Lakes Begin 'to Bring the Legacy Back'

By John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com

June 4, 2017

KINGSFORD — The Lake Linden-Hubbell girls ended a lengthy title drought Saturday, earning top honors at the Upper Peninsula Division 3 Track & Field Finals.

Lake Linden scored 110 points to secure its first title since 1983, when it was competing in Class D. Pickford squeezed past Cedarville by less than a point for the runner-up honor, and Bark River-Harris took fourth.

“We’re trying to bring the legacy back,” said junior Laura Lyons. “Mr. G (coach Gary Guisfredi) is doing everything he can to help us carry on the program.”

Lyons led the Lakes by taking the 200-meter dash in 27.53 seconds, long jump at 15 feet, 5 inches, and by helping the winning 1,600 relay (4:23.23) and placing second in the 400 (1:01.37).

In the 400, she was runner-up to DeTour senior Sarah Bailey (1:00.52).

“I think my starts were pretty good,” said Lyons. “I was in lane 8 in the 200, which made it hard to see the other girls.

“I didn’t know Sarah before today. Track is also a social event. Everybody’s just so friendly.”

Lake Linden’s Mariah Wilmer won the 800 in a school-record 2:27.08, followed by Bailey (2:28.59) and Rock Mid Peninsula eighth-grader Daisy Englund (2:35.71).

Wilmer also helped the winning 800 (1:54.99) and 1,600 relays.

Jamie Hendrickson provided the Lakes with firsts in high jump at 5-1 and by helping the winning 400 (54.10) and 1,600 relays. Sienna Anderson added a victory in the 100 hurdles (17.55).

Pickford’s Clare Cottle won pole vault (8-6), and Cedarville’s Mackenzie Barr won discus (103-10), edging Ontonagon’s Holly Wardynski by 6½ inches.

In addition to her victory in the 400, Bailey was runner-up in the 800 (2:28.59) and fourth in the 200 (28.22).

“I think that was my best time (in the 400),” said Bailey, who plans to play volleyball at Lake Superior State University this fall. “I had a pretty good start and tried to get toward the front. I had never seen (Lyons) before, but she was a good motivator. It’s always a challenge when you come here because you never know what you’re going to get.”

BR-H sophomore Hailee Demers took the 100 dash (13.30) and 300 hurdles (49.46) and placed second in the 200 (27.68). Junior teammate Jaelin Lockwood was second in the 100 (13.59) and long jump (15-4).

Dollar Bay senior Cami Daavettila won the 1,600 (5:41.78), and Chassell’s Lela Rautiola took the 3,200 (12:47.38).

“I was pleased with my time in the 1,600,” said Daavettila. “The weather was perfect for the mile and I got a PR (personal record). There was a little bit of a breeze, but nothing to hold you back.”

Engadine junior Ashtyn Buss took first in shot put (36-3) and fourth in discus (95-7).

Click for full results.

PHOTOS: (Top) Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Lily Kumpula takes off during her leg of the 400 relay. (Middle) DeTour’s Sarah Bailey completes her championship dash in the 400. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)

Brimley Girls Add to UP D3 Dynasty

By John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com

June 1, 2014

KINGSFORD — The Brimley girls have earned their share of Upper Peninsula Division 3 track and field championships in recent years.

They added another title to their collection Saturday by scoring 84 points.

The Bays, who won for the fifth time in seven years, were followed by Bessemer with 67 points and Crystal Falls Forest Park with 55.

“When I looked at the times from other Regionals, I realized they ran in snow in some of them,” said Brimley coach Joyel Hyvarinen. “Overall, our girls did a phenomenal job. They had some to prove to everyone and themselves.”

Last year, the Bays were distant runners-up to St. Ignace (121-57).

Brimley’s Kerri Chartrand won the 100-meter hurdles in 16.89 seconds and placed second in the 300 (49.56), anchored the second-place 3,200 relay and took third in long jump at 14 feet, 5¾ inches Saturday.

Anne Archambeau won discus (108-4) and was runner-up in shot put (33-2¾). Her teammates Hana Vesela (32-9½) and Alyssa Hyvarinen (32-6¼) were third and fourth in shot, respectively.

“Our throwers scored 28 points and we had 34 in the field events,” said coach Hyvarinen. “Those were huge for us.”

Kerri Chartrand and Vesela helped the Bays take second in the 1,600 relay, with Vesela also helping the third-place 800 relay. Emily Chartrand added a third in the 3,200 (13:30).

Also helping Brimley’s 1,600 relay were Cassue Leapley and Kaylee Hill. 

Bessemer’s Lily Wieringa won the 3,200 in 13:14.61, placed third in the 1,600 (5:54.81) and helped the Speedgirls place third in the 3,200 relay. Breena Bogaczyk added a second in discus (104-11) and fifth in shot (31-11), and Valerie Rowe took third in the 300 hurdles (49.74) and pole vault (8-6).

Senior Mary Granquist led Forest Park, winning the 100 (13.34) and 400 (1:04.72) and anchoring the winning 800 relay and taking second in the 200 (27.63). 

Mid Peninsula senior Kelsey Shope retained her high jump title (5-1) and was runner-up in the 400 (1:05.61).

“I was expecting to do a little better in high jump,” said Shope. “My legs and back are real shore, although I’m happy with first. I thought things went real well overall. I think we did real well as a team. This is kind of sad because this is what I’m used to. This has been a great year.” 

Munising freshman Michaela Peramaki, who soared a school-record 10 feet in pole vault in a recent meet, settled for a winning jump of 9-0 on Saturday.

Rudyard senior Savannah Dugan had the day’s longest toss in shot put (38-11) and placed third in discus (101-0). 

Click for full results.

PHOTO: Brimley's Kerri Chartrand (center) works to the front on the way to winning the 100 hurdles at the U.P. Division 3 Final on Saturday at Kingsford. (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)