Northern Hopefuls Chase Dream Finishes
June 2, 2017
By Dennis Chase
Special for Second Half
TRAVERSE CITY – Can Gaylord’s Casey Korte, despite missing three weeks in May with shin splints, defend her MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 title in the long jump?
Can Benzie Central’s ironman, Brayden Huddleston, medal and earn all-state honors in four Division 3 distance races?
Can Harbor Springs sophomore Jeremy Kloss – the top seed in the 1,600 and 3,200, along with his teammates in the 3,200 relay – pull off a trifecta in Division 4?
Can the Traverse City West 400-meter relay team win the school’s first boys MHSAA Finals title in a running event?
In northern Michigan, those four storylines will be among the most compelling Saturday at the MHSAA track & field championships.
Casey Korte
The 17-year-old multi-sport athlete has been battling nagging leg injuries the last two seasons, but still won the long jump last June with a leap of 18-0¼.
Shin splints forced Korte to take three weeks off last month. She returned for the Regional and kicked off the rust by winning the long jump (17-01.25) and helping the 800-meter relay team qualify for the MHSAA Finals.
“It’s good,” she said of her health.
Her distance in the long jump was third best among state Regional performers.
“Usually my goal every meet is to be in the mid-17s,” she said. “Nobody was close to it (17-1¼) at the Regional so I was good with it.”
Korte had an interesting warmup Tuesday at Gaylord’s Meet of Champions. She won the 100, high jump and was on the victorious 800-meter relay, but took second in the long jump at 15-5½.
“Usually I don’t do the long jump last,” she said. “I do it second. But the way the meet was set up I did it after all my other events, and after it had rained and gotten cold and windy. My legs wouldn’t let me take off and jump.”
Korte does not expect similar problems Saturday.
“My goal is to double as a state champion,” she said. “Last year, during long jump, all the factors came together. I was feeling good, the high jump was going well, the wind was perfect. Everything went well. I’m hoping it happens again.”
Korte finished fourth in the high jump at last year’s Finals, but did not qualify in that event this year.
Nonetheless, it’s been a banner senior year for Korte. She was the team Most Valuable Player and an all-region pick in volleyball, then followed it up with a first-team all-state campaign in basketball, averaging 19.8 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. Korte signed to attend and play basketball at Cornerstone University.
But her focus now is on the track. And what would it mean to her if she could repeat in the long jump?
“It would show that my hard work paid off,” she said. “A state championship isn’t just handed to you. You have to work hard for it. It would be awesome to know I did that. It’s still surreal that I was the state champion last year. There are times I still can’t believe it.”
Brayden Huddleston
Huddleston is preparing for an event-filled day at the Division 3 Finals. The senior is seeded second in the 800, seventh in the 1,600 and eighth in the 3,200. He also runs a leg on Benzie’s 3,200-meter relay, which is seeded third.
His goal? Medal in all four.
His goal? A podium finish in all four events.
“It’s pretty rare (to run four distance races at the Finals), especially if you’re a kid that has a shot to potentially win,” Benzie Central coach Asa Kelly said. “We talked. I said, ‘You’ve got to be a little crazy to do this.’ He said, ‘I want to.’
“He’s one of those exceptional kids that when he does something, he does it really well. He’s a 4.0 student, a salutatorian. I said, ‘You could be one of those rare kids that could be all-state in four distance races.’ That doesn’t happen too often. He’s committed 100 percent to this. It’s going to take a lot of careful planning (Saturday), as far as warming up, cooling down, diet, fluids. I think he’s going to do great.”
Huddleston, who will run at Bradley University, said he’s ready.
“They say it’s crazy to do (four distance races) at state finals, but I like that challenge,” he said. “I’m ready to put forth my best effort and see what I can do.’
Huddleston said he’s most concerned about the quick turnaround between the 800 and 3,200.
“I’m most nervous about that,” he said. “I think there’s only one heat in the girls two-mile at state finals so the turnaround will be quick. But I think I’m in good shape. This is the most fit I’ve ever felt.”
Huddleston won the Ryan Shay 1,600 meters in a season-best 4:19.84 at Tuesday’s Traverse City Record-Eagle Honor Roll meet. That time ranks second to St. Louis’ Evan Goodell’s 4:18.18 in LP Division 3 this year.
“I was shooting to see how close I could get to the school record of 4:14.7 by Jake Flynn,” Huddleston said. “I fell a little short, but I was running by myself, and running into a wind for half the lap. You take those things away and it puts me right in the ballpark. I was happy with my effort. It’s good to be rolling into the state finals.”
Huddleston smiles when he talks about a second seed in the 800.
“I’ve always looked at myself as a distance runner,” he said. “The two mile has been my best event. But this year I ran a couple open 800s, and I fell in love with it. It’s a strategic race.”
