Many Contribute in Marquette Boys Repeat
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2016
KINGSFORD — The Houghton boys gave chase, but Marquette withstood the Gremlins’ challenge while retaining the Upper Peninsula Division 1 track and field title Saturday.
Marquette collected 144 points to repeat and win its fifth title in seven seasons. Houghton followed with 111 points, and Kingsford tallied 72.
“We had a lot of guys step up,” said Marquette coach Kyle Detmers. “I’m proud of their effort. Hats off to Houghton. They had a great meet. I think they’ll be the team to beat next year.”
Senior distance ace Lance Rambo provided the Redmen with victories in the 800-meter run at 1 minute, 59.23 seconds and 1,600 (4:25.26).
Then in the 3,200, Rambo was well ahead of the field on the last turn of the sixth lap (of eight) when he suddenly hopped off the track in a great deal of pain caused by plantar fasciitis.
“I’ve had it for about a week,” Rambo said. “It’s really not that bad, but I didn’t get to ice it down after the 800 and it got worse during the 3,200. I’m happy about my first two races and the fact our team did so well. I had decent times in the 800 and 1,600.”
Rambo’s misfortune opened the door for Escanaba junior Joey Wolfe, who won in a personal-best 9:59.78.
“Hats off to Joey,” said Rambo. “He ran a great race.”
Lance’s brother, Luke Rambo, was runner-up (10:05.29) and Sault Ste. Marie’s Aaron Kinsella took third (10:07.11) in a race where the Division 1 and 2 runners ran together.
“It was a tragedy and a blessing,” said Wolfe. “I saw Lance go off the track and didn’t know what to think. Nate (Carey of Iron Mountain) and the kid from the Sault were right next to me. I told myself, ‘this is my chance,’ and took off in the last lap. Anything can happen. That’s why you always try to do your best. Yet, I feel bad for Lance. I just hope it wasn’t anything too serious.”
Marquette’s Pat Burmeister won the 100 (11.4), placed second in the 200 (23.36) and anchored the runner-up sprint relays.
Teammate Brad Seaborg added a first in the 300 hurdles (42.32). Payton Muljo won shot put at 44 feet, ½ inch, and Taylor Althouse took high jump (5-10).
“Lance ran great races in the 800 and 1,600,” said Detmers. “Luke really helped us by taking second in the 3,200 when Lance went down. We scored about 40 points in the field events, which hasn’t been common for us. We were seeded fourth in long jump and we got second and fifth. The only disappointment we had is our 3,200 relay got disqualified.”
Houghton won the day’s opening race in 8:15.38, and Clayton Sayen captured the 400 (51.7), took second in the 800 (2:02.49) and third in the 1,600 (4:38.48). Brad Ohtonen added a first in discus (120-2).
Kingsford’s sprint relays, anchored by Ben Moreau, took first in the 400 (45.01) and 800 (1:34.1).
The Flivvers also got a first from Mike Jamar in long jump (20-1¼), with Marquette’s Wyatt Goodwin runner-up (20-½).
PHOTOS: (Top) Marquette and Houghton battle during the 3,200 relay, won by the eventual overall runner-up Gremlins. (Middle) Negaunee’s Joe Grasso (far left) celebrates his 110 hurdles championship. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)
Fowler Boys Clinch 1st Team Title since 1988, Buford Leaps Into Record Book
By
Keith Dunlap
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2024
HUDSONVILLE — In 2023, Anthony Buford of Detroit Frederick Douglass would have won the long jump at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 4 Track & Field Finals if not for a historic effort.
Buford nearly was first, but had to settle for second after Peck’s Alex Affer jumped a meet-record distance of 23-feet, 1.5-inches.
Affer graduated last year, but he still was providing Buford plenty of motivation when he started the long jump event at this year’s event.
“My main motivator all year has been my main guy Alex Affer, the former record holder at 23-1,” Buford said. “He was really anticipating me breaking his record this year.”
Buford made good on Affer’s proclamation by setting a new Division 4 Finals record, jumping a recorded distance of 23 feet, 2 inches, into a headwind to best what Affer achieved a year ago.
“I was really surprised I broke it with that headwind I was jumping into,” Buford said. “But honestly, I just had to make it happen.”
Oh, but Buford wasn’t done during his busy and successful day.
Buford then won the 400 dash, finishing first in a time of 49.91 in a headwind and with rain coming down.
“I’ve been fighting to beat 49 (seconds) all season,” said Buford, who decided to focus on the 400 meters and long jump this year after primarily competing in the 100 and 200-meter dashes last year. “Just to come out here and beat my time while it was raining and a headwind coming into my face, that really shows how much more mentally tough I’ve gotten over time.”
Buford was also second to teammate Adrian Smith in the 200 and ran in the 1,600 relay to help Douglass finish second on the day.
Buford’s performance wasn’t quite enough to lift his team past Fowler, which captured the team title with 56.5 points, four more than Douglass. It was Fowler’s first Finals team championship since 1988.
Brady Feldpausch led Fowler’s point scoring by finishing first in the 110 hurdles with a time of 14.57, running as part of the winning team in the 800 relay, taking second in the 300 hurdles and then being a part of the winning 1,600 relay that clinched the title.
“It feels amazing,” Feldpausch said. “I don’t know what to say. We just all have the same mindset. We come to practice and work hard. We knew if we all ran like we knew how to, we’d have a shot.”
Fowler entered the last event, the 1,600 relay, knowing that in order to clinch the team win it had to win the race and have Douglass finish fifth or lower.
A strong event all year for the Eagles, they delivered again, winning in a time of 3:26.43. Pair that with a ninth-place finish by Douglass, and Fowler had what it needed.
Fowler head coach Brett Schaefer credited unsung heroes with stepping up for his team and fulfilling a goal talked about all year.
“We scored in field events where we didn’t expect to,” he said. “Our first meeting with them at the start of the year, our whole goal was to hang a banner in the gym. We did that today.”
Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep took third with 44 points after winning the last two LPD4 team titles.
PHOTOS (Top) Fowler’s Brady Feldpausch, left, edges Reading’s Tayshawn Bester to win the 110 hurdles Saturday at Baldwin Middle School. (Middle) Detroit Douglass’ Anthony Buford finishes his win in the 400. (Click for more from Ken Swart/RunMichigan.com.)