By By SCOTT NOVAK / Dowagiac Daily News
The Dowagiac varsity track team was swept by host Benton Harbor on Thursday in its season and Big 16 Conference West Division opener.
The Chieftain girls lost 102-55, while the boys lost 105-58.
Earning first place finishes for the Chieftains girls were Ashley Urbanski in the long jump (14-10), Kate Duszynski in the discus (75-2), Anne O'Keefe in the pole vault and 400-meters (9-6/1:08.62), Crissy Huff in the 1,600- and 3,200-meters (7:14.73/15:52.4) and the Chieftains' 3,200-meter relay team of Jaskiran Kaur, Heather Stevens, Kayleigh Sundman and Huff.
That team posted a time of 16:35.
Sundman was second in the 3,200-meters.
Finishing third for the Chieftains were Urbanski (100-meters), Katy Stuppy (200-meters), Duszynski (shot put), Ashley Gonic (discus). Placing fourth were Stuppy (100-meters), Stevens (1,600-meters), Samantha Stone (300 hurdles), Kaur (800-meters) and Cari Spencer (shot put).
Taking first place for the boys were Isaiah Jones in the long jump (19-2.5), Kyle Bennett in the pole vault and discus (11-1/115-3.5), Ryan Withorn in the shot put (41-7), Brad Lee in the 1,600- and 3,200-meters (5:28.57/11:52.33) and Sam Preston in the 800-meters (2:17.98).
Finishing second were Elijah Caldwell (100- and 200-meters) and Bennett (shot put).
Taking third were Clay Hewitt (3,200-meters), James Laymon (high jump), Ryan Casey (shot put) and Withorn (discus).
Finishing fourth were David Sayre (400-meters), Konnor Smith (300 hurdles), Russell Sizemore (200-meters), Zach Roden (3,200-meters) and Casey (discus).
Dowagiac will get a chance to build on their effort Saturday as they participate in the Paw Paw Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.