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Preview: Line-ups Loaded for Girls Finals
May 29, 2015
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Few things are guaranteed during this, the busiest weekend of the high school sports calendar in Michigan.
But here’s something to count on – attend an MHSAA Girls Track & Field Final, and you’re sure to see at least one record-setting talent if not a field loaded with standouts.
See below for some of the teams and individuals who should be among those in the championship mix at seven girls meets Saturday. Click for meet information including all qualifiers and come back Saturday night for results as they come in, and check out MHSAA.TV for live streaming of running events from both peninsulas, available with subscription.
LP DIVISION 1 at Rockford
Top Regional scores: Grosse Pointe South 231, Oak Park 186, Rockford 160.71.
Oak Park – The sprinters and hurdlers who played major roles in last season’s championship run are back, making Oak Park a major favorite. Junior Anna Jefferson is coming off setting a meet record in the 400; she’s seeded third in that race (55.68) and third in the 200 (24.84). Junior Brianna Holloway is seeded third in the 100 hurdles (14.62) and first in the 300 (43.33), senior Kailsi Latta-Thompson is seeded seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.12) and 11th in the 300 (46.61), senior Jayla Fleming is fifth in the 800 (2:16.52) and sophomore Tamea McKelvy is seeded second in the 100 (12.23). Senior Ersula Farrow adds a top seed in the 800 (2:08.88) after winning that event in 2014, and all four relays also are seeded first: 400 (48.34), 800 (1:40.82), 1,600 (3:49.06) and 3,200 (9:06.01).
Northville – The reigning runner-up should be in contention again with a handful of standouts contending in multiple events. Senior Lauren Rodriguez is seeded second in the 100 hurdles (14.44) and seventh in the 300 (45.50), junior Chloe Abbott is second in the 400 (55.49) and fourth in the 200 (24.88) and junior Lexa Barrott is second in the 1,600 (4:58.69) and ninth in the 3,200 (10:55.16). The 1,600 relay (3:53.89) also is seeded second, and the 800 relay (1:42.11) is seeded third.
East Kentwood – The Falcons finished third last season in part because of multiple championships won by Sekayi Bracey; now a junior, she’s top-seeded in the 100 (12.17), 200 (24.61) and long jump (18-3). She also runs on the second-seeded 400 relay (48.88). Senior Briana Nelson could add big points in throws; she’s seeded third in the discus (127-6) and first in shot put (44-2).
Birmingham Seaholm’s Audrey Belf – One of the top distance runners in recent MHSAA history will try to finish her high school career with a repeat in the 3,200 (10:10.28). She could approach the record of 10:08.23 run by West Bloomfield’s Erin Finn two seasons ago.
Ann Arbor Skyline’s Charde Madoula-Bey – Reigning shot put champion and discus placer will throw both again as a junior and had the eighth-best shot put (39-4½) for LPD1 Regionals.
Rockford’s Sammy Cuneo – After finishing third in both the 100 and 200 last season as a junior, should challenge Bracey again in the 200 with the second seeded time (24.64) and has the top Regional time in the 400 (55.44).
Rockford’s Maegan McCarthy – Last season’s runner-up in the shot put and discus as a junior has the third-seeded shot put (42-4½) and top discus throw (141-9) heading into this weekend.
Flushing’s Bre Perry – Only a sophomore, Perry completed a Regional jump of 5-8 that was just an inch off the LPD1 Finals record.
Port Huron Northern’s Mackenzie Shell – Won pole vault last season as a junior and is a major favorite to repeat with her Regional vault this month nine inches higher than the current all-Finals record set in 2009.
LP DIVISION 2 at Zeeland
Top Regional scores: Warren Regina 180, Ortonville-Brandon 139, Grand Rapids South Christian 134.
Flint Southwestern – Fifth place but only 6.5 points off the lead last season, Southwestern has the scorers to push to the top. The 400 (49.50) and 800 (1:43.62) relays are seeded first, and senior Miaisha Blair runs on both and also has the sixth-seeded 200 time (26.16) and fourth-best long jump (17-5¼). Senior Mildrenae Young also runs on both of those relays and is seeded first in the 200 (25.83) and ninth in the 100 (12.65). Both were on the 400 team that won last season’s Final.
