Boys Finals: Hurdles Conquered
June 2, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
With the number of elite athletes Lake Orion, Auburn Hills Avondale and Lansing Catholic have featured over the last many years, it was somewhat surprising that none had won an MHSAA boys track and field championship.
All three can check that goal off the list after earning first-place trophies for the first time Saturday.
Here's our breakdown of the best from the Boys Finals meets. It's impossible to include every highlight, of course. But feel free to comment below and tell us what we missed.
Headliner
Lansing Catholic senior Zack Zingsheim gets the edge over Union City’s Chris Maye just as his team finished just ahead of Maye’s for the Division 3 championship. Zingsheim won the 800 in 1:55.97 and also ran on first-place 800, 1,600 and 3,200 relays as the Cougars finished with 68 points and their first MHSAA team championship. The Georgetown University recruit previously has been part of one MHSAA championship relay and also won the Division 3 cross country title in the fall.
Record setters
LP D2/Pole vault – Jaime Salisbury, Marine City – 16-1
(previous was 16-0.5, set by Fowlerville’s Max Babits in 2010)
LP D2/800 relay – Lansing Sexton (Kendall Jackson, Adrian Sanchez, David Washington, Anthony Goodman) – 1:27.99
(previous was 1:28.11, set by Auburn Hills Avondale in 2011)
LP D2/200 dash – Kassius Kelly, Livonia Clarenceville – 21.36
(previous was 21.70, set by Muskegon Orchard View’s Clinton Allen in 2005)
LP D4/Discus – Jacob Patrick, Litchfield – 190-0
(previous was 170-1, set by Maple City Glen Lake’s Andrew Kemp in 2004)
LP D4/Long jump – Adam Abbott, Detroit Cristo Rey – 22-3.75
(previous was 22-1, set by Centreville’s Kevin Singleton in 2000)
UP D1/300 hurdles – Kenner Broullire, Manistique – 39.74
(previous was 40.01 set by Menominee’s Jason Hofer in 2004)
UP D2/High jump – James Sutton, Newberry – 6-3.5
(previous was 6-3, set by Munising’s Rick St. Amour in 2001)
UP D3/Discus – Brett Branstrom, Rock Mid-Peninsula – 154-8
(previous was 149-1, set by Rapid River’s Richard Poma in 2003)
UP D3/1,600 relay – Crystal Falls Forest Park (Alex Takala, Mark Hallman, Jake Divine, Derek Aberly) – 3:36.32
(previous was 3:37.51, set by Rock Mid-Peninsula in 2007)
Tales of the Trophy
LP D1: Despite just one first place, in the 1,600 relay, Lake Orion held off Grand Blanc to win its first MHSAA team championship, with 50 points. Grand Blanc scored 44, with wins in two relays. Lake Orion also finished runner-up in two relays.
LP D2: Auburn Hills Avondale got wins from Kyle Redwine in the 100 and Nathan Chapman in the 400, plus a relay win, to edge Lansing Sexton 47-40 at the top of the standings despite two Big Reds relay wins.
LP D3: With five event wins, including three in relays, Lansing Catholic also won its first championship – but in commanding style. The Cougars scored 68 points, 23 more than runner-up Union City.
LP D4: After tying for the championship last season, Albion left no question with 49 points, 13 more than Muskegon Western Michigan Christian. Albion swept the relays, with Nolen Mitchell on three of them, and he also tied for first place in the 400.
UP D1: Marquette claimed its third straight championship, this time out-pacing Gladstone by 15 points. Marquette won only three events, but got points from 14 entries.
UP D2: St. Ignace continued its reign with a third-straight championship, putting up 112 points to Stephenson’s 85. Parker Simmons won both the 100 and 200, and the team also won three field events.
UP D3: Pickford has had streaks of dominance before, but won its first championship Saturday since 1992. Jordan Lavinge was part of both event wins, taking first in long jump and running on the 800 relay.
