Emeott Closes Prep Career Helping Vault East Kentwood to Team Title #9
By
Steve Vedder
Special for MHSAA.com
May 30, 2026
ROCKFORD – Reece Emeott went from not knowing state history to making it.
The East Kentwood senior said he wasn't aware he could become the first pole vaulter in state history to win three-straight MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals titles until he was informed that was indeed what he accomplished following Saturday's meet at Rockford.
Emeott shook off some unexpected setbacks to win this time with a vault of 16 feet, 6 inches. After becoming the first sophomore ever to win the Division 1 pole vault two years ago, then repeating the feat last spring, Emeott said he prefers not to live in the past.
"I try to focus on the now," said Emeott, whose finish sparked the Falcons to their Finals team title since 2019. "I don't think about the past or winning other state titles. I just take it day-by-day, but that is crazy, to win three state titles."
East Kentwood narrowly won the team prize, finishing with 63 points to 62 for runner-up Detroit Catholic Central.
Emeott's title featured a couple of strange turns, including a pass at the15-feet, 9-inch mark, then a miss at 16 feet. At one point late in the event, he ranked just fifth.
"It wasn't how I planned it at all," said Emeott, who will compete at Michigan next season. "I had a sprained foot, and I was kind of nervous about it. I couldn't do everything I wanted. There's pressure, but only because I need to score points to help the team. It would have been bad luck not to win."
Falcons coach Dave Emeott, whose teams have now won nine Finals titles, said the latest championship comes on the heels of a book he wrote last December, "Beyond The Finish Line." The book stresses the importance of relationships, positive parental involvement, the role of winning and being process oriented. Emeott admits the program may have drifted from those factors since winning three straight Division 1 titles from 2017-19.
"We had kind of a drought, and I looked at myself and the team and tried to figure out what we were doing," he said. "I thought, 'Hey, maybe we should be doing those things again. It was a magical year. I thought we could be in the conversation (for a title), but then again, there were days I would have said I don't know."
East Kentwood's other first place came from the 800 relay (1:26.76).
Among the other championships were a pair by Detroit Catholic Central's Zacchaeus Brocks, who captured the 300 hurdles (36.33) and 110 hurdles (13.40). The 300 time is the fourth-best in the country. He was seeded first in both events.
"I got out hard and set the tone," said Brocks, whose 2025 season was prematurely ended by a stress fracture in his toe. "I knew it was in me. I was anxious, but never defeated. I knew I had the confidence and grit to go out and get it. It's a great legacy to leave."
Rodney Endsley of Walled Lake Western was also a double winner, taking the 200 (21.14) and 400 (47.11), with the 16th and 17th-best times, respectively, in state history in those two events.
"I'm not a cocky guy, but when I feel I can win, I do," he said.
Wendell Childs Jr. of Clarkston successfully defended his 2025 title by winning the 800 (1:50.81), less than two seconds ahead of runner-up Greg Myers of Ypsilanti Lincoln. Childs Jr. won last year's title with a 1:51.49.
"Greg is a tough competitor, and I worked and worked to get to the point where I didn't think anybody could beat me," he said. "Last year was big for me, but I knew this was going to be tough."
Luka Hammond of Grand Haven also repeated by winning the 1,600 (4:09.53). Hammond said he learned a valuable lesson about health after what he called "limping" through last fall's cross country season.
"My body got beat up, and I learned my lesson," he said. "I learned that missing a couple days doesn't need to affect you. The most important thing is to be healthy, and I didn't have any problems this spring.
"There was definitely more pressure because I wasn't even supposed to be here last year. I'd be lying if I said I could be here. But you can't let that get the best of you."
Vernall Lee of Detroit Martin Luther King won the 100 (10.76), barely inching past runner-up Peyton Trammer of Belleville (10.77).
"It's a good feeling," said Lee, who was slowed by a pulled hamstring and broken ankle suffered six months ago. "It's mental. I knew it was going to be a tough challenge when I couldn't even walk. I'm still not completely healthy (with the hamstring), maybe 75-80 percent. But the ankle is completely healed."
Among the other champs were Detroit Catholic Central’s Paxton Heitsch in the shot (58-6) and Malachi Clayton in the long jump (24-5). Jase Behmlander of Saginaw Heritage won the high jump (6-10), Cameron Gramzow of New Baltimore Anchor Bay won the discus (172-1) and Brandon Cloud of Northville won the 3,200 (9:02.40).
