Surprise! St. Johns Celebrates 1st Title
May 30, 2015
By Bill Khan
Special to Second Half
ZEELAND — Karrigan Smith wasn't going to put up a false front.
Neither was her coach, Neil Feldpausch.
Nobody expected St. Johns to come away with the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 girls track and field championship Saturday at Zeeland Stadium.
And "nobody" included St. Johns athletes and coaches.
"I think I can speak for everyone when I say this is a surprise," said Smith, a senior who had a hand in all but four of her team's points as St. Johns edged Flint Southwestern Academy 36-34.
"A small town like St. Johns winning a state title in track and field? It's an indescribable feeling right now."
Just two years ago, St. Johns wasn't even a factor in its own league, taking fifth place out of six teams. The Redwings won their conference the last two years.
"Definitely we thought (Smith) could score points, but coming in thinking we were going to win the state meet? No, it didn't even cross my mind," Feldpausch said. "These girls have surprised me."
St. Johns had never had a top-10 finish at the finals before Saturday. Smith has been a standout for four years, but got enough assistance that the Redwings were able to score in three of the four relays.
Smith repeated as the 1,600-meter champion in a rout, posting a time of 4:59.08 to win by 9.35 seconds. Smith set the LP Division 2 Final record of 4:51.53 last year when she was locked in a duel with Megan O'Neil of Remus Chippewa Hills.
"It was a little bit weird," Smith said of the one-sided 1,600 final, "but I wasn't going to count any competitors out, because when you come to the state meet a lot of people can do great things and surprise themselves. I was taking this race very seriously. I knew what I had to do. I knew what I could control. That's what I did."
By not being pushed too hard in the 1,600, Smith was fresher for her final two events. She placed third in the 800 in 2:16.94 and was on the second-place 1,600 relay team that clinched the championship. (Southwestern didn't have a team qualify for the final event.)
Smith was also on the second-place 3,200 relay squad that posted a time of 9:31.57.
"I was very excited about how the whole day went," Smith said. "It made all the hard work we put in over the season worth it."
Senior Lyndsay Pung, junior Emily Wohlfert and Belgian exchange student Pauline Carbonnelle were on the fifth-place 800 and second-place 1,600 relay teams. Junior Anna Krumm was also on the 800 relay squad.
Juniors Jen Eaton and Milah Montle and freshman Madison Maloney were on the 3,200 relay team.
"Going in, I scored it out to be Flint Southwestern 39, St. Johns 34," Feldpausch said. "Looking throughout the meet, it kept getting closer. We did some things we needed to and made it happen."
It was the first MHSAA title for St. Johns in a girls sport. The Redwings' other MHSAA crowns are in wrestling (four) and boys track and field (one).
Flint Southwestern led going into the final event on the strength of an outstanding performance by senior Miaisha Blair. Blair won a highly competitive long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 9.25 inches. The top three finishers cleared at least 18-3. Blair was also on Southwestern's second-place 800 and 400 relay teams.
A cool, rainy day — a contrast to the typical scorchers at the finals — probably helped keep Smith fresher for her four events.
It was certainly a welcome break in the weather for the other distance champion, Cedar Springs senior Kenzie Weiler. Weiler was able to challenge the LP Division 2 Final record in the 3,200, but came up short with her time of 10:41.98. Ali Wiersma of Allendale ran 10:40.22 in 2012.
Weiler stayed behind Kelli Nesky of Hudsonville Unity Christian until 500 meters remained.
"It was about 30 degrees warmer last year," Weiler said. "I broke my outdoor (personal record) by six or seven seconds. That made me pretty happy. This is perfect. I couldn't ask for a better day and better competition at the state finals."
PHOTO: St. Johns' Karrigan Smith runs toward the finish during one of her races Saturday at Zeeland Stadium. (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)
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).
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.)