Buccaneer boys battle loaded field at 31st annual W. Michigan meet
Fri, May 22, 2009 
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BY NATE THOMPSON
nthompson@grandhaventribune.com
Before Thursday's West Michigan All-Star Track Meet, Grand Haven coach Andy Mousseau raved about the season turned in by Ben Kober this spring.
Kober, a senior, backed up his coach's praise by winning the 110-meter hurdles, was second in the 300 hurdles and placed fourth in the long jump at the invitational.
"His leadership is the first thing that stands out, but obviously athletically, he's top-notch in that area too," Mousseau said. "He's going to state in hurdles, and is ranked in the top 2 or 3 at our school. With the long jump, that's came out of nowhere. He just started doing that this year, but he's been consistent at over 20 feet. Plus he runs a leg on our mile relay, so we don't let him rest much from start to finish."
Muskegon High School took first-place in four events (100 and 200 dashes, 800 relay, and 400 relay) to lead the field.
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Kober had a battle with a neighboring rival in the hurdles, as Spring Lake's Michael Latsch was runner-up in the 110, but placed first in the 300, beating out Kober by nearly a second with a time of 40.21.
One of the most exciting races of the meet occurred in the 400 relay, where Muskegon came back to nip Grand Haven by less than a second. Logan Cuddington, Austin Harper, Mike Rosso, and Alec Smith had topped the Big Reds at the O-K Red Conference Meet, but couldn't match the feat again.
Rosso had a stellar effort in the pole vault by clearing 13 feet, but he was beat out by Orchard View's Lucas Leiter, who set a new school record at 14-5.
Mousseau also commended the effort of Joe Duff in the 3,200 run, as he was beat out by a pair of talented competitors in Kent City's Alex Wilson and Fruitport's Jake Batch. Wilson won the event in 9:29.60, with Batch five seconds off the pace.
Spring Lake's Blake Rottschafer will be in the 3,200 and 1,600 events at the Division 2 state finals, but Thursday, he only opted for the 1,600, where he placed third.
"At regionals I ran a 9:52 (in the 3,200), which was 14 seconds better than my previous best," Rottschafer said, who will run at Hope College next year. "The school record is 9:33, which will be difficult to reach, but it could happen.
"I keep setting new goals more goals for myself, which is fun. I'm just happy to be going back to state in my last year. Now, I just have to get myself mentally ready."
