Field Events Push Gladstone Back To No. 1
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2013
KINGSFORD — The grandstand was nearly full at Kingsford's Flivver Field on Saturday. But probably not many people witnessed the work in the field events by the Gladstone boys during the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Track and Field Finals.
Gladstone, which scored 69 points in the field events, finished with 112 for its seventh U.P. championship in 10 years.
The Braves were followed by Menominee 80, Kingsford 73 and three-time defending champ Marquette 61.
"I couldn't be more proud of these kids," said Gladstone athletic director/assistant coach Matt Houle. "They were prepared, confident and ready to go. All the kids stepped up in the field events. We had to dominate those to win the meet. We took control in the field, and the guys in the running events took care of business."
Houle filled in for head coach Gary Whitmer, who suffered a broken sternum in an automobile accident Friday morning.
Senior Jared Vuksan set the U.P. D-1 shot put record at 55 feet, 11¼ inches, topping the previous best (52-1/2) by Braves' now-volunteer assistant coach Kent King three years ago.
Vuksan, who will play football at Northern Michigan University this fall, also won discus in a school--record toss of 153-2¾, placed fourth in long jump (18-4) and helped the Braves take third in the 400-meter relay.
"My release was a lot better today in disc," Vuksan said. "I evened out my throw, and the disc came out flatter.
"I got the U.P. record in shot on my last throw. I stayed low and my footwork was good. My first throw was 50-5 and I think that set the tone. I really got pumped for the last throw. That was a great way to finish."
Classmate Justin Pederson added firsts in high jump (6-3) and long jump (21-½) and was runner-up in the 100-meter dash in 11.31 seconds.
Kingsford junior Cole Tengesdahl won the 100 (11.26).
"I'm a little disappointed in my 100, although I have to take my hat off to Cole," said Pederson, who plans to run track at Michigan State as a walk-on next year. "In high jump, everyone went out after six feet and I kept going. There was a lot of pressure, but I seem to do better in that situation. After I cleared 6-3, I went up to 6-5 and nicked the bar on my way down.
"My goal in long jump was just to break 21. I just tried to stay consistent."
Junior Chris Sedenquist added a victory in the 400 at 51.39.
Menominee had a triple-winner in senior Bryan Hines, who took the 110 hurdles (15.96) and 300 (41.59) and helped the winning 400 relay.
Sault Ste. Marie freshman Parker Scott, hindered by a foot injury much of this season, won the 800 (2:00.9) and 1,600 (4:31.98). He was the U.P. cross country champion in his division last fall.
PHOTOS: (Top) Gladstone senior Justin Pederson completes a high jump on the way to finishing first with a leap of 6-3. (Middle) The Braves' Jared Vuksan added a fourth place in long jump to his championships in the discus and shot put. (Photos by Eric Thompson; click to see more Gladstone photos at www.ericthompson.smugmug.com.)
Performance of the Week: Rochester Adams' Armon Howard
June 3, 2022
Armon Howard ♦ Rochester Adams
Track & Field ♦ Senior
Howard won the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles and ran on champion 800 and 1,600-meter relays at the 63rd Oakland County Championships on May 27 at Clarkston. His 37.30-second time in the 300 was the fastest in that race in the state this season and tied for ninth-fastest 300 in state history according to MichTrack.org.
Howard’s best time in the 110 hurdles this season was 14.37 seconds heading into Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals, and it ranked third across all divisions this spring. He also entered this weekend undefeated in the 110 this season and with only one second place in the 300, coming in Adams’ first meet. His Oakland County-winning relays also included his twin brother Amarion, and the times – 1:28.96 in the 800 and 3:22.03 in the 1,600 – were the fastest Armon Howard had been part of this spring. (UPDATE: Armon Howard won the 300 hurdles [37.32] and was third in the 110 [14.66] at the June 4 LPD1 Finals.)
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2021-22 Honorees
May 27: Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary's baseball - Report
May 20: Brady Schultz, Menominee track & field - Report
May 13: Robert Burns, Flint Powers Catholic golf - Report
May 6: Bo Lockwood, Hartland lacrosse - Report
April 28: Nonah Waldron, Oak Park track & field - Report
April 21: Theryn Hallock, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central soccer - Report
April 14: Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy softball - Report
April 7: Mason Docks, Williamston basketball - Report
March 24: Mya Petticord, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep basketball - Report
March 16: Charley Bayer, East Grand Rapids diving - Report
March 9: Ja'Marcus Smith, Detroit Mumford wrestling - Report
March 2: David Schaberg, Holt bowling - Report
Feb. 24: Adelaide McRoberts, Kingsford swimming - Report
Feb. 17: Christopher Kavanaugh, Petoskey hockey - Report
Feb. 10: Ira Jenkins, Whitehall wrestling - Report
Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28: Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21: Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14: Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2: Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25: Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18: Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11: Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4: Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28: Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21: Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14: Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7: Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30: Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23: Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16: Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report
(Photos courtesy of Armon Howard and the Rochester Adams athletic department.)