Leland junior Magnolia Marsh stamped her name into the Comet track record book as she became the first Comet to advance to the state championship in a sprinting event.
“It’s just unbelievable, this is my first year running track and I didn’t expect it,” Marsh said. “I appreciate all of the support that my teammates gave me a lot of help and I'm so thankful ... my team had my back no matter what.”
Marsh finished second in the 100 and 200-meter dashes with times of 12.88 and 26.60, respectively.
Leland sophomore Sophie Grinage continues to pave her way to the state championships with regional wins in the mile and two-mile, while finishing second in the 800-meter run. Leland junior Natalie Burpee also made it to the state championships in the two-mile with a time of 12:27.
The Glen Lake 4x200-relay team will be making its way to the state championships after a 1:52 time for Hailey Braden, Avery Flores, Lilyan Shimunek and Janai Misner. The 4x100relay of Braden, Shimunek, Janai Misner and Fosmore advanced to states with a thirdplace finish (52.57).
The 4x400-relay team of Carmella Julian, Braden, Shimunek and Lydia Fosmore finished third and advanced to the state championships.
Glen Lake senior Scarlett Vanderline threw 30 feet 10.25 inches in shot put to finish second. Fosmore advanced to the state championships with a season’s best leap of 15 feet 6.5 inches.
Lake Leelanau St. Mary sophomore Elizabeth Grant dominated her way to the state finals with a discus throw of 102 feet three inches Saturday.
Leland finished seventh overall with 52 points, and Glen Lake finished eighth with 51.5 points.
Lakers run away with regional championship
Glen Lake boys track and field ran away with the regional track championship with a staggering 208 points Saturday at Frankfort.
Team Results: Grand Traverse Academy, Frankfort, Mancelona, East Jordan, Buckley, Central Lake, Marion, Leland, Forest Area, Lake Leelanau St. Mary, McBain Northern Michigan Christian.
Glen Lake senior Jacob Plamondon took home the regional high jump championship with a winning height of six feet one inch.
“I've got to stay healthy, and the whole team’s got to stay healthy heading into states. We’ve definitely done well together. Everyone’s doing their part in each event, going their hardest, not slacking,” Plamondon said. “We’re making school history, and that’s all that counts, leaving with a good experience, especially as a senior. I think the program’s going to be pretty well off in the future.”
Glen Lake senior Brecking Nerg earned his own championship in the long jump with a distance of 19 feet 9.5 inches Saturday.
“I started the day doing 18.8, and that felt pretty good, but I had a little more board to go. My last jump right before the finals, I decided if I scratch, I scratch. And I stepped my foot up all the way on my mark line and ran through. My foot was perfect on the board, the jump was 19.5 and I surprised myself … Feels good to win,” Nerg said.
Lake Leelanau St. Mary junior Daniel Chaney ran away with the two-mile regional championship with a time of 10:15. Chaney got out to a wide gap early and never looked back.
“It feels really good to win a regional championship. There’s been a lot of improvement this year,” Chaney said. “I did a lot more winter training this year, along with basketball. Last year, I was doing very little mileage over the off-season, so that’s definitely a big improvement due to that.”
BOY STATE QUALIFIERS: Leland: Christopher Knudsen (400-meters, 53.57); Campbell Fedderman (high jump, 5’11”); Leland 4x800-relay (8:36).
Glen Lake: Liam Palmer (100-meters, 11.41; 200-meters, 23.01); Max Galla (100-meters, 11.60); William Webb (200-meters, 23.18); Abraham Feeney (800-meters, 2:04; mile, 4:43); Spencer McNitt (mile, 4:39); Lincoln Bailey (two-mile, 10:17); Dominic Stein (shot put, 43’8.75”; discus, 132’4”); Max Lamerson (discus, 132’6”); Jacob Plamondon (high jump, 6’1”); Breckin Nerg (long jump, 19’9.5”); 4x100-relay (45.26);4x200-relay (1:33.82); 4x400-relay (3:40.07); 4x800-relay (8:20).
