By John Raffel
Breckenridge’s track and field teams both made some noise at the Division 4 state finals this season.
The boys scored 43 points for third place. Leading the way was senior discus thrower Brennan Waslusky with a toss of 161-8 for first and first in the shot put at 54-2 ¾. Freshman Mason Sumner was second in the 3,200-meter run (9:58/53) and third in the 1,600 run (4:31.56) and the 4×100 relay squad was second (44.40).
The Breckenridge girls were seventh. Junior Annie Laurenz won the 300 hurdles (45.75).
Coach Kurt Gulick indicated Waslusky was ranked first all season in the shot put.
“In the discus, he went back and fourth from No. 1,” Gulick said. “So it wasn’t surprising she won. He worked hard this season and put the work into the offseason, which paid off. It’s the first time he has won state. He was All-State his sophomore and junior years. I would say the shot put is his better event. He did a lot of weight room stuff in the winter.
“He used the glide and this year he moved to the rotation technique and that’s what helped him the most. (In the discus) he has long arms which is what helped him the most.”
Waslusky will be going to Saginaw Valley State as a thrower.
Laurenz had been ranked second or third coming into the state meet in the hurdles.
“She kind of exceeded my expectations on that,” Gulick said. “She was a big surprise to everyone. She was seeded by over a half-second slower than the girl who was first. She got first which was fun to see. She didn’t play basketball this winter and just focused on indoor track. He ran all winter and that’s what helped the most. She was hurt all of last winter. This year she was healthy, and that makes a difference.
“She just missed her PR by a tenth of second (at the state meet). She wasn’t too far off.”
Laurenz was third in the 200 (26.06) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (16:45).
“She actually moved up her seeding in those two other open events,” Gulick said.
Laurenz was the anchor of the 4×200 team which was 18th at state.
Next year is expected to be a promising one for Laurenz.
“She has big things coming this fall and hopes to be All-State in cross country,” Gulick said. “Then she’ll get after it next winter and spring.”