East Kentwood Adds Perfection to Streak
June 1, 2019
By Dean Holzwarth
Special for Second Half
KENTWOOD – A hard pounding rain began to fall shortly after the East Kentwood boys track & field team reached the podium.
It was only fitting, as the Falcons reigned once again.
East Kentwood completed a three-peat Saturday at home in the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals.
The Falcons scored 63.5 points in winning the Finals for the eighth time in the last 11 years. They also won three consecutive championships from 2009-11.
Ann Arbor Pioneer placed runner-up with 43 points.
“An amazing group of kids that just fought and fought and fought all day,” East Kentwood coach Dave Emeott said.
The Falcons did so despite winning only three events. East Kentwood claimed top honors in the 800 and 1,600 relays, while Stephan Bracey won the long jump (24-1.25).
“We only had three firsts today, and everything else was a battle and they did it,” Emeott said. “They stepped up in every opportunity they had, and they hung together. They trusted each other as teammates and came out on top at the end of the day. I’m just so proud of this team.”
Junior Michael Osteno helped the winning 1,600 relay team as he joined Elijah Ealy, Junior Hie and Jeremiah Applewhite to clock a 3:18.54.
“It’s something you dream about, running on this track and winning another state championship,” Osteno said. “Going back-to-back-to-back was the goal today and we wanted to finish, execute and give an elite mindset to get that third one.
“We came out and did what we’ve been doing all season, and when it came time to step up like we knew other teams were going to do, that’s what we did.”
The victory also culminated a perfect season. The Falcons went undefeated in duals, in the conference championship and also won their Regional.
“At the beginning of the season the seniors talked about what we wanted to accomplish, and they talked about a perfect season,” Emeott said. “That hadn’t happened in the last couple years. They wanted to be perfect, and that’s hard to do, especially in the O-K Red, but they stepped up and did it.
“We have a lot of young athletes, and some of them sacrificed for the team. They did four or three events. The other day I said that I didn’t know why I was so stressed because I have nothing to be stressed about, because they are so nice and so great.”
Ann Arbor Pioneer finished second for the second straight year and was led by senior standout Nick Foster, who capped an illustrious prep career with wins in the 1,600 (4:12.32) and 3,200 (9:08.55).
“This is the last time wearing a Pioneer uniform, and it’s been a crazy last four years,” Foster said. “I just wanted to go out with a bang, and our team got second. I’m going to miss all these guys, and it’s pretty awesome to go out like this.”
Foster competed in four events, and actually got a little rest because of delays due to inclement weather.
“I knew it was going to be a similar challenge, and I knew I was stronger coming in,” Foster said. “This year there was more of a goal of winning all the events and trying to place in the 1,600 relay.
“There was a lot of pressure coming back, but I knew I was strong enough to do all these events and I tried to take one race at a time. Mother Nature helped with the delays.”
Foster’s final race was the 3,200, which he won by a little more than two seconds ahead of Alpena’s Aden Smith.
“My third one, that was the toughest,” Foster said. “I knew I had to stay close, and I had confidence in my finish.”
Lansing Waverly’s Keshaun Harris repeated in the 300 hurdles (37.75) and also won the 110 hurdles (13.98) after placing runner-up last season.
Rockford’s Noah Stallworth also took home a pair of titles in the 100 (10.76) and 200 (21.64).
The following also collected individual championships: Grand Blanc’s Ethan Vargo (high jump), Brownstown Woodhaven’s Clarence Corbett (shot put), Alpena’s Gabe Bullis (pole vault), Alpena’s Eli Winter (discus), Novi’s Miles Brown (800) and Westland John Glenn’s James Flournoy (400).
PHOTOS: (Top) East Kentwood stays just ahead of Oak Park to claim a relay championship Saturday in LP Division 1. (Middle) Ann Arbor Pioneer's Nick Foster leads the way. (Photos by Carter Sherline. Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)
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.)