The 3,200 will be his last race of the day.
“He knows going in there will be guys who will be fresh,” Kelly said. “What a badge of honor if he could go out there and say, ‘This is my fourth event and I’m going to try and be all-state and beat some guys who haven’t run at all today.’”
Jeremy Kloss
Kloss will toe the line in three Division 4 distance races. His Regional times of 4:26.71 in the 1,600 and 9:49.52 in the 3,200 were best in the division. The Rams also had the top 3,200 relay time of 8:20.69.
Kloss, who was second in the LP Division 4 Cross Country Final, said he’s peaking at the right time.
“With the state meet coming up, it was time to kick it into gear, get motivated, get serious,” he said.
Kloss, who is coached by his father Mike, said he would like to achieve some goals he set at the beginning of the season – to run in the high 9:30s in the 3,200 and low 4:20s in the 1,600.
“I think I can,” he said.
Jeremy is the youngest of four brothers to run for the Rams. His mother, Emily, coaches the girls team.
“I was born in early October and wasn’t even a month old when I went to my first state finals cross country meet,” he said.
His brother Jake ran on the school’s LP Division 4 cross country championship teams in 2002 and 2003.
Jeremy Kloss was sixth in the 1,600 and 3,200 as a freshman. He said the 1,600 is his favorite event because it combines the speed of the 800 with the endurance of the 3,200.
“It’s the perfect medium,” he said.
And has he received any advice from his older brothers – Jake, Ben and Scott – who will all be in attendance Saturday?
“No, other than ‘Why aren’t you running faster?’” he said with a laugh.
Kloss would like the last laugh tomorrow.
“I’m very excited for it,” he said.
TC West 400-meter relay
In Division 1, Traverse City West enters the 400-meter relay seeded second to Rockford (42.57) with a time of 42.63 seconds.
“First is obviously a goal,” senior Dalton Michael said. “It’s there, but we’ll see.”
Twins Donovan and Dalton Michael lead off the relay, followed by Lukas Sawusch and Erik LaBonte. Dalton Michael was the state’s Mr. Soccer in the fall.
“We’re all multi-sport athletes,” LaBonte said. “We’ve been working together the whole (spring). We’re getting better.”
The Titans placed seventh in the relay a year ago, but Donovan Michael is the only returnee. Dalton missed his junior season of track with a dislocated knee. LaBonte was bothered by a hip injury.
But that’s in the past.
“We’re coming into (Saturday) knowing we’re a good team,” Donovan Michael said. “If we have a good day, we could do really well.”
Coach Tom Brown said the Titans will need a school record-breaking performance to be in the hunt. The 42.63 in the Regional tied the school mark.
“I think we’ll have to run in the 41s,” Brown said. “That’s something Rockford did (41.6 at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association state team meet last weekend).”
Detroit Cass Tech, led by three Big Ten football recruits, won the 400 relay last June in 42.26.
“I think we can go faster,” Sawusch said. “Our handoffs haven’t been great, so we need to work on that this week.”
Focusing on the exchange zone has been a point of emphasis in practice.
“The 4X1 is all about handoffs,” Brown said.
The Titans believe they have the speed.
“We’ve had 22 kids in school history run sub-11.3 – 18 different kids in the last seven years,” assistant coach Jason Morrow said. “The kids have worked hard at it.”
LaBonte, who also plays football, is the lone underclassmen in the group. Sawusch is headed to Spring Arbor to run track. The Michaels will play soccer at Western Michigan University. Dalton, who earned All-American honors from the National Soccer Coaches Association, became the second Titan to win Mr. Soccer, after Casey Townsend earned the honor in 2006 and 2007. Dalton had 29 goals and eight assists this past fall for West. Donovan added 20 goals and 20 assists.
What would it be like to add a Division 1 championship medal in track to his Mr. Soccer award?
“It would be a dream come true,” Dalton Michael said. “It would be one to remember.”
Dennis Chase worked 32 years as a sportswriter at the Traverse City Record-Eagle, including as sports editor from 2000-14. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Harbor Springs’ Jeremy Kloss carries the baton during a relay this season. (Middle top) Gaylord’s Casey Korte lands a long jump. (Middle below) Benzie Central’s Braydon Huddleston. (Below) Traverse City West’s 400 relay, from left: Dalton Michael, Lukas Sawusch, Erik LaBonte, Donovan Michael. (Top photo courtesy of the Kloss family, middle top photo courtesy of the Gaylord Herald Times.)
Preview: Returning Champs Lined Up to Lead Again at LP Girls Track & Field Finals
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 30, 2024
The power programs that led the way during the 2023 Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals could be the teams to chase again during this weekend’s meets across the Grand Rapids area.
