Bark River-Harris Lands 3-Peat, Shamion Joins Elite 4-Event Winners Club
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 2, 2024
KINGSFORD — The Bark River-Harris girls completed their season-long mission here Saturday, earning their third straight Upper Peninsula Division 2 track & field championship with 127½ points.
West Iron County brought home the runner-up trophy with 82, and third-place Ishpeming had 71.
“The girls have been working hard for this,” BR-H coach Jason Lockwood said. “Three U.P. titles under their belt is incredible. Everybody contributed, which is instrumental in putting up that many points.”
BR-H senior and Bay College basketball recruit Lauren Zawada captured the 100-meter hurdles in 17.74 seconds and 300s (50.92) and helped the Broncos win the 1,600 relay at 4 minutes, 24.4 seconds.
“My starts are what helped me this time,” she said. “That was my first individual U.P. title, which gives me a pretty good feeling. I’m pretty excited.”
Fellow senior and Bay College basketball recruit Mckenzie Hoffmeyer won long jump at 16 feet, ½ inch, helped the Broncos win the 800 relay (1:49.92) and placed second in the 100 (13.03) and 200 in a personal-best 26.52.
“Even though I didn’t win the 100 or 200, I still got points for the team,” she said. “It feels pretty awesome for us to come together and win this three times in a row.”
Hoffmeyer was runner-up to West Iron County senior Danica Shamion, who took high jump with a record 5-1, the 100 at 12.65 and also set U.P. records in the 200 (26.17) and 400 (56.94). She’s one of just nine girls to win four individual events at a Track & Field Finals.
Shamion’s U.P. records took place four days after she set school records in the 200 (25.79) and 400 (56.74) and high jump (5-5) at Houghton.
“I went out with a bang, which is something I wanted to do as a freshman,” she said. “I kept thinking, ‘Take it one step at a time.’ The high jump runway was a little slippery (during brief rainfall). It was hard to get your grip.”
BR-H junior Marissa Ives, also part of the 800 relay, took third in the 200 (27.42) and fourth in the 100 (13.5).
“I think we did pretty good for having a young team (in the 800 relay),” she said. “The rain felt good during the race. It makes it a little harder coming out of the blocks, but it cools you off.”
Senior Julia Olson, who helped the Broncos win the 1,600 relay, set school records while taking fourth in the 400 (1:00.54) and 800 (2:29.2).
“This is honestly rewarding,” Olson said. “Part of this is due to our training in the weight room during the offseason. It really paid off. It’s also good to know I had good competition on top of it.”
Pickford sophomore Talya Schreiber won the 1,600 (5:19.16) and 3,200 (11:49.86) and was runner-up in the 800 (2:27.88).
“Lola (Korpi) is a great runner,” she said. “It definitely helps to have her here to push me. This feels really good. I’m happy to be here for our team. The atmosphere is awesome. Everyone is so nice.”
Ishpeming senior and Northern Michigan University recruit Korpi won the 800 (2:26.36) and placed second in the 1,600 (in a school-record 5:20.19) and 3,200 (12:12.63).
“I let her creep away from me a little too much and I couldn’t quite catch her in the 1,600,” said Korpi, who capped her career with 10 individual Track Finals titles. “She started her kick, too.
“I’m obviously happy with another school record. I feel I left my mark. I’m also happy for Talya. She worked so hard and helped me get my PR. Second place isn’t bad. I’m happy where I am.”
Sophomore Mya Hemmer added a first for Ishpeming in discus (114-6) and second in shot put (33-5¼), and Ironwood sophomore Emma Wardon took first in shot (34-5).
PHOTOS (Top) Bark River-Harris's Carli Erickson crosses the finish line far ahead of her competition in the 800 Relay. Other members of the winning team were Mckenzie Hoffmeyer, Julia Nault, and Marissa Ives. (Middle) West Iron County's Danica Shamion starts the 400, which she eventually wins. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)
Pickford Girls Narrowly Outpace Rest to Clinch 1st Finals Title Since 2007
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 1, 2025
KINGSFORD — It was a tight race for the title at the Upper Peninsula Division 2 Girls Track & Field Finals on Saturday, as eight points separated the top three teams.
Pickford scored 74 for its first championship since 2007, when it was competing in D-3.
The Panthers were followed by West Iron County at 71 points, Munising with 66 and Ironwood and three-time defending champion Bark River-Harris both with 53.
Junior Talya Schreiber, a two-time UPD3 cross country champion, proved to be the difference-maker on this sunny and mild afternoon, taking the 800-meter run in 2:31.91, 1,600 (5:12.47) and 3,200 (11:23.06) and leading off the winning 3,200 relay (10:50.61).
Senior teammate Brooke Portice added a second place in discus (94-7) and took fourth in shot put (29-4½).
Hancock senior Ella Keranen was runner-up in the 1,600 (5:41.92) and 3,200 (12:43.31) and third in the 800 (2:34.5), and led off the second-place 3,200 relay (11:06.58).
Ironwood senior Aubrey Smith placed second in the 800 (2:34.24) and third in the 1,600 (5:48.38) and 3,200 (12:53.21).
West Iron freshman Bristol Shamion was a triple-event winner, taking the 100 hurdles (17.56) and 300s (49.4) and long jump at 5 feet, and she placed second in the 200 (27.59). Her sister, junior Lacey Shamion, was second in long jump (14-11½) and helped the Wykons take second in the 800 relay (1:54.69) and third in the 1,600 (4:40.55).
BR-H swept the sprint relays, taking the 400 (54.77) and 800 (1:54.57), and junior Mira Johnson won pole vault (8-0). Sophomore Emma Zawada ran in both relays and provided the Broncos with a third in the 300 hurdles (50.85).
Norway had a double-winner in junior Lauren Adams, who took the 100 (12.9) and 200 (27.31) and added a second in the 400 (1:01.66). Munising freshman Addie Bowerman placed second in the 300 hurdles (50.59) and third in the 100s (18.14) and helped the Mustangs win the 1,600 relay (4:28.66). Senior teammate Elizabeth Wing won discus (96-0) and was runner-up in shot put (31-¼), and classmate Dayne Behning placed second in 100 hurdles (17.64) and fourth in the 300 (53.01).
Rudyard’s leader was freshman Amelia Fountain, who won the 400 on a lean, tied for second with Ishpeming sophomore Alexis Riley and Ironwood senior Hannah Vaughn in pole vault (7-6) and took third in the 200 (27.83) and fourth in the 100 (13.36).
Junior Emma Wardon added a first for Ironwood in shot put (36-5½), and Painesdale Jeffers got its lone first from sophomore Brielle Anderson with a leap of 15-7¼ in long jump.
PHOTOS (Top) Pickford's Haleigh Frank runs the last leg of the 3,200 relay Saturday. Pickford won with Talya Schreiber, Teryn Firack, and Ellie Jentoft. (Middle) At the start of the 1,600 run, Schreiber (1), Bark River-Harris's Hope Varoni (3), and Hancock's Ella Keranen (8) angle for position. Schreiber took first place and Keranen took second. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)