Detroit Renaissance won the 1,600 relay (3:17.14), Detroit Catholic Central the 400 (41.50) and Ann Arbor Pioneer the 3,200 (7:40.02).
Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Cooper Shain (100, 200, 400) and South Lyon’s Owen Moerdyke (shot put) finished first in adaptive events.
PHOTOS (Top) East Kentwood's Reece Emeott clears the bar during a pole vault Saturday. (Middle) Detroit Catholic Central's Zacchaeus Brocks, center, sprints toward the finish in the 110 hurdles. (Click for more from John Brabbs, Carter Sherline and Jamie McNinch/RunMichigan.com.)
With 2nd Place in Final Race, Newberry Clinches 1st in Final Team Standings
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2024
KINGSFORD — The race for the Upper Peninsula Division 3 boys track & field championship came right down to the wire Saturday as Newberry edged St. Ignace 96-92 for top honors.
Third-place team finisher Lake Linden-Hubbell won the day’s final race, the 1,600-meter relay, in 3 minutes, 41.94 seconds, and Newberry hung on to edge St. Ignace by two steps for second place and its first title in eight years.
Newberry, which was runner-up to Munising last year, was clocked at 3:43.07 in the 1,600 relay on this sunny and mild late afternoon. The Saints finished nine hundredths of a second later.
“We knew we had to beat St. Ignace to win,” Newberry senior Kennedy Depew said after finishing the anchor leg. “This was my last race ever. I knew I had to give it my all. That’s also why I knew I had to scratch from the open 400. I would have been in four events. I think scratching from the 400 helped me save some energy. We weren’t satisfied with runner-up last year, which makes this year’s championship all the more satisfying.”
Classmate Gabe Luck provided Newberry with its lone individual first with a heave of 44 feet, 1¾ inches in shot put.
“We had a lot of injuries this year,” Newberry coach Drew Schultz said. “For all the obstacles we had, we wouldn’t have it any other way, having two of the best athletes decide it in the last race. I’m extremely proud of our guys. To win it that way is just insane. I’m proud of all our eastern-end kids.”
Depew also was runner-up in the 100-meter dash in 11.63 seconds.
Senior Jon Ingalls, who ran the last leg for the Saints, won the 110 hurdles (16.39) and 300s (42.89) and helped them place second in the 400 relay (45.94).
“Both hurdles were decent,” Ingalls said. “Those weren’t my best times, but it feels good to grind out a few more wins.”
Senior Owen Lester also provided the Saints with a victory in pole vault (12-6).
LL-H got firsts from senior Gabe Popko in discus at 153 feet, 4¼ inches, and classmate Matt Jokela in the 400 (51.09). Jokela also took third in the 100 (11.65).
“Real good hydration and confidence are keys,” Jokela said. “I think having confidence helps a little. I usually don’t go too hard out of the blocks. Then, I usually try to go as hard as I can in the last 200.”
Chassell junior Kalvin Kytta claimed three firsts, taking the 800 in a personal-best 2:03.62, 1,600 (4:39.58) and 3,200 (10:27.32).
“Three wins, I’m pretty happy with that,” he said. “The 800 went real well. Overall, I’m very happy with my performance today.”
Fourth-place Bessemer set UPD3 Finals records in the 400 relay (45.3) and 800 (1:34.64). Powers North Central previously set the record in the 400 (45.34) two years ago and Rock Mid Peninsula had held the 800 record since 2001 when it ran a 1:35.1.
“We shaved two seconds off in the 800 relay which feels good, and our handoffs in the 400 were good all year,” Bessemer senior Landon Peterson said. “Our school record in the 400 is 44.98, which is something we’ve done three times this year. Running on a rubber track gives you a much better grip, which helped us a lot today.”
Bessemer senior Tom Trudgeon became a four-event winner, also taking the 100 (11.46) and 200 (23.85).
Crystal Falls Forest Park freshman Vic Guiliani won high jump (6-0), and sophomore Michael Rexford went 19-9 in long jump, providing Escanaba Holy Name with its first U.P. Finals title since the school reopened in 2021.
PHOTOS (Top) Newberry runners celebrate taking second place in the 1,600 relay, allowing them to finish ahead of St. Ignace for the team title in Upper Peninsula Division 3. (Middle) Chassell's Kalvin Kytta and Cedarville/DeTour's Ethan Snyder lead the pack of 1,600 runners. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)