Northville track team building dynasty in 3,200-meter relay event
Pictured (from left) are Ben Hartigan, Ethan Powell, Ryan Stojov and Brandon Cloud (1,600 all-state performer). Missing from the 3,200-meter relay state championship quartet is Rece Grezak, who was attending his college orientation.
Merriam-Webster’s definition of “dynasty” is: a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time.
That pretty much sums up what Northville’s boys 3,200-meter relay teams have accomplished at the MHSAA Division 1 state meet the past four years.
Gold medalists at the past four elite meets, the Mustangs — Could there be a better nickname for a group of hard-to beat runners? — have arguably reached dynasty level, with no real end in sight.
This year’s contingent of state champions includes Rece Grezak, Ryan Stojov, Ethan Powell and Ben Hartigan, whose time of 7:41.24 edged Clarkston’s quartet of 800-meter runners by about 1.5 seconds.
In the final Division 1 team standings, Northville placed second behind Belleville, which dominated the sprint and hurdles events.
‘Everyone has bought in’
“It’s a team culture thing,” said Northville Head Coach Tim Dalton, who took the reins of Northville’s boys track & field team in 2017. “All of the guys who have run the 4 x 800 have really bought in and they’ve done what it takes to win the event.
“We’ve had multiple athletes run the event the past four years, but they’ve all stepped up and put in the work necessary to continue to win the state meet.”
Dalton has also been head coach of the Mustangs’ girls track & field team since 2013. Amazingly, the girls squad has never lost a dual meet or not finished first in the Division 1 regional events since Dalton took over.
Stojov credited the team’s depth for its string of state-title triumphs.
“All of our PR’s are so close that it’s a daily battle to be competitive with one another,” he elaborated. “We really don’t need to verbally push each other; our times do the talking.”
A proverbial target on their backs
Hartigan said being the favorite at the state meet is more-or-less a double-edged sword.
“It’s nice being the team to beat, but at the same time there’s some pressure to keep the winning tradition going,” he said.
“I think we all share a dedication to each other to work hard and not let our teammates down,” added Powell, who will be running for Michigan State University in the fall.
There is no secret to the Mustangs’ success in the 3,200 relay, which requires four grueling 800-meter efforts and spot-on baton exchanges.
It all comes down to hard work
“The boys buy into the program we have outlined for them and put the work in at every practice,” Dalton said.
“We’ve had quite a few multi-sport athletes, too — quite a few soccer players — so they bring a competitive edge to the team.”
Powell praised Dalton’s approach to mentoring his star runners.
“He lets us do our own thing because he trusts that we’re going to put in the work necessary,” Powell said. “It’s a pride thing and we all take it to heart.”
Little time to celebrate
Given that the 3,200-meter relay is the first race of the day at the state meet, the Mustangs have little time to celebrate their accomplishments.
“Most of us run multiple events, so we come together and celebrate for a minute, but then it’s time to focus on the events we have coming up later in the day,” explained Powell, who said he fuels up for the state’s biggest meet by consuming a bagel and protein bar.
With two seniors on this year’s winning 3,200-meter relay contingent, the Mustangs will have to partially reload for next year.
“We already have a freshman who has ran a sub-two-minute 800, so he’s obviously going to be a contender to fill one of the open spots,” Dalton said. “There are a lot of other guys who are really working hard to get the opportunity to keep the winning tradition alive.”
Rising Cloud
Junior Brandon Cloud is a contender, too, after earning All-State honors in this year’s state meet 1,600 with a sixth-place finish.
Building a dynasty is incredibly difficult.
Maintaining it may be even more difficult, but given the Mustangs’ pride and determination, they’ll be up to the task for years to come.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
