Hamlin Breaks Escanaba's 48-Year-Old High Jump Record, Climbing List of State's Best
By
Adam Hinch
Special for MHSAA.com
May 7, 2026
ESCANABA — Over the last three seasons, Escanaba sophomore Andrew Hamlin has shown big gains annually in the high jump – and this year he has broken Escanaba High School’s record not once but twice, with plenty of opportunities remaining to better his best performance.
Hamlin took his first jumps in seventh grade but did not actively start competing until his eighth-grade year at Holy Name School in Escanaba.
“I remember the meet in Bark River,” Hamlin said. “I used to go off my right side with my left leg and then switched halfway through the season and ended up breaking the record.”
Hamlin broke Holy Name’s school record at the Escanaba Junior High Invitational with a jump of 5-foot-7 on May 14, 2024.
He also came in 11th at the Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals that spring with a jump of 5-4 as one of only two eighth graders to compete in the Division 3 boys high jump that day.
“I knew Andrew since he was in fourth grade,” Holy Name athletic director Tony Derkos said. “He is a great kid, and track really gives him a chance to be his own athlete.”
Hamlin switched to Escanaba High School as a freshman and had a jump of 6-foot at the Division 1 Regional in Escanaba last spring. He then came through with a jump of 6-2 at the UP Finals in Kingsford where he was finished second as one of only two freshmen to place among the top 10.
“I really enjoy the competitiveness of the sport,” Hamlin said. “It definitely helps to fuel you as an athlete to improve every time out.”
Hamlin also has a personal coach, Hugo Munoz, who was a member of the Peru national team and competed in the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics.
Hamlin has competed in two high jump camps, one in Wisconsin and most recently one in New Prague, Minn.
Now a sophomore, he broke the high jump record for Escanaba High School with a jump of 6-6 on April 21at the Delta County Invite in Gladstone. The previous record was set in 1978 by Keenan Failing.
“It meant a lot to get the record,” Hamlin said. “It was one of the goals for the season coming in, and I was just kind of surprised that it happened this early in the season.”
That record lasted for 10 days until the Escanaba Invitational on May 1, when Hamlin completed a jump of 6-7. That height ranks eighth statewide this season and first among Upper Peninsula jumpers.
“I have to adjust my goals for the season,” Hamlin said. “I never thought I would hit this high of a height this early in the season, so now I’m just trying to stay consistent and improve my height when I can.”
Hamlin will be taking part in the Nike Nationals this summer as well as some other high jump events. He also competes for Escanaba in the long jump, 400 meters and 1,600 relay, and plays football and basketball for his school.
“He’s everything you want in an athlete,” Eskymos track coach Scott Dykema said. “He is a good competitor and is always working on his game and what he can do to improve every time he goes out.”
Hamlin has overcome various injuries but works to get back in action as soon as he can.
“He never lets injuries keep him down,” Derkos said. “He is a tough kid and battles through injuries, and that is the sign of a natural competitor – which is what he is.”
Hamlin has aspirations of taking the high jump to the collegiate level and said he also enjoys distance running. He competes in 5K races and said he would enjoy running a marathon at some point.
“I think it would be fun to run a marathon,” Hamlin said. “That would come after college as there is so much time and training that goes into preparing for a marathon, but definitely something I would have interest in down the road.”
Hamlin has at least four track meets left this season as Escanaba will compete in Negaunee on May 8, at the Division 1 Regional at Manistique on May 13, and at Gladstone and Gaylord as well before finishing at the UP Finals on May 30 in Kingsford.
PHOTOS (Top) Escanaba’s Andrew Hamlin soars over the high jump bar during a meet. (Middle) Hamlin completes a turn in the long jump pit. (Photos by Adam Hinch.)
Chesaning Boys Vault to Top of Podium, Ovid-Elsie's Tokar Completes Pole Vault Sweep
By
Tom Lang
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2025
KENT CITY – Chesaning came into Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 3 Boys Track & Field Finals with some confidence.
But truly, some might not have seen coming what the team went on to accomplish.
After all, Chesaning’s boys did not crack the top 20 last year – but they zoomed to the top in 2025, winning the team title with 57 points ahead of 2024 champion Pewamo-Westphalia with 34 points, Reed City with 33 and Lawton with 32.
Chesaning became the seventh team to win the boys title over the last seven seasons.
“It’s a great group of boys,” said Chesaning coach Dylan Harrington. “They are supportive of each other. They are in it for the team above all else. They work hard together and motivate each other. They pick each other up if they’re down a little bit. And they put their best foot forward today. It was great to see.”
Harrington said there were not really any surprises. He said Caleb Walker has been as solid as anyone can be in the hurdles, and Walker indeed won the 110 race Saturday and finished second in the 300.
“I don’t think he’s been beaten all year in the 110 – and overall, every event we stepped up where they needed to. Our throws got us points. It was just a great team effort.”
The team of Cole Maier, Blake Hoerner, Zach Harlan and Walker won the 1,600 relay at 3:25.20, just ahead of Traverse City St. Francis by 0.59 seconds. That was Chesaning’s only other outright win on the day, proving that team balance works.
Both the 100 and 200 dashes were photo finishes.
Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett senior Cicarella Santino won the 100 at 10.86 seconds, less than a whisker ahead of Pewamo-Westphalia senior Trevor Smith, the 2024 champion, at 10.88. Smith redeemed himself by winning the 200 in 22.40, just ahead of Chesaning’s Harlan at 22.44 and Cicarella in third.
“I knew Trevor is a great competitor,” Santino said about the 100 race. “I knew it was going to be a close race and come down to the wire. And I was prepared for that, but thankfully I came out at the end.
“There are ups and downs throughout the season, but I think I stayed consistent all the way through. I started out indoors, and I worked at it and slowly kept bringing my time down and getting better every single week. Last year, I came in fourth in the 100 (to Smith). Trevor was obviously the guy I was going for all year as the returning champ.”
Smith would have loved to take both titles, but he was content with the 200 win.
“Being able to get another photo finish opportunity, and win this one, was really great,” Smith said about the second race. “I prefer running the 100, but today, I love the 200 win. They were both really great races, really close, and I enjoy that the most out of anything.”
Smith ran in two relay races as well.
“Usually, my favorite race anytime is the 4 x 100,” Smith said. “It’s because I’m running my favorite open race, the 100, but I’m at full speed by the time I get the baton, and I’m able to run, so it just makes you feel a lot faster and a lot better about yourself.”
Smith said he is going to Ferris State on Tuesday to talk to the coaches about a possible future there.
Another college bound senior is heading to Alma College, but to play football.
Pole vaulter Tryce Tokar of Ovid-Elsie won his fourth title in that field event, completing a Finals career sweep. He finished at 15 feet.
“It’s relieving now to win four straight,” he said. “That pressure is off. But it was fun today. I like vaulting.
“I had a couple of injuries early on, which I normally do honestly,” Tokar explained about the start to the spring season. “That’s pretty consistent when you transfer from football to track; you have some injuries to overcome. Everyone does, I’m not singled out. But I overcame it.
“I’m not really the fastest guy,” he added about excelling in pole vault. “I don’t really run sprints or anything. But I’m pretty athletic and just good enough to be a good vaulter. It takes a lot of technique. I owe a lot of it to coaches, and I like the athletic aspect of it.”
PHOTOS (Top) From left, Chesaning's Zach Harlan, Pewamo-Westphalia's Trevor Smith and Detroit Edison's Dennis Jackson push to the finish of the 200 championship race at Kent City. (Middle) Ovid-Elsie's Tryce Tokar crosses over the pole vault bar on the way to winning that championship for the fourth-straight season. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)