Hematites Boys Go Distance in Repeat
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2016
KINGSFORD — There was reason to celebrate Saturday evening in Ishpeming as both of its track and field teams came home as Upper Peninsula Division 2 champions.
Earlier in the day, the Ishpeming boys retained their title, as did the girls.
The Ishpeming boys scored 134 points, followed by Iron Mountain with 94 and Iron River West Iron County 65.
“We had a fire truck parade through town and the booster club bought us a bunch of pizzas,” said first-year coach P.J. Pruett. “The boys ran good. One of the bigger battles we had was with the senior party (on Friday night).”
The Hematites, who swept all four places in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs in the Regional at Manistique on May 18, again scored heavily in the distance races in Saturday’s Finals.
Ishpeming grabbed three places each in the 1,600 and 3,200 and two in the 800.
Junior Daren Guichin paced the Hematites by taking runner-up honors in the 800 in 2 minutes, 11.31 seconds and 1,600 (4:57.39) and helping their 3,200 relay place second (9:16.2).
“We went through the Regional with four in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, and that ended up well for us,” said Pruett. “That gave us a chance to score some points in the Finals. We were neck-and-neck with Iron Mountain until the distances. They had good runners, but we had more of them. Our depth really showed. When you get to the Finals, points are points. Our distance guys ran as a pack, as they did in the Regional.”
The Hematites gained three firsts, with those coming in the 400 (47.48), 800 (1:37.9) and 1,600 (3:48.79) relays.
Ishpeming’s Isaac Olson, who placed second in the 100 (11.83), also helped the 800 relay.
“It felt like everything clicked for us,” said senior Kazmine Langness, also part of that relay. “Our handoffs were good, and everybody took off at the right time. Communication is the key. The chemistry is there.”
“Our 1,600 relay really took off,” said Pruett. “We were the underdog and ended up winning that one.”
Iron Mountain senior Nate Carey won 1,600 (4:45.04) and 3,200 (10:11.44) and helped the winning 3,200 relay (8:54.81).
“I wanted to go faster in the 3,200, but it’s tough to do when you get close to 10 minutes,” said Carey. “This is the first year I got under 10:20. I started training earlier this year (in late January) than in the past. I also did some weight training, which helped my leg strength. Running with the D-1 guys was a good motivator because I was running with the same guys I ran against in cross country.”
Teammate Tanner Huotari, also part of the winning 3,200 relay, added a first in the 800 (2:08.37).
Iron Mountain’s Aaron Bolo became a double-winner, taking high jump (5-8) and long jump (18-10), and Charlie Gerhard added a first in the 100 hurdles (17.36).
West Iron’s Bryant Schram dominated shot put (48-1¼) and took second in discus (118-7).
Hancock’s Alex Dewald won the 100 (11.68) and 200 (23.52), and senior Gage Hawthorn captured disc (140-2).
PHOTOS: (Top) Ishpeming’s Kyle Pruett cruises through the rain during the 3,200 relay; his team finished second in the race. (Middle) Hancock’s Alex Dewald crosses first in the 100. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)
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.)