State champions in track and field had their day in the sun at the state meets June 2.
The Division 3 championship was at Comstock Park and featured a girls’ state title for Pewamo-Westphalia.
The Frankenmuth foursome of Sydney Bronner, Rachel Crompton, Sarah Beulla, and Angie Ritterin took first in the 800-meter relay in 1:45.16.
Marissa Johnson, a senior from Durand, won the high jump in 5’5″. “I hoped, you can only hope,” she said. “I was hoping to have it at 5’4″. The last girl was jumping. I’ve been hoping for it and have been working hard in winter and spring.”
Junior Ce’Aira Richardson of Bridgeport was first in the 400-meter run in 56.92 seconds. “I think it’s a great achievement,” she said. “It’s something I’ve never done before. Being here is a gift in itself. I was confident. When you get in the block, you want to get confident that you can win. I was ranked third; that put some doubt in me. When I got in the blocks, I said ‘Ce’Aira just win, just go all out.’
Kelloggsville won the Division 3 boys’ state title.
Among the local individuals taking first was Travis McCuaig of Morley Stanwood at 6’9″ in the high jump. “It means a little more being my senior year and proving I’m the best in Division 3,” McCuaig said. “ I didn’t want to be that guy that peaked his junior year.”
Jeff Dempsey of Bath won the pole vault in 14’7″. “That was the goal, to beat the school record, which is 14’6″. I got third last year,” Dempsey said.
Tyler Hendricks of Nouvel Catholic Central won the 200-meter dash in 22.82 seconds.
Rebera Keenan of Lansing Catholic won the 3,200-meter run in 9:32.46. “I took a spike to the shins; I was fine,” he said. “After that, my left spike became untied. It was fine. It happened to me a lot. I think I’m bad at tying my shoes. I was running with competition until 800. I was confident in my abilities to run past 800, with three laps to go, I went for it.”
DIVISION I
East Kentwood was first in the boys’ competition. Andrew Middleton of Holt won the 800-meter run in 1:53.36.
Grosse Pointe South won the girls’ championship.
DIVISION 2
Chelsea was first, while Williamston was third in the boys’ meet. Local winners were Tanner Hinkle of Mason in the 3,200-meter run in 9:13.41; Austin Loewen of Williamston in the 110-meter low hurdles; and Connor Mora of Cedar Springs in the 1,600-meter run in 4:10.38.
Divine Child Catholic won the girls’ meet, which was highlighted by Chippewa Hills’ Megan O’Neill winning two events for the girls. O’Neill won the 1,600-meter run in 4:52.21 and the 800-meter run in 2:14.88.
DeWitt’s Alexis Studer was first in the 100 hurdles in 14.69, and Josie Yesmunt was first in the 100-meter dash in 12.18.
DIVISION 4
Saugatuck won for the boys while Grand Traverse St. Francis won for the girls. Fowler was third in the girls’ meet. Addie Schumacher of Beal City was first in the high jump at 5’6″ and Amanda MacDonald of Coleman was first in the pole vault in 10’1″. Kirstin Olling of Breckenridge won the 3,200-meter run 11:03.75.