By John Raffel
Correspondent
CLARE – Ava Long enjoyed a strong outdoor track and field season for Clare.
Long participated for Clare in the 4×100 relay at the state Division 3 track and field meet.
During the season, she participated in the relay 100, 100 hurdles and 200.
“We got the fastest time in our 4×100 relay at the JPC meet in Harrison against Gladwin,” Long, a senior, said.
Long was usually the first leg in the relay.
The pressure is “about the same” in the first leg of the relay as it would be in any others, Long said;
Clare was hoping to place in the top eight at the state finals in the relay. But they settled for 16th place.
Long had a personal record of 18.76 seconds in the 100 hurdles during the JPC meet at Clare. In that same meet she had a season record of 29.7 seconds in the 200 meters.
She considered the 100 as her best open event.
The Clare girls won the regional and MITCA team state finals this season. It was the best team she’s been on, Long said, and a good amount of depth was the key.
Long also was a wrestler at Clare and ran cross country in the fall.
“I’ll miss being on the team and running with my friends,” she said.
