Adrian Madison Follows Rosales to Top
By
Wes Morgan
Special for MHSAA.com
June 4, 2017
COMSTOCK PARK – Doing one better was the theme for Adrian Madison’s girls track & field team Saturday at the Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals at Comstock Park.
A year after finishing runner-up, the Trojans nabbed a team championship with 56½ points. Lansing Catholic was second with 41, and Shepherd took third with 33.
It was a prolific final performance by senior Megan Rosales that sparked the victory, as she played a role in four wins for the Trojans. Rosales, who won the 400 meters in 2015, was runner-up in the 300 hurdles and part of the winning 800 relay last season, made her last meet count with a season-best time of 57.02 seconds to win the 400, and a first-place run of 45.05 in the 300 hurdles. She joined teammates Delaney Stersic, Sierra Hernandez and Chelsea Short as the fastest 800 relay squad (1:44.11) and she anchored the 1,600 relay to a repeat title in 3:57.80. Short, Stersic and Hernandez ran the first three legs.
“Today was definitely one to remember,” Rosales said. “We took the saying ‘going out with a bang’ to a whole new level. None of this would be possible without all of (these girls). I'm so proud of you all and everything that you girls have accomplished. This is what we've all worked for. It all paid off in the end. No better way to end my high school running career.”
The Trojans enjoyed all-state efforts by Kiarah Horn, who was third in the pole vault with a height of 11 feet, and Anne Wong, who tied for eighth in the same event at 10 feet. Chelsea Short registered a sixth-place time of 26.24 in the 200.
Shepherd may have had to settle for third place overall, but the program delivered a third MHSAA title in four seasons in the 3,200 relay. This time, however, the team clocked a Division 3 meet record time of 9:18.06. It was the quartet of Rachel Mathers, Katelyn Hutchinson, Kylie Hutchinson and Amber Gall that now boasts the best of all time, dethroning Benzie Central’s 2011 performance of 9:22.71. Gall also won the 800 in 2:14.81.
Parchment junior Shiyon Taylor took home a pair of championships after running a personal-record in the 100 (12.41) and a top time of 25.96 in the 200.
Lansing Catholic junior Olivia Theis was the best of the bunch in the 3,200, which featured two sets of sisters among the all-state top-eight performers. Freshman Jaden Theis was third for Lansing Catholic in 10:34.73, while Hart sophomore Adelyn Ackley was runner-up (10:34.47) and junior Alayna Ackley placed eighth in 11:07.30.
Olivia Theis completed the distance double with a championship in the 1,600, winning by more than five seconds with a personal-record of 4:50.10. Adelyn Ackley recorded a second-place time of 4:55.53, while Jaden Theis was third in 4:55.81, setting the stage for some exciting races to come.
PHOTOS: (Top) Adrian Madison's Megan Rosales pulls away from the field during the 400 in helping her team to the overall championship. (Middle) Shepherd, right, and Lansing Catholic also put up strong performances at Saturday's Division 3 Finals. (Click to see more from HighSchoolSportsScene.com.)
Onsted's Ross Chooses Memorable Finish, Olivet Girls Earn Unforgettable Title
By
Tom Lang
Special for MHSAA.com
May 31, 2025
KENT CITY – Emmry Ross wanted her senior year at Onsted to be filled with memories, perhaps as much or more than filled with state championships.
Coming into Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 3 Finals at Kent City, Ross was the reigning champion in the 400 meters (winning it three times prior), 800 meters (twice prior), 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters – and she was seeded first in all four this weekend.
But Ross decided to scratch the 3,200 race to join the team’s 1,600 relay, with her sister Hadley – for what turned out to be a seventh-place finish.
“There were many factors, but ultimately, it was because my sister was running in the relay and I wanted to run my last race at Onsted with my sister and the incredible team that has been with me the last four years,” Emmry Ross said. “Yes, I won the 3,200 last year, but I wanted to do the relay more – for my sister and just to have some fun in my last race.
“I think those are quite memorable moments. All the wins are great, but the memories are what you’re going to remember most. And so, I think those are some great memories I’ll have forever.”
She also will know forever – as she heads off to the University of Michigan and maybe the Olympics one day – that as a senior she capped her career with Finals championships in the 400 (54.81), 800 (2:07.03) and 1,600 (4:45.44), the latter by a margin of more than 17 seconds.
Ross will become a Wolverine with big goals ahead.
“Michigan is definitely the best option for me,” Ross said. “They have great academics, as well as athletics, and when I talked with the coaches, they talked a lot about the Olympic trials in 2028, which is ultimately a goal of mine. The team atmosphere there was amazing, and the girls were so welcoming. All the colleges I went to were that way, but U-M just really stood out to me.”
Also standing out Saturday were Olivet’s five runners, who combined to win the team title with 46 points, five ahead of runner-up Erie Mason.
“We felt most of the year we had a shot,” said Olivet coach Brian Lincoln. “Two years ago, we were second, and last year we were third. So, if things worked out and we were a little lucky, maybe things could work out (for a win).
“Their grit and their guts all year showed, and they did everything you could ask as a coach.”
Olivet sealed the win during the last race of the day, the 1,600 relay, taken by Cassie Coleman, Sophia Pell, Celina Sinclair and Emily Peters – who also earned her third individual Finals title in the 300 hurdles.
“We ran pretty well at the Lansing Honor Roll Tuesday night,” Lincoln said. “It’s such an awesome event. It really gets us ready, because you’re running against some of the best teams in the state, regardless of class. And we got a lot of kids on the podium that night, so we knew we had good shots today.
“Just so proud of these girls for doing what they do.”
Another multiple-event winner was sophomore Addyson Stiverson of Montrose. She took both the shot put and discus titles, after winning shot put last year as well.
“I think it was me developing from last year,” Stiverson said. “I was only a freshman, barely even 15 (years old). My confidence was about the same, but I think I just matured more.
“I prefer the shot put. But I like how it’s more just you. You against you. You can only do what you can do. Nothing else changes what you do.”
Giuliana Nastale, a junior at Erie Mason, won the 100-meter dash in 12.47 seconds and the 200 in 25.68.
“I was very nervous going into this today,” she said soon after stepping off the podium. “I saw everyone’s times, and I was seeded first but it was all so close. So, I was thinking all the time, I’ve got to go, just go. I was so happy, but a little surprised, honestly. Winning meets with my team is a lot more fun. I love this, being here, but I’d rather it be a team win.”
PHOTOS (Top) Onsted's Emmry Ross pulls away during one of her race championships Saturday in Kent City. (Middle) Olivet's Emily Peters clears a hurdle on her way to a third championship in the 300. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)