Buckley in Division 4 and Hart in Division 3 return significant point scorers from last year’s respective title runs, and Oak Park and Detroit Renaissance again look like strong pacesetters in Division 1.
Division 2 might be the most contested meet of the day in the Lower Peninsula – but it’s impossible to count out two-time reigning champion East Grand Rapids.
All four LP Finals will begin with pole vault and long jump beginning at 9 a.m., followed by race semifinals and the 3,200 relay at 10 a.m. and the rest of the running finals starting at noon. Tickets cost $11 and are available digitally only via GoFan.
MHSAA.tv will live-stream all four meets beginning at 10 a.m., viewable with subscription. Check out the Girls Track & Field page for meet information for all four sites and lists of all qualifiers. Those described as "seeded" below have received those seeds based on Regional performances.
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions:
LP Division 1 at East Kentwood
Team forecast: Oak Park or Detroit Renaissance has won the last five LPD1 team titles, with the other finishing runner-up the last four seasons (not counting COVID-canceled 2020). A year ago it was Oak Park first and Renaissance second, and the Knights have first or second seeds (or both) in five individual races and three relays this weekend. Renaissance has similarly-seeded contenders in three individual races and three relays. Holland West Ottawa is seeking its first team championship and will need some middle-seeded entries to climb but does have Helen Sachs seeded first in both distance races and as part of the top-seeded 3,200 relay.
Brooke Bowers, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central senior – The reigning pole vault champion is top-seeded in that event at 13-0, nine inches higher than her Finals-winning height a year ago, and she’ll also run on the fifth-seeded 400 relay.
Milena Chevallier, Farmington Hills Mercy senior – She set the LPD1 Finals record at 5-foot-11 last year and was just a quarter-inch off tying the all-Finals all-time best height. She’ll also long jump.
Jayla Dace, Detroit Renaissance junior – She was first in the 100, third in the 200 and ran on two winning relays in 2023, and returns this weekend at the top seed in the 100 (12.05), one of several contenders in the 200 and running on the top-seeded 400 relay (47.19) and second-seeded 800 relay (1:40.41).
Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer senior – The fastest champion in Michigan girls cross country history is looking to add to her 800 and 1,600 titles last season and 3,200 relay titles last year and in 2021. She’s seeded first in the 800 (2:11.26), second in the 1,600 (4:54.92) and 3,200 (10:35.05) and listed as likely to run on the second-seeded 3,200 relay (9:09.35).
Keyanna O’Tey, Sturgis junior – She won the 100 and 200 last season in LPD2, the 100 in a time that would’ve won LPD1 as well, and she’s top-seeded this weekend in this division in the 200 (24.77) and second-seeded in the 100 (12.10) while set to run on both sprint relays as well.
Morgan Roundtree, Oak Park senior – The 2022 champion in 300 hurdles finished second in that race last season and third in the 100 hurdles, but is seeded first the latter (14.08), second in the 300 (43.12) and will run on the top-seeded 800 relay (1:38.37) and second-seeded 400 relay (47.95).
Abigail Russell, Allen Park senior – She’s won the discus the last two seasons and also won shot put as a sophomore, and she enters this weekend as the top seed in both at 151-10 and 47-3½, respectively.
Kamryn Tatum, West Bloomfield sophomore – She made her Finals debut by winning the 200 and 400, and she’ll run both again plus on 400 and 800 relays.
LP Division 2 at Hamilton
Team forecast: East Grand Rapids has won the last two LPD2 Finals championships, last season followed by Sturgis, which is competing in Division 1 this weekend. The Pioneers’ strength has been in distance races, and they have possibilities again. But a couple of teams strong in the sprints could be leading the way this time. Romulus Summit Academy is seeking its first team championship and has the top-seeded 400 and 800 relays and contenders in the individual 100 and 200. Dearborn Divine Child last won a Finals in 2013 and has potential scorers in at least five individual races, plus the top-seeded 1,600 relay and two more seeded fourth or higher. Petosky is another to watch with competitors all over the meet.
Janae Hudson, Marysville senior – The reigning champion in the shot put and fourth-place finisher in discus is top-seeded in discus (146-10) by nearly nine feet and second-seeded in shot (43-3) with a toss six inches farther than last year’s winner.
Kaitlyn Molnar, Grosse Ile senior – Last season’s long jump champion is coming off Regional titles in that event and 300 hurdles.
Drew Muller, East Grand Rapids senior – She’s won the 1,600 the last two seasons and was the LPD2 cross country champion in 2022, and enters this weekend set to run the 1,600 and 800 and on two top-five seeded relays.
