Leland, Maple City, Glen Lake, and Lake Leelanau St. Mary all competed in East Jordan at the MHSAA Div. 4 regional track meet to qualify for the State Final meet Saturday.
Glen Lake finished second for the boys, while senior Colebrook Sutherland qualified for the state meet in the 400, 800, and 1600 meter races with times of 51.02, 2:03, and 4:38.
With the track being wet all day from on-and-off rainfall throughout the meet, Sutherland wasn’t concerned about the conditions at all.
“The conditions were affecting everyone, so I wasn’t too worried about it,” said Sutherland. “I just took it one race at a time.”
The Lakers had dominant performances in the 3200-meter relay team (Abraham feeney, Eli Maule, Liam McCaw, Lincoln Bailey) and 800-relay team (Noah Scott, Hunter Cox, Liam Palmer, Ben Selby) qualified for the state championships along with sophomore Dominic Stein finishing second in discus and shot put with throws of 137’ 6” and 42’4”.
Glen Lake freshman Carmella Julian made a statement on the track by qualifying in the 3200meter race.
The Laker 4x100, 4x200, 4x400, 800, and 1600-meter relay teams all qualified for the girls.
“The kids came out to compete, and that’s all we ask from them,” said Glen Lake coach Jason Bradford. “They did their best. They have a lot of personal records today, so that’s something to be proud of.”
Leland’s girls team finished in third place. Senior Ella Knudsen qualified in the 1600 and 3200 with first—and secondplace finishes of 5:36 and 12:39.
Leland sophomore Natalie Burpee qualified in the 3200 meter with a second-place finish of 12:39.
Knudsen and Burpee, alongside teammates Mya Denoyer and Sophie Grinage, led the Comets to a 3200-meter relay state championship appearance with a time of 10:42.3, narrowly beating Buckley (10:42.85).
“I’m excited the relay team is able to go back to the State meet,” said Knudsen. “I was a part of the relay team during my freshman and sophomore year, so being able to go back is really cool.”
For the second year in a row, Knudsen will be joined by Burpee at the state meet, but this time, Burpee is more thrilled about qualifying than she was last year.
“Last year, I went to the state meet on a lucky chance because one of the higher runners decided not to run in the two-mile,” Burpee said. “This year, I feel like I earned it because I was able to hit the qualifying time and earned it in my placement.”
The boys’ team from Leland had two athletes qualify for the state meet in high jump: sophomore Beckett DeFour, who is the regional champion, and freshman Campbell Fedderman, who was the runner-up in the region.
Leland coach Ann Knudsen was proud of how both teams competed at the meet.
“We are a young team on the boys’ end, and we are an experienced old team on the girls’ end with almost all of our girls being seniors who are running for the first time,” said Knudsen. “There were a lot of personal records.”
Lake Leelanau St. Maryhad two throwers qualified for the state meet.
Eagle senior Jessica Grant and freshman Elizabeth Grant both qualified in discus with a 97’ 7” throw.
“Honestly, I’m in awe and just had one goal this season to hit over 100 feet, and it just surprised me that I was ranked No. 1, and never imagined it,” Jessica said. “I’m grateful for my coaches and sister (Emily Grant). She taught me everything I knew, and honestly. (Elizabeth) has been working beside me all year ... (I told her) ‘imagine how cool it would be for me and you to go to state together and it happened.”
Elizabeth had to make it on the last throw. With one last opportunity, she had a personal record to qualify for the state competition.
“(Jessica) is my role model, and for her to go to the States, and then for me, her younger sister, to go to states as well is important,” Elizabeth said.
Elizabeth also qualified in shot put by hitting the needed distance to qualify.
Leland senior Ella Knudsen and junior Natalie Burpee both qualify for the state championship in the mile and two-mile after impressive races.
Lake Leelanau St. Mary senior Jessica Grant (right) and freshman Elizabeth Grant (left) advanced to the state championship Saturday with qualifying throws in the discus. Jessica captured her first regional title. Courtesy photo
Leland boy runner Nico Geraci hands the baton off to Chase Denoyer during a relay race Saturday at regionals. Photo courtesy of Dylan Engles
Glen Lake senior Boden Fisher (left) and Liam Palmer(right) finished third in the 100-meter dash Saturday at regionals. Photos courtesy of Dylan Engles
