship victory.

Johnson said it was a “foregone conclusion” in his mind that Owens-Mitchell would win because of “all the hard work she put in” training over the years at Southfield.

“Really, there was no pressure on her, from the standpoint that Bridgette is a self-determined, hard-working young lady,” the coach said. “From the first day we started training, I could tell that was a foregone conclusion in her mind.”

Owens-Mitchell’s repeat crown gives the Blue Jays girls track and field team their seventh individual title in 10 years.

Southfield’s 400 and 800 sprint relay teams also fared well at the finals thanks to Owens-Mitchell and four other senior teammates.

The hurdler joined with Lydia Taylor, Kylia Johnson and LaShell West to help the 400 team to an eighth-place finish; and Owens-Mitchell, Diamond Taylor, West and Johnson led the 800 team to a fourth-place finish.

But the day was nearly a disaster for the group of seniors, as the state finals on the other side of the state coincided with the school’s graduation ceremony. Fortunately, they made it back just in time.

“We weren’t able to compete in all the events we qualified for because we had to leave,” Johnson said. “We had to get them back for another monumental moment in their life, to walk across the stage. They got an opportunity to stand on the podium and walk across the stage. It was a monumental day and memorable day for (Owens-Mitchell) and her four colleagues.”

While the Blue Jays might have been able to rack up more points at the state finals, their coach noted how important their education was as well, as they’ll all be going to college this fall on athletic scholarships.

“That’s more impressive to me than winning the state championship,” he said.

Owens-Mitchell said she was a little nervous at first about making it back for graduation — a rare trait for the confident competitor.

“At first, I didn’t think there’d be enough time,” she said.

After making it through the busy day, Owens-Mitchell said she “felt like I completed something.”

Cheers for the Chargers

Southfield-Lathrup’s girls track team also excelled at the state finals.

Lathrup’s Jewel Thomas took second place in the 100 dash; Keianna Ingram ended up tied for fourth in the high jump; and the Chargers’ 400-relay team took third.

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040.