MHSA(Q&)A: Norway track champion Dani Gagne
June 7, 2012
By Brian Spencer
Second Half
Norway senior Dani Gagne might not be a familiar name among the Lower Peninsula track and field community. But in the Upper Peninsula, she's built a legacy that will be talked about for years to come.
Gagne won four Upper Peninsula Division 2 championships Saturday, giving her 10 MHSAA championships total for her high school career. She set a UP Division 2 Finals record in the 200-meter dash of 26.42, and also won the 100 (12.62), 400 (1:00.65) and long jump (15-foot-9).
Gagne also played volleyball and basketball at Norway. She's signed to run at Hillsdale College next season.
What sort of camps did you attend to get your times down?
I only went to one camp, and that was in 2009. The camp was held at the University of Michigan. They gave us pointers on good technique, how to move your hands when running, and how to get a good start from the blocks. I found that the advice that I got from the blocks was most worthwhile and helped me this past season the most.
What was the best advice you’ve received to help you reach the success that you have with track?
Well, there was this one guy (track coach from Loyola), who said I should look at everybody else as if they were in my race, and to visualize owning the race; make the race my own to win or lose.
What other colleges were you thinking of and how did you decide to go to Hillsdale?
I was looking at schools like Michigan Tech and Lake Superior State for track. I am glad that I decided on Hillsdale, though, and am excited for the experience to begin.
Who’s your favorite athlete and why?
Well, I’ve never thought about this much, but if I had to choose, Lori (Lolo) Jones is probably my favorite athlete. She’s a good runner. (Jones is a U.S. Olympian and was an NCAA champion hurdler at Louisiana State University).
How much did your back injury affect your events?
I suffered from an SI (sacroiliac) joint discomfort. It wasn’t a terrible injury, however, I did notice it a little bit when I ran. I noticed it more when I did the long jump. Jumping wasn’t terrible, but when I hit the sand, that’s when I was reminded that my back was uncomfortable the most.
What are you going to study at Hillsdale?
Exercise science.
PHOTO courtesy of the Gagne family.
Taylor Sisters, Nwose Key Newberry's Title Run, Jokela Caps Famed Career
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 1, 2025
KINGSFORD — The Taylor sisters have been a mainstay for the Newberry girls track & field team throughout this season.
They provided more than half of their team’s scoring here Saturday, helping Newberry gain its first Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals championship in a decade with 84 points.
Runner-up Lake Linden-Hubbell scored 76 points, and third-place Stephenson had 52.
“This is also the first time our boys and girls won together, which is very exciting,” said Newberry coach Cori Canfield. “We’re going to lose some good seniors, but we’ll have some good freshmen coming in. I’m optimistic about the next 2-3 years. You prepare the kids for this all year, then it’s up to them to execute the plan.”
Junior Samantha Taylor set a U.P. Finals record in the 1,600-meter run in 5:08.47, shaving nearly 6½ seconds off last year’s record time (5:14.9).
Earlier, she established a school record in the 3,200 (11:42), and sophomore Abby Taylor took the 800 (2:26.71).
“I really wanted to try my hardest in the mile, which is my strongest event, and work hard in the other races, and it paid off,” Samantha Taylor said. “This makes me feel more confident in my training and gives me a little momentum going into the cross country season. Being supported by my teammates and coaches is definitely a highlight. Going into my senior year gives me more motivation because it’s my last year.”
She anchored Newberry to a runner-up finish in the 1,600 relay (4:29.54) and Abby Taylor was runner-up in the open 1,600 (5:30.82) and 3,200 (12:35.24). In the 3,200 relay, Abby anchored the third-place finisher (10:38.89).
Senior teammate Adanne Nwose won the 100 (12.91), and Lake Linden-Hubbell senior Emily Jokela edged Big Bay de Noc freshman Destiny Bleau on a lean for second place (12.95).
“I worked on my starts this week,” Nwose said. “I was really nervous coming in here