Livonia – Coach Tony Magni tried his best to look concerned about whether his  Novi Detroit Catholic Central boys track squad would live up to their “favored” role to win its fourth consecutive CHSL A-B boys championship yesterday at Livonia Ladywood,

“My top high jumper is out with an ankle injury. My number 2 and 3 sprinters are hurting. I had to start the 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams with freshmen,” he lamented.

But “surprise,” said Magni, who’s in his 38th year head-coaching  the Shamrocks. “The 4x200 team won.”

But, he admitted, “we’ll probably win it all.”

It wasn’t a shock to anyone that the Shamrocks did just that, routing the seven-team field with 168 points. Bloomfield Brother Rice provided the stiffest opposition with 118 points. Detroit U of D Jesuit trailed with 85, Dearborn Divine Child 67.5, Warren DeLaSalle 30.5, Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 17 and Pontiac Notre Dame 10.

CC took control from the start, building a 51-28 lead over Rice in the field events, finishing 1-2-3-6 in the discus, 1-4-5 in the shot put and 3-5 in the long jump.

Senior Jake Spuller won the 100 and 400 meter dashes, led off the winning 4x200 relay team and anchored the winning 4x400 team.

Twins John-Paul Zebrowski (4:20.98) and Austin Zebrowski (4:21-94) ran 1-2 in the 1600 meter race, while Andrew Garcia-Garrison won the 3200 meter. Brother Rice failed to collect a point in either of the distances.

“It takes stars to win meets,” said Rice coach, Bob Stark. “We have young stars. But we’re having fun, We’re doing the best we can with what we have.”

Garcia-Garrison ran the first leg of the CC’s record-setting 4x800 relay team. He teamed with Ryan Boyd, Mackenzie Boyd and Joshua Carolin to turn in a 8:02.19 time that was better than the 8:04 by Warren DeLaSalle in 2001.

Even though, in last week’s regionals, CC qualified 10 trackmen for the Division I state finals June 4 in Rockford, Magni was a bit more realistic in assessing his team’s chances for a title.

“No Class A or Division I team from the Catholic League has ever won the state championship,” he noted.

He isn’t expecting a “surprise” this year.

FIRST PLACE WINNERS:

High Jump – Jared McNair (Catholic Central) 5' 10"

Long Jump – Tor Vinson (U-D Jesuit) 20' 4½"

Discus Throw – Mark Becker (CC) 145'

Shot Put – George Darany (CC) 52' 4 3/4"

100 Meter Dash – Jake Spuller  (CC) :11.06

100 Meter Hurdles – Fred Boyd (Divine Child) :15.64

200 Meter Dash – Nick Dunn (Broth er Rice) :22.62

300 Meter Hurdles – Kyle Kirkland (U-D) :41.29

400 Meter Dash – Jake Spuller (CC) :51.60

800 Meter Run – Nick Soter (DC) 1:59.53

1600 Meter Run – John-Paul Zebrowski (CC) 4:20.98

3200 Meter Run – Andrew Garcia-Garrison (CC) 9:41.03

4x100 Meter Relay – Brother Rice :44.64 (Zach Lowe-John Budiongan-Nick Dunn-Devin Church)

4x200 Meter Relay – Catholic Central 1:30.67 (Jake Spuller-Billy Riga-Ryan Majsak-Jared Jolley)

4x400 Meter Relay – Catholic Central 3:31.73 (John Carolin-Ryan Majsak-Tyler Brown-Jake Spuller)

4x800 Meter Relay – Catholic Central 8:02.19 (Andrew Garcia-Garrison-Ryan Boyd-Mackenzie Boyd-Joshua Carolin) (New CHSL record; old record of 8:04 set in 2001 by Warren DeLaSalle)