Ishpeming Boys Go Distance Again
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2019
KINGSFORD – The Ishpeming boys continued their winning ways at Saturday's Upper Peninsula Track & Field Finals, retaining their Division 2 crown with 129 points.
This marked the fifth title in six years for the Hematites, who were followed by Newberry at 84 and Norway with 75 points.
Ishpeming, led by junior Jonah Broberg, scored 56 points in the distances.
Broberg won the 800-meter run in two minutes, 6.57 seconds and 1,600 (4:45.81), helped the winning 3,200 relay (8:44.13) and placed second in the 3,200 run (10:38.7). Senior Spencer Giroux was third in the 800 (2:09.43) and 1,600 (4:47.42).
Senior Coulton Prillwitz added firsts in the 300 hurdles in 44.25 and long jump at 19 feet. Classmate Gavin Sundberg took the 400 (52.22) and was runner-up in the 200 (23.73).
Manistique’s Alex Misniakiewicz earned his first title in the 3,200 (10:35.23) as D-1 and D-2 athletes ran together.
"I felt real good," said Misniakiewicz, who placed second in the 800 (2:07.4) and 1,600 (4:47.36). "I paced off Adam Bruce (D-1 champ) for 2-3 laps, and if it weren't for Jonah Broberg, I would have never been able to do this. With a couple laps to go somebody from the stands yelled out, 'You have to go. That's how champions are made!' I know that wasn't meant for me, but I just picked it up. In the last 200, I felt I had a pretty good chance to win it."
Newberry got its lone first in the 1,600 relay (3:45.25) and was runner-up in the 3,200 relay (8:50.49).
"We're pleased with our time," said senior Evan Griffis, who ran the second leg in the 3,200 relay. "We were close to Ishpeming for half of the race. Our fourth leg (sophomore Ephram Evans) ran exceptionally well and caught them, but he couldn't quite finish them off. We ran one of our better times, and this is the place to do it."
Norway senior Mitch Legrave captured the 100 (11.5) and 200 (23.56) and helped the Knights take the 400 relay (46.25).
St. Ignace junior Joe Kelly won shot put (46-2½) and was runner-up in discus (117-10).
"Our boys are coming along nicely," said Saints' coach Trudy Olsen. "They work hard. It's nice to see them have some success. Joe had already set the school record in shot (49-9) in our season opener. He missed by just a half inch last year. He was motivated."
Hancock sophomore Austin Salani, who was crowned Western Peninsula Athletic Conference pole vault champion with a school-record leap of 13 feet on May 22 in Houghton, took the U.P. title at 12 feet this time.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ishpeming’s Gavin Sundberg takes off during the 400 on Saturday. (Middle) Newberry’s Evan Griffis begins his leg of the 3,200 relay. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)
Performance of the Week: Ann Arbor Huron's Braxton Brann
May 5, 2023
Braxton Brann ♦ Ann Arbor Huron
Senior ♦ Track & Field
Brann led Huron to the team win at the prestigious 9th Courageous Invitational on Saturday at Wayne State with first places in the 100 and 200-meter dashes and the 110-meter hurdles, and as part of the runner-up 1,600 relay. His time in the 110 hurdles (14.07) is the fastest in Michigan in that event this season, and he also has the state’s fastest times this spring in the 100 dash (10.47) and 300 hurdles (38.74) and is tied for the fastest in the 200 (21.63).
After finishing second in the 200 and fourth in the 100 at last season’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals, Brann is undefeated in his four individual events this spring. Saturday was the first time he’d run on the 1,600 relay this season, and he was joined in part by his sophomore brother Ashton – who also runs sprints and hurdles. Braxton is signed to continue his academic and track careers at Ohio State, where he will major in business.
@mhsaasports 🏃🏿♂️POW: Braxton Brann #performanceoftheweek #track #field #running #sprinter #100 #200 #110hurdles #record #annarborhuron #huron #riverrats #osubound #MHSAA #highschoolsports #tiktalk #interview #TikTok #mistudentaid #fyp ♬ Beat Automotivo Tan Tan Tan Viral - WZ Beat
Follow the MHSAA on TikTok.
MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a part of the Office of Postsecondary Financial Planning located within the Michigan Department of Treasury. MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and Twitter @mistudentaid.
2022-23 Honorees
April 27: Owen Patton, Vestaburg track & field - Report
April 20: Lilly Damm, Millington softball - Report
April 13: Larissa Huffman, Mackinaw City track & field - Report
April 6: Darius Acuff, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
March 23: Regan Finkbeiner, Hemlock basketball - Report
March 16: Alaina Yaney, Grand Ledge gymnastics - Report
March 9: Braeden Davis, Dundee wrestling - Report
March 2: Gabriel Sanchez-Burks, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Feb. 23: Grace Sobczak, Marquette swimming - Report
Feb. 16: Kaitlynn Demers, Gibraltar Carlson competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 9: Indya Davis, West Bloomfield basketball - Report
Feb. 2: Braydon Sorenson, Onekama skiing - Report
Jan. 26: Shayna Hruska, Iron Mountain wrestling - Report
Jan. 19: Kayla Tafanelli, Warren Woods-Tower bowling - Report
Dec. 20: Brenden Paden, Riverview Gabriel Richard hockey - Report
Dec. 16: Tuff Scott, Holton bowling - Report
Dec. 9: Macey Fegan, Standish-Sterling basketball - Report
Dec. 2: Treyton Siegert, Gladwin football - Report
Nov. 24: Lily Witte, Dexter diving - Report
Nov. 17: Navea Gauthier, Shelby volleyball - Report
Nov. 10: Derek Huisman, Holland Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3: Thomas Westphal, New Baltimore Anchor Bay cross country - Report
Oct. 27: Justin Wickey, Colon football - Report
Oct. 20: Owen DeMuth, Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood tennis - Report
Oct. 13: Mia Melendez, Ann Arbor Greenhills golf - Report
Oct. 6: Shawn Foster, Grand Ledge football - Report
Sept. 30: Hannah Smith, Temperance Bedford swimming - Report
Sept. 22: Helen Sachs, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Sept. 15: Nina Horning, Lake Orion volleyball - Report
Sept 8: Arturo Romero, Muskegon Oakridge soccer - Report
Sept. 1: Austin King, Midland Dow tennis - Report
Aug. 25: Olivia Hemmila, Troy Athens golf - Report
PHOTO Ann Arbor Huron's Braxton Brann runs the 110 hurdles at Ypsilanti Lincoln. (Photo by Draugalis Photography.)