So long, seniors
Drake Johnson, Ann Arbor Pioneer – Won the LP Division 1 championship in the 110 hurdles for the third straight season.
Garret Zuk, White Lake Lakeland – His win in the 3,200 at the LP Division 1 Final was his first in track and field, but he also won the Division 1 cross country title in the fall.
Austin Sanders, Ypsilanti – Sanders had the top-seeded LP Division 1 times in both the 100 and 200, and made good by winning both.
Jake McFadden, Clare – Won both the 110 and 300 hurdles at the LP Division 3 Final to give him four championships total in his career.
Chris Maye, Union City – Carried his team to second place in the LP Division 3 Final with wins in the 100 and 200, a second in the long jump, and as a runner on the winning 400 relay. He won three titles as a junior.
Click for links to all results.
PHOTOS: (Top) Williamston's Austin Loewen (left), Alma's Chaz Bradshaw (center) and Niles' Brandon Partee were among those competing for the Division 2 championship at 110 hurdles. Loewen won the race. (Middle) Auburn Hills Avondale's Kyle Redwine won the 100 and his team won its first MHSAA championship. (Photos courtesy of RunMichigan.com. Click to see more.)
Pickford Boys Score Big in Sprints, Hurdles & Jumps to Run Finals Streak to 3
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 1, 2025
KINGSFORD — The Pickford boys made it a three-peat here Saturday, earning their third straight Upper Peninsula Division 2 track & field championship with 127½ points.
They were followed by Munising with 77½ points and Rudyard with 63.
Pickford junior John Anderson set U.P. Finals and school records in high jump, soaring 6-7, three inches higher than the previous record by James Sutton of Newberry 12 years ago.
“This feels great,” he said. “I’ve been chasing that for a while. We had a light practice here yesterday (Friday) and I worked on form. Warm weather and a positive mindset also helped. … This is definitely a good confidence builder.”
Anderson became runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles after Bark River-Harris sophomore Gionni McDonough dived across the finish line for the victory. Anderson also took second in long jump (19-½)
“Before the race I knew it was going to be close,” McDonough said. “Right before the finish I decided to go for it. There was nothing to lose. Without diving I don’t think I would have won it. Pickford really does have a strong program. I told the guys I’m going to give it my all and maybe they will, too.”
McDonough was clocked in 16.18 seconds, a personal record by fourth tenths of a second, with Anderson at 16.20.
Pickford junior Gunner Bennin added a first in the 400 (52.87), anchored the winning 800 relay (1:35.79) and placed second in the 100 (11.38) and third in the 200 (23.54).
“I knew the wind was going to be a factor in the backstretch,” he said. “Our handoffs went real well. I got the baton a little late, but was able to hold on. We ran a season-best time. That definitely helped set the tone.”
Senior Tom Storey added a first in the 300 hurdles (42.7), tied for second with Gwinn senior Don Jourden in pole vault (10-6) and placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (17.1).
McDonough was runner-up in the 300s (44.15) and helped the Broncos take third in the 400 relay (47.17).
The Panthers also won the 1,600 relay (3:43.53) and placed second in the 3,200 (8:50.1). Junior Carver Day, a part of both relays, added a third place in long jump with a personal-best leap of 18-7½.
Munising senior Dan Goss had a hand in four firsts, taking the 800 (2:05.63), 1,600 (4:38.12) and 3,200 (10:34.55) and leading off the winning 3,200 relay (8:45.96). Classmate Trevor Nolan was runner-up in the 800 (2:07.09) and 1,600 (4:40.97).
Ironwood junior Talon Hughes took the 100 (11.18) and 200 (23.22) and placed third in the 110 hurdles (16.45).
PHOTOS (Top) Pickford's Carver Day hands off the baton to Luke Koben in the 3,200 relay Saturday in Kingsford. (Middle) Bark River-Harris's Gionni McDonough dives for the finish line and beats Pickford's John Anderson by two hundredths of a second in the 100 hurdles. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)