Jeff Chaney
Sports Scene
The track season has hit its stride, and West Michigan has some individuals and teams that have begun to distance themselves from the field as the postseason nears.
Kenowa Hills junior Jeff Bajema had a full and successful day for the Knights at the Catholic Central Cougar Invitational April 21 at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids.
He took first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4:31.59 and first in the 3,200-meter run in 9:46.24. He also helped the 3,200-meter relay team win in 8:20.09.
The Knights finished second as a team to Sparta in the final team standings.
“It was a pretty full day,” Bajema said. “It went all right today. I like days where I can focus on just one event, but I did what I had to to help the team today.”
Bajema hopes to focus on the 3,200-meter run as the season dwindles down. He has a goal to be in the top five in the Division 1 finals on the first Saturday in June at East Kentwood High School.
“At regionals, I plan on running both the 1,600 and 3,200, and then see how I feel,” Bajema said. “But the plan is to focus on the two-mile.”
The Sparta boys’ team showed some first-place power at Houseman Field, as Devon Stone won the discus, Clay Weidenhamer won the shot put, Shane Meidzielec won the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, and the 800-meter relay team won.
The Hamilton girls’ team, a second place finisher at last year’s Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association Division 2 team finals, easily won the girls’ championship at Houseman Field.
The Hawkeyes should be a force in both the MITCA and MHSAA state finals. They are led by Molly Oren, who won the long jump and the 3,200-meter run; Rachael Tolsma, who won the shot put; and Elly Vanderveen, who won the 100-meter hurdles.
“We have some new girls trying to fit in, but I like this team,” said Oren, a two-time all-stater last year. “I think we can do well later in the season.”
l The Cedar Springs boys and girls track teams won the Warrior Track Invitational at Chippewa Hills High School on April 21. The boys’ team won with 158 points, 28 points ahead of runner-up Alma, while the girls’ team won with 139 points. Connor Mora led boys by winning the 800-meter run in 1:58. Alma was led by Cole Woods, who won the discus with a toss of 144’8″, and the 3,200-meter relay team of Broderic Bender, Adam Sanchez, Lupe Garza, and Tim DeJong, which won in 8:17. Kenzie Weller paced the Cedar Springs girls’ team by winning the 1,600 in 5:02 and the 3,200 in 11:17.
l The East Kentwood boys track team has won three straight MHSAA Division 1 state finals. Don’t be surprised if the Falcons can win a fourth in a row. The team has great returning talent in sprinters like junior Houston Glass, who is a three-time returning all-stater. But the Falcons are also loaded with young talent like freshman sprinter Kevin Smith. Smith showed just how good he is going to be in a key OK Red Conference dual meet against Rockford. In that meet, he won the 100-meter dash in 11.12 seconds and the 200-meter dash in 22.31 seconds. He was also a member of the 400-meter relay team that won in 43.20 and the 800-meter relay team that won in 1:30.54.
l A couple of huge efforts highlighted a big weekend in West Michigan high school baseball on April 21. Holland’s Dan Lawless threw a no-hitter in a 9-0 win by the Dutch over Rogers in a non-conference game. Grand Haven’s Doug Zelenka hit a grand slam in the Buccaneers’ 14-0 win over Newaygo in the championship game of the Newaygo Invitational.
l The Northview girls tennis team picked up a big tournament win at the Grandville Invitational. The Wildcats won the title with 55 points, 12 points ahead of runner-up South Christian. Forest Hills Central was third with 41 points. Claire Stam in singles and Barbara Baric and Savannah Smith in doubles won flight championships for Northview.
l A pair of former Rockford lacrosse players are thriving at the college level. 2010 graduates Andi Raymond and Meagan Emery, who led the Rams’ lacrosse team to three regional titles and the 2010 state championship, both received recognition at their respective colleges recently.
Raymond, who plays for Towson University in Maryland, was the Colonial Athletic Association player of week, leading the Tigers to a playoff berth in the CAA tournament. She scored 14 points in two games, with four goals and four assists in a game against Hofstra. She also had two goals and four assists, including the assist on the winning goal, against Drexel with 29 seconds left.
Emery, who plays for Grand Valley State University in its inaugural lacrosse season, was named Synapse Sports NCAA Division II rookie of the week for her play in the Lakers’ two victories. She helped her team secure their first ever overtime win, 22-20, over Notre Dame College from Ohio. Emery, a midfielder, scored four goals and four assists, six ground balls, four draw controls, and caused one turnover for the week.