Allison Shelton, Ortonville Brandon senior – Last season’s pole vault champion at 12 foot is one of three coming into this meet after winning their Regionals at 11-3, joined by Cadillac’s Madisyn Lundquist and Plainwell’s Ava Collier.
Natalie VanOtteren, Grand Rapids Christian senior – The 2023 winner in the 3,200 and fifth-place finisher in the 1,600 is set to run both and as part of the 3,200 relay.
LP Division 3 at Kent City
Team forecast: Even with last season’s 3,200 winner Jessica Jazwinski out of the lineup this weekend, two-time reigning champion Hart may be the team favorite again. Contenders in two sprints and the two distance races plus the top-seeded 400 relay (50.51) and possible scorers in three field events should keep the Pirates in the mix. Jackson Lumen Christi was fifth last season and is seeking a first team title, and has the top-seeded 1,600 relay (4:09.36) and 3,200 relay (9:33.68) plus the favorite in the 800 among possible scorers throughout the distance portion of the meet. Traverse City St. Francis is seeking its first team title since 2013 and has competitors all over the meet to bolster the top-seeded 800 relay (1:47.11).
Addison Hovey, Hart junior – She won the high jump and was third in the 100 last year, and could supply many more points this time as the top seed in the 100 (12.4) and 200 (25.51) and part of the top-seeded 400 relay (50.51) as well as a strong contender again in her field event.
Destiny McDaniels, Bath junior – She’s looking to follow up last year’s 100 hurdles win and third place in long jump, and is a top-seven seeded contender in both.
Madison Osterberg, Jackson Lumen Christi senior – The reigning champion in the 1,600 also was second in the 800 and fifth in the 3,200 last season, and ran on the runner-up 3,200 relay. She’ll be a big part of any Titans team title pursuit as the top seed in the 800 (2:13.20), second seed in the 1,600 (5:02.97) and running on the top-seeded 1,600 relay (4:09.36) and 3,200 relay (9:33.68).
Emily Peters, Olivet sophomore – She won the 300 hurdles and was part of the winning 1,600 relay as a freshman, and finished seventh in the 100 hurdles as well, and she’ll enter this weekend top-seeded in the 300 (46.10), a potential placer again in the 100 hurdles and running on two top-six seeded relays.
Emmry Ross, Onsted junior – Her 400 and 800 wins last year supplied 20 of Onsted’s eighth-place 24 points, and as the team’s lone qualifier this spring she could make a solo run at an even higher team finish with the top seed in the 400 (56.62) and 1,600 (4:58.73), second seed in the 800 (2:13.79) and ninth seed in the 3,200.
LP Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin
Team forecast: Reigning champion Buckley won last season with 52 points, and the two runners who combined for 41 of those are back for the repeat pursuit. Portland St. Patrick was only three points back and has three top-four seeded relays and four individual racer entries seeded fourth or higher. Fowler was fourth last season and might be the strongest all-around hopeful with contenders in every race and relay plus two field events. Hillsdale Academy will look to move up from fifth last season with plenty of power in the distance races and all four relays seeded fourth or higher.
Molly Brown, Addison junior – Last season’s 100 hurdles champion and runner-up in the 100 dash and 300 hurdles is the top seed in the 100 hurdles (14.86) and the 100 dash (12.6) and third-seeded in the 200 (26.39) and 300 hurdles (47.04).
Aiden Harrand, Buckley senior – She’s won six track and two cross country championships total, including in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 last spring. She’s top-seeded this weekend in the 400 (59.10) and second-seeded in the 800 (2:21.37) and 1,600 (5:09.42), the latter of which she’ll be trying to win for the fourth time.
Olivia Findlay, Marlette senior – The reigning high jump title winner at 5-4 jumped that at the Regional to receive the top seed this weekend and also could contend in long jump and the 100 hurdles.
Brooklyn Frazee, Buckley sophomore – She won the 100, was second in the 200 and sixth in the 400 as a freshman, and returns this weekend as the second seed in the 100 (12.67), fourth seed in the 200 and running the 400 again and competing in long jump unless she enters one or more qualifying relays.
Rebecca Moeller, Deckerville junior – She won the pole vault last season at 10-6 and is one of four who won their Regionals at 10-0 to tie for the top seed this time. She’ll also run both hurdles races and the 200.
Rylee Scheurer, Portland St. Patrick senior – The reigning champion in the 200 and third-place finisher in the 100 is top-seeded in the 200 (26.11), third-seeded in the 100 (12.74) and part of the top-seeded 800 relay (1:46.75) and third-seeded 400 relay (51.58).
PHOTO Oak Park’s Kelis Hunter-Young begins her leg of the 1,600 relay during last season’s LP Division 1 Finals. (Photo by Carter Sherline/RunMichigan.com.)