Marquette Rises to Match Challengers
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2018
KINGSFORD — The Marquette boys continued their hold on the Upper Peninsula Division 1 track title Saturday, winning for the fourth straight season with 110 points.
Houghton edged Gladstone 86-76 for runner-up honors.
“Competition in D-1 was the tightest I’ve seen in a long time,” said Marquette coach Kyle Detmers. “It was very competitive. It was a battle until the 3,200 when it was just a seven-point difference between us and Houghton.
“It was just packed. I haven’t been in a D-1 Track Finals that was this competitive to the end.”
Senior Garrett Rudden helped the Redmen gain some separation by placing third in the 3,200-meter run in 10 minutes, 14.41 seconds and helping the winning 1,600 relay (3:35.87). Teammate Garrett Zueger took fourth in the 3,200 (10:28.68) and helped the Redmen take the 3,200 relay (8:30.74).
The Redmen had a double winner in junior Raphael Millado, who captured high jump (6-2) and long jump (19-6).
“Raphael has jumped as high as 6-6 and more than 21 feet (in long jump),” said Detmers. “The wind swirling around down there may have affected the jumping events. We also had a guy (Ethan Martysz) pull up with a hamstring injury in the 100 and pull out of the 200, but the guys fought through it. Drew Thomas taking second in the 110 hurdles and Garrett’s second in the 1,600 were huge for us, and Matt (Pillifant) was seeded seventh and placed fourth in pole vault. We stayed steady and scored in all the field events. I’m thankful for the guys’ resilience and ability to pick each other up. Every point mattered.”
Houghton senior Clayton Sayen won four individual events, taking the 100 (11.47), 200 (23.19), 400 (51.25) and 800 (1:59.31), in the last edging Negaunee senior Colton Yesney (2:00.24).
“It was fun,” said Sayen, who plans to continue his track career at Michigan Tech. “I rely on my speed for everything. I’m thankful for our coaches who always knew that was best for me. Without their guidance, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve what I did. I also want to make a special shout-out to Seth Helman. Running against him in the 800 was a bittersweet moment. He’s my closest friend; I’m really going to miss the time we had together. I’m thankful for the competition we had.”
Houghton coach Dan Juntilla said he was pleased with the team’s effort.
“Our guys gave it their all, but Marquette was a little too deep for us,” he added. “I’m real proud of the guys. Seth and Clayton had a great day, and placing second in the 3,200 relay set the tone. Plus, taking three places in pole vault gave us some big points.
“We’re looking forward to having our new facility next year and really excited about what the taxpayers of Houghton did for us.”
Yesney, who plans to continue his running career at the University of Michigan, won the 1,600 in a school-record 4:23.49 and 3,200 (9:54.43), missing the U.P. meet record by four tenths of a second.
“I’m a little bummed out,” he said. “I thought I had the record. I could envision myself getting the school record in the 1,600. Usually, when that happens it works out well. I thought I had (Sayen) in the 800, but he has that sprinter’s speed and just enough endurance to get it done.
“I’m really looking forward to going to U-M, running for one of the best programs in the nation and running against some of the best runners in the nation.”
Gladstone’s leader was freshman Calvin Thibault, who won the 110 hurdles (16.12) and 300s in a school-record 40.04 seconds.
“I knew what was at stake with us being so close to Marquette (before the 300s),” said Thibault, who’s battling an asthmatic condition. “My family and girlfriend (junior Hannah Christe) were here, and I thought about them during the race. Hannah makes sure I get enough rest and energy to run. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t think I’d be able to do this well, especially in the 300 hurdles. I didn’t know what to expect.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Marquette’s Raphael Millado clears the bar on one of his high jumps. (Middle) Houghton’s Clayton Sayen, left, outkicks Negaunee’s Colton Yesney to win the 800. (Photos by Cara Kamps. Click for more at RunMichigan.com.)
Marquette Pushes Title Run to 3 Straight
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 3, 2017
KINGSFORD — The Marquette boys quietly went about their business Saturday and were rewarded with their third straight Upper Peninsula Division 1 track & field title.
Marquette collected 128 points. Iron Mountain edged Houghton 76½-73 for the runner-up trophy, and Kingsford was fourth at 61.
The Redmen grabbed the top three places in high jump, with Jedidiah Weber leading the way at 6 feet, 2 inches. Raphael Millado took second and Taylor Althouse was third, both clearing six feet.
“That was huge for us,” said Marquette senior Alex DuVall, who anchored the winning 1,600-meter relay. “We have a lot of young guys. The future looks pretty good. Houghton, Kingsford and Iron Mountain have a lot of good runners. It feels good to bring the title home again.”
Senior Wyatt Goodwin added a first in long jump (20-2), and DuVall helped the Redmen take second in the 400 and 800 relay at 45.30 seconds and 1:35.23, respectively. They were clocked at 3:31.33 in the 1,600.
DuVall, who plans to play football and basketball at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., in 2017-18, added a fourth place in the 100 (11.74).
“We ran our best time all year in the 1,600 relay,” he added. “Our handoffs went real well. We’ve been working on handoffs in practice, and we’ve got them down.”
Iron Mountain’s Aaron Bolo won the 110 hurdles (15.79), followed by teammate Charlie Gerhard (15.86) and Marquette senior Collin Shinners (15.89).
The Mountaineers captured the 800 relay (1:34.48). Gerhard took the 300 hurdles (41.34), and Bolo was runner-up in long jump (20-0).
Junior Clayton Sayen paced Houghton with victories in the 200 (22.63) and 400 (50.24) and by anchoring the winning 3,200 relay (8:15.7). Kamron Simpkin added a victory in pole vault (12-9).
Kingsford senior Trevor Roberts captured the 100 (11.25), anchored the winning 400 relay (45.25) and took second in the 200 (23.21) and third in long jump (19-6½).
“This was a rebuilding year for us,” said Kingsford coach Doug Roberts. “We lost quite a few seniors last year. Marquette has a real good team. Yes, they’re a bigger school. But they have quality athletes and coaches. Hats off to them.”
Negaunee junior Colton Yesney won the 1,600 (4:24.81). Marquette junior Garrett Rudden was runner-up (4:30.49) and Sault Ste. Marie senior Ryan Sanderson (4:34.70) squeezed past Gladstone sophomore Adam Bruce by two hundredths of a second for third.
Sanderson took the 800 (2:01.35), edging Yesney by a half-second.
“He (Yesney) is a good runner,” said Sanderson, who’s attending Michigan State on an academic scholarship this fall. “He ran a great mile. I’ve been here for four years and waited and waited to get one (U.P. title). Now that I got one, it’s a great feeling. It has been a great ride.”
Bruce earned his first U.P. title in the 3,200 (10:20.00), followed by Yesney (10:22.63), Rudden (10:28.43) and Houghton’s Seth Helman (10:28.62).
“I’m super happy,” said Bruce. “I wasn’t going to run the 3,200 this year.
“I can’t ask for a better team. We’re a family. We get along real well. I really enjoy running for Mr. (Gary) Whitmer. He makes it fun.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Marquette's Raphael Millado lays out over the high jump bar; he finished second in the event. (Middle) A pack of contenders stays close during the 1,600. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)