Grand Rapids South Christian – The Sailors have enough contributors to also do well in a low-scoring meet. The 1,600 relay is seeded first (3:59.38) and the 800 relay (1:46.69) sixth. Senior Alexis Miller could provide distance points, entering 10th in the 1,600 (5:16.78) and 11th in the 3,200 (11:43.33), while freshman Mariel Burxvoort is expected to do big things seeded second in the 300 (46.04) and seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.51). Junior Abbie Porter is seeded sixth in the 400 (59.15) and senior Laura Grasman is eighth in discus (118-9).
Lansing Waverly – Two relay championships placed Waverly second last season and only three points behind champion Remus Chippewa Hills. The 400 relay this season is seeded second (49.82) running three freshmen and a sophomore, and the 800 is seeded third (145.44) with the same group. Freshman Tra’chele Roberts is seeded fifth in the 200 (26.10) and the sophomore, Teaghan Thomas, is among those seeded 12th in high jump (5-2).
Battle Creek Harper Creek’s Charley Andrews – Reigning high jump champion is seeded second as a sophomore (5-6) and also ninth in the 800 (2:22.63) to go with running three relays.
Spring Lake’s Carlyn Arteaga – Last season’s 800 champ as a junior is seeded fourth in that race (2:20.36) and third in the 1,600 (5:08.47).
Mount Morris’ Gabriella Collins – Won long jump in 2014 by more than five inches and should score even more as a senior with the eighth seed in that event (17-1¼), second seed in the 100 hurdles (15.10) and top seed in the 300 (45.30).
Marine City’s Hannah Coverdill – Seeded only eighth in the 100 hurdles (15.59) and 12th in the 300 (47.30) but won the 300 and was fourth in the 100 as a sophomore at last season’s Final.
Carleton Airport’s Zoe Eby – After claiming last season’s 400 title by less than a second, Eby could add a few wins as a sophomore. She's seeded seventh in the 100 (12.64), third in the 200 (25.83), second in the 400 (58.21) and seventh in long jump (17-2½).
St. Johns’ Karrigan Smith – The Redwings senior set the 1,600 meet record last season at 4:51.53 and has the top seed time this weekend at 5:00.76. She’s also seeded second in the 800 (2:18.71).
East Grand Rapids' Kaela Theut – Last season’s 3,200 champion isn’t running that race, but is seeded third in the 800 (2:19.82) and sixth in the 1,600 (5:11.36).
LP DIVISION 3 at Comstock Park
Top Regional scores: Macomb Lutheran North 276, Pewamo-Westphalia 179, Frankenmuth 157.
Frankenmuth: The Eagles are competing for their third title in four seasons and fifth over seven led by one of last season’s Finals standouts – Sydney Bronner tied the LP Division 3 Final high jump record, won the 100 hurdles and ran on a record-setting 800 relay. She’s seeded second in the 100 hurdles (15.87), third in the 300 hurdles (47.48) and among those second in high jump (5-2). The 800 relay is seeded second (1:47.99) and the team’s 400 relay is second as well (51.49). Sarah Beulla, last season’s 200 runner-up, is seeded fifth in that race (26.51) and sixth in the 100 (12.95). There’s scoring to come from field events as well, with Stephanie Lambeth seeded first in pole vault (12-3) with a top Regional height three inches higher than the LP Division 3 Finals record, and Kerri Frahm seeded seventh in discus (114-11).
Macomb Lutheran North – After scoring big at its Regional, Lutheran North will pursue its first MHSAA title. Gina Patterson has been one of the state’s top distance runners over the last few seasons and is seeded first in the 3,200 (10:49.81). Nicole Ignasiak was fourth in shot put at last season’s Finals and is seeded third in that event (38-2½) and second in discus (119-6). Kristin Freeman is top-seeded in high jump (5-3) after finishing sixth last year, Emily Matkin is seventh in the 100 (12.98), and the 400 relay (51.55) is seeded third.
Pewamo-Westphalia – Brenna and Marissa Wirth played leading roles in last season’s runner-up finish and should be key again; Brenna is seeded third in the 100 (12.74), second in the 200 (26.04) and fifth in the 400 (59.41). Marissa is seventh in the 200 (26.72) and runs on the fifth-seeded 800 relay (1:49.36). Both run on the third-seeded 1,600 (4:09.34) relay.
Traverse City St. Francis’ Holly Bullough – Won the 800 and 1,600 and was second in the 400 at last season’s Division 4 Finals, and matches up well in Division 3 with the second-fastest times in the 800 (2:10.14) and 1,600 (4:54.79) and fourth-fastest in the 400 (59.21).
Manistee’s Annie Fuller – Won the 1,600 and 800 at last season’s Final, resetting her meet record in the latter, and her 1,600 seed time of 4:52.95 is nearly half a second faster than the LP Division 3 Finals record. Her 800 seed time of 2:09.02 would set that record again as well.
Adrian Madison’s Meagan Rosales – Placed in a relay last season, but enters this weekend with higher expectations thanks to top seeds in the 400 (56.5) and 300 hurdles (46.28).
Charlevoix’s Amber Way – Like Patterson and Fuller, Way has been one of the state’s top distance runners of late and owns the meet record in the 1,600 of 10:35.33. Her seed time of 11:24.21 is fifth.
Napoleon’s Kaniya Weatherspoon – Last season’s long jump champ also placed in the 200 and on two relays, and should repeat if not surpass that this weekend. Her long jump (16-11½) seeds her fourth in that event, while she’s third in the 400 (59.03) and 17th in the 200.
LP DIVISION 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin Middle School
Top Regional scores: Saugatuck 181, Deckerville 178.5, Fowler 178.
Pittsford – A talented group of sophomores could key Pittsford’s first championship run. Three provide value in field events – Maddie Clark is seeded second in discus (123-9), Katie Clement is third in pole vault (9-3) and Merenda Ayers is fourth in shot put (34-2½). Sophomore Jaycie Burger adds a sixth seed in the 800 (2:26.23) to go with senior Ruth Letherer's seven seeds in the 1,600 (5:26.78) and 3,200 (12:07.74). But the deciding points could come in the relays, where Pittsford has a second seed in the 800 (1:48.94), third in the 1,600 (4:14.19) and third in the 3,200 (10:07.34).
Reading – The reigning champion graduated meet record-holder Michelle Davis, but senior sister Jennifer Davis is seeded first in the 100 (12.59) and 200 (25.94) and third in the 400 (59.48). Freshman Baleigh Irelan is seeded second in the 100 hurdles (16.03) and fourth in the 300 (48.55), while junior Terasa Eidenier is sixth in the 1,600 (5:26.75) and fourth in the 800 (2:25.59), and freshman McKenzi Bassage is ninth in the 1,600 (5:26.81) and third in the 3,200 (11:54.19).
Fowler – The back-to-back champion in 2011 and 2012 was third last season but could move back into the top spot with strong relays and at least a pair of scoring individuals. The 1,600 relay is seeded first at 4:11.88 and the 400 is third at 52.16. Senior Allison Hufnagel runs on the 1,600 and also is among those seeded first in high jump (5-1) while running third in the 300 (48.30). Junior Julie Thelen is seeded eighth in the 400 (1:00.94) and also runs on the 1,600.
Mason County Eastern’s Jordan Goodman – Won the 100 last season as a freshman and is seeded fourth in that race (12.86), fourth in the 400 (1:00.19), 10th in the 200 (27.28) and 11th in long jump (15-6½).
Battle Creek St. Philip’s Ava Strenge – The Tigers sophomore won the LP Division 4 cross country title in the fall and is seeded first in the 3,200 (11:36.12) and second in the 1,600 (5:18.14) after taking second in both last season.
Birmingham Roeper’s Akwia Tilton – Placed in the long jump and 200 last season as a sophomore; she’s seeded first in the long jump (17-9), third in the 200 (26.63) and seventh in the 100 (13.10).
UP DIVISION 1 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: Marquette 77, Negaunee 63, Houghton 52.5.
Marquette – The Redettes are seeking their fifth straight championship and are anchored by one of the top distance runners in Upper Peninsula history. Junior Lindsey Rudden (2:14.8) won her Regional 800 and 1,600 (5:06.20) after winning both last season. Reigning 3,200 champion Amber Huebner is a sophomore and won that race at her Regional in 11:50, and senior Hunter Viitala won the high jump (4-10) at her Regional after winning 300 hurdles at last season’s Final.
Negaunee – The runner-up in 2012 and 2013, Negaunee’s hopes may lie in the strength of its middle and distance runners. Ashley Tresseder won the Regional title in the 400 (1:03.25), while Aleda Johnson was first in the 800 (2:33.52) and Clara Johnson won the 1,600 (5:39.39) and 3,200 (12:50.83). Hailee Richards added a first in the discus (92-9½) after winning that event at last season’s Final.
Calumet’s Chelsea Jacques – The reigning 100 and 200 champion dominated those races at her Regional, winning the 100 (12.9) by more than half a second and the 200 (26.86) by nearly a full second.
Menominee’s Paiton Plutchak – Last season’s 100 hurdles champion by nearly half a second finished second in that race at her Regional (16.10) and fourth in the 200 (28.0).
Gladstone’s Jamie Snowaert – Last season’s pole vault champion finished only second at her Regional (8-6), but went 9-6 to win that 2014 title.
Calumet’s Hailey Wickstrom – Tied for third at her Regional with a high jump of 5-0 but won the Finals championship last season at the same height.
UP DIVISION 2 at Kingsford
Top Regionals scores: Ishpeming 94, Iron River West Iron County 71, Ishpeming Westwood 50.
Ishpeming – The Hematites dominated their Regional winning three field events, five individual races and all four relays. Marissa Maino placed third in shot put at last season’s Final and won shot put (33-8¼) and discus (91-2) at the Regional. Nassi Thomas also could dominate – she won the long jump (15-4), 200 (28.59) and 400 (14.33) at the Regional. Khora Swanson added wins in the 800 (2:36.31) and 1,600 (5:46.51).
Iron River West Iron County – Reigning 400 champion Emmy Kinner leads last season’s team runner-up, and she won that race (1:03.46), the 100 (13.59) and 200 (28.19) at the Regional.
Manistique’s Katie Davis – Finished third in pole vault at last year’s Final and is the top returning competitor in that event. She won her Regional in 8-6, last season’s winning Final height.
Ishpeming Westwood’s Katie Etelamaki – Placed in the top four in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at last season’s Final, and won the 1,600 (5:44.28) and 3,200 (12:15.38) in dominant fashion at her Regional.
Hancock’s Mary Jarvis – Swept the hurdles races in her Regional, winning the 100 in 17.13 and 300 in 50.12.
UP DIVISION 3 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: Munising 70, Lake Linden-Hubbell 60.33, Stephenson 56.
Munsing – Seeking its first team championship since 2009, Munising can rely on distance ace Marissa Immel and pole vaulter Michaela Peramaki. Immel won the 1,600 (5:52.51) and tied for first in the 3,200 (14:03.17) at her Regional after taking second in the 1,600 and fourth in the 800 and 3,200 at last year’s Final, when Munising finished fifth as a team. Peramaki is the reigning pole vault Final champion and won that event at her Regional (9-0), where she also was third in long jump and fourth in both the 100 and 200.
Lake Linden-Hubbell – Carli Ongie claimed the team’s lone individual title in 2014, in the 800, and she’ll run for the repeat despite finishing second at her Regional (2:35.65). Lake Linden-Hubbell nearly doubled the field in winning that Regional despite not winning a race; the Lakes dominated field events, however, winning four with Sarah Audette finishing first in long jump (15-11), pole vault (9-6) and high jump (5-0). She was second in pole vault at last season’s Final.
Brimley’s Anne Archambeau – Won discus and finished second in shot put at the 2014 Final; won discus (101-11) and finished third in shot (33-0) at her Regional.
Engadine’s Autumn Arseneau – Reigning 200 champion finished second in that race at her Regional (29.56) but won the high jump (4-6) after taking third in that event at last season’s Final.
Cedarville’s Emma Bohn – Last season’s 1,600 champ and 3,200 runner-up will go for three titles again after taking second in the 1,600 (5:47.14) and 3,200 (12:47.61) and third in the 800 (2:41.0) at her Regional.
Brimley’s Kerri Chartrand – Reigning 100 hurdles champ and 300 runner-up could turn into a three-time champ after winning the 100 hurdles (16.78) and taking second in both the 300 (49.0) and in the 200 (28.8) at her Regional.
St. Ignace’s Autumn Orm – Won Division 2 long jump last season and her Division 3 Regional by more than 15 inches in 14-8½.
Carney-Nadeau’s Sara Sivula – Last season’s long jump champion will have a chance at three individual titles after finishing runner-up in both long jump (14-8½) and high jump (4-6) and fourth in the 200 (29.6) at her Regional.
St. Ignace’s Sarah Smith – Won Division 2 shot put and placed in discus and high jump last season, but will only throw shot this weekend after taking second (33-3) in that event at her Regional.
Ontonagon’s Lori Wardynski – Didn’t win a Regional title this time to go with last season’s Final championship in the 300 and runner-up finish in the 100 hurdles, but did finish second in four events – 100 hurdles (16.85), 100 dash (13.59), 300 hurdles (50.04) and high jump (4-10).
PHOTO: East Kentwood's Sekayi Bracey (left) and Oak Park's Anna Jefferson race toward the finish of the 200 during last season's Lower Peninsula Division 1 Final. They posted two of the fastest times in the race in MHSAA Finals history.
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Inspiration Fuels Windemuller's Pursuit
By
Tom Markowski
Special for Second Half
June 3, 2017
ZEELAND – It hasn’t been easy at Holland Christian this school year. Certainly not as easy as Kayla Windemuller made it look on the track Saturday.
Windemuller pulled off a rare triple as the junior defended her titles in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter runs and ran anchor on the winning 3,200 relay (9:09.41) at the Lower Peninsula Division 2 Track & Field Finals at Zeeland.
Five people associated with Holland Christian schools died this school year. One was a 13-year-old girl and two were teachers, and it’s something Windemuller and everyone associated with the schools can’t forget.
“It’s tough at the school,” Windemuller said. “In some meets during the season it’s tough to run. When I run in those I think of them. They inspire me. I run for them.”
Windemuller is an inspiration to any young runner, distance or otherwise. She set a personal record in the mile (4:52.60) and, although she came up short of her goal in the 3,200 run (10:49.90), it was a day to savor.
“I was concerned about the heat, but it didn’t affect me too much,” she said. “It’s amazing to defend my title(s). I really like (running) the two mile. I’m more of a distance girl.
‘My goal was to get under 10:40. At the start I felt pretty good. That’s OK. I ran a PR in the mile. It is a long day, but it’s nice to have the meet spaced out. We run the relay in the morning, and then the races get slower as the day goes on. The day, overall, was awesome. I’m not happy with the times. The three state titles are sweet.”
Team title No. 2
Lansing Waverly competed well but luck also played a part in its second consecutive title.
Waverly had no individual winners, but did place first in two relays (400 and 800) to win with 47 points. Zeeland East was second with 46, and Holland Christian was third with 34.
Here’s how some of the drama played out.
Due to injuries Waverly coach Rex Wilkes, Jr., had to shuffle his lineup on the relays. The Warriors had the fastest time in the division in the 1,600 relay entering the Finals, but Wilkes made the decision not to compete in the event while attempting to save his top runners for other races.
It worked, but just barely.
“I knew we could score around 50 (points),” he said. “I just didn’t know what the other teams would do. We got some extra points in the shot. We got 10 there. And then I was told that Priscilla (Trainor) had to finish third or higher in the 200 for us to win.”
Trainor finished third. That’s not all. Suenomi Norinh of Zeeland East finished tied for first in the 100 hurdles with times measured out to hundredths of a second; to break the tie, it was determined she finished second by two thousandths of a second.
“Sometimes it’s good to be great,” Wilkes said. “Sometimes it’s good to be lucky.”
Norinh, a junior, did take first in the high jump (5-foot-8) and was second in the long jump.
Double winner
Liz Pyles of Cadillac placed third in both the discus and shot put last season as a junior, and she took that experience to place first in the shot with a put of 45 feet, 4 inches, a personal best, and won the discus with a throw of 146-3.
“I’m so happy,” she said. “I had three new PRs today (in the shot put). I’m so pleased.
“Last year was something to build upon. I worked with my coach. I worked in the weight room. I went to a bunch of camps. I’m real serious about this.”
Pyles signed with Grand Valley State University and expects to compete in both events. She qualified for the MHSAA Finals in the shot put all four seasons and the discus three times. Even so, she doesn’t have a favorite.
“It depends on the season,” she said.
Catching up quickly
Zoe Eby of Carleton Airport is a notorious slow starter. And when you’re competing in the 100 dash, that usually doesn’t bode well.
Eby got off to a poor start again but managed to come back to win the race with a time of 12.11.
“The last 30 meters was really close,” she said. “When I got off to that start I thought I would (finish) in the middle of the pack. I honestly don’t know how I did it.”
Eby, a junior, also defended her title in the 200. As a freshman she won the 400. She doesn’t compete in that event anymore.
“It’s not my niche,” she said.
Switching gears
Jakarri Alven of Grand Rapids Catholic Central wasn’t at her best Saturday. She said she had to pull out of the 200 because she was feeling ill.
Nevertheless, she won the 400 (56.48), a race she also won last year as a freshman, and she ran anchor on the winning 1,600 relay.
“I’m better at the longer distances,” she said. “But I like the (200). I got off to a good start today (in the 400). It’s the longer distances that I can work through better. I guess I’m better at it.”
Waiting pays off
Waiting for the other competitors to complete their jumps in the long jump was getting to Taylor Dziatczak of Macomb Lutheran North. Dziatczak had used up her tries and stood in first place with a jump of 17 feet, 11½ inches.
“It was a nail-biter,” she said. “A couple of girls who were close had a couple more jumps left. The girl from Zeeland East (Norinh) had three more left. I had to go to some deep breathing to stay calm.”
Dziatczak, who placed second last year, did hold on for first.
The long jump isn’t her best event, and it’s really not second as far as favorites. The javelin is tops with her. Dziatczak is a two-time AAU All-American in the javelin and has signed with Ashland University in Ohio to compete in the heptathlon. That’s seven events, in case you’re wondering. She placed in the javelin as a sophomore nationally in her age group and was third this year. Dziatczak, who is 17 years old, pointed out she moved up to the 18-and-under age group this year.
She just started competing in the heptathlon two years ago.
Her second favorite event is the 200 dash. The other events are the 100 hurdles, 800 run, high jump and shot put.
“I ran. I jumped. I figured why not do all of the others?” she said.
Why not indeed.
Record vaulter
Spring Lake senior Gabriella LeRoux set the only meet record in Lower Peninsula Division 2 for this season, pole vaulting 12 feet, 6 inches to break Kristen Hixson's mark of 12-4 set in 2010 while competing for Remus Chippewa Hills.
LeRoux's best this season heading into the meet was 12-0. A junior, she also won the pole vault championship in 2016 and was second in 2015 to her older sister Allie.
PHOTO: Holland Christian's Kayla Windemuller stays a pace ahead of Tecumseh's Christina Sawyer during one of their two races against each other Saturday. (Photo by Janina Pollatz/RunMichigan.com.)