Lakes' Superior Spring Closes with Repeat
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 3, 2018
KINGSFORD — The Lake Linden-Hubbell girls enjoyed a banner day at Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Division 3 Track & Field Finals, retaining their title with 96 points.
LL-H senior Laura Lyons won long jump at 16 feet, 1/2 inch, placed second in the 200 in 27.34 seconds and third in the 100 (13.4).
“I got that (distance) on my first jump,” said Lyons, bound for Michigan Tech this fall. “It was really nice to have that cushion. I felt I could afford to gamble with my steps a little.
“It’s amazing to do this two years in a row. Coach Gus (Gary Guisfredi) did a great job with us. It was a lot of fun being with the same group of girls. We had a lot of returners and a lot of younger girls. It’s really like a family on this team. We spend a lot of time together. Many of the girls who didn’t qualify for the Finals came down here to cheer us on.”
They were followed by Felch North Dickinson with 63 points and Stephenson 49.
Jamie Hendrickson added a first in high jump (4-10) and helped the Lakes take the 800 (1:53.22) and 1,600 relays (4:28.95), and MacKenzie LePage took pole vault (9-0).
North Dickinson’s Masyn Alexa won the 100 (13.19) and 200 (27.18) and took second in the 400 (1:01.64), and helped the Nordics place second in the 1,600 relay (4:31.67).
“Lake Linden is solid,” said Nordics’ coach Mike Roell. “We really performed well today. We had some girls really come through.
“Our team has really improved. Masyn had a big day, and Briana Smith got us the points we needed.”
Bark River-Harris won the 400 relay in a school-record 53.63 and added another school record with a third-place finish in the 800 relay (1:53.77). Rock Mid Peninsula was runner-up in the 800 relay in a school-record 1:53.35.
“It’s pretty awesome to set school records in two relays,” said BR-H senior Jaelin Lockwood, who was runner-up in long jump (15-4¾) and fourth in the 100 (13.41). “The 100 wasn’t my best, but Masyn came out of nowhere. Everybody seemed to have little bit of an off day in long jump.
“I’ll remember this season. We had good competition and a good year. I’ll probably be back next year to help with the team.”
Munising junior Madeleine Peramaki was a triple winner, taking the 800 (2:23.05), 1,600 (5:27.66) and 3,200 (12:26,31). She also qualified in the 400, but elected to scratch.
“I qualified in four events, which I didn’t think worked too well,” she said. “I have big goals but just try to do what I can with what I have. I didn’t quite reach the goals I had, but I’m happy with my times.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Lake Linden-Hubbell’s 800 relay anchor extends past the finish line during Saturday’s Finals. (Middle) Munising’s Madeleine Peramaki, second from left, leads the pack around a bend during the 1,600. (Photos by Cara Kamps. Click for more at RunMichigan.com.)
Ontonagon's Team Effort Nets 3 Relay Wins, 3rd Team Title in 6 Seasons
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 5, 2022
KINGSFORD — The Ontonagon girls withstood the challenge of retaining the Upper Peninsula Division 3 track & field title here Saturday, winning for the second straight year with 74 points.
Stephenson edged Munising 62-60 for the runner-up trophy.
“When you come to the Finals, everybody can do something special,” said Ontonagon coach Brian Amos. “This is our third title in six years. We have a bunch of good kids who do what’s asked of them. We’re super proud of the girls. That’s a team effort.”
The Gladiators won the 400-meter relay in 52.84 seconds, 800 (1:52.68) and 1,600 (4:28.41) on a sunny and warm day.
“We’re pretty excited right now,” said senior Kiirsa Kolpack, who anchored the 400 relay. “Our handoffs and chemistry are real good. Being in sync with each other makes a big difference. We had a breeze kind of drifting on the south end of the field, which kind of cooled us off a little.”
Ontonagon’s Lilly McIntyre won the 100-meter dash in 13.7 seconds, edging Dollar Bay’s Ashlea Datto by one tenth of a second.
Kolpack was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (17.36), and Violet Amos placed second in the 400 (1:01.58).
Stephenson’s Jada Kuntze took high jump at 4 feet, 10 inches, and second in the 800 (2:34.99), and Daisy Grinsteiner added a first in pole vault (8-0).
“This is our first U.P. trophy since 1993,” said Stephenson coach Kate Kuntze. “This is a young team, and these girls like winning. Hopefully, we can take the next step next year. We have work to do.”
Munising opened with a victory in the 3,200 relay (11:23.25), and Monique Brisson took second in the 3,200 (13:15.72).
Purdue Northwest recruit and Rock Mid Peninsula senior Landry Koski gained her third straight 1,600 title in a season-best 5:31.74 and added firsts in the 800 (2:32.19) and 3,200 (12:52.73).
“The weather was nice all day, then it got hot in the 3,200,” she said. “The wind definitely swirled throughout the day – although, I’m real happy with how today turned out. The 400 could have been a little better. That’s not really my race, but it’s good speedwork. I’ll take the three firsts any day, and my times were real good. This is a good stepping stone for collegiate running. Running is such a mind game. It can be so stressful.”
Lake Linden-Hubbell freshman Emily Jokela won the 400 in a school-record 1:00.45 and 300 hurdles (47.78), and placed third in the 100 (13.78).
Teammate Abi Codere added a first in the 100 hurdles (17.19) and second in pole vault (8-0).
Brimley’s Grace Hill took shot put (34-10) and second in disc (101-1).
PHOTOS (Top) Ontonagon's Alli Bobula approaches the finish line first in the 800 relay Saturday. Other members of the winning team were Lilly McIntrye, Kiirsa Kolpack, and Senia Kolpack. (Middle) Rock Mid-Peninsula's Landry Koski celebrates crossing the finish line just ahead of Rudyard's Tristin Smith in the 1,600. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/Run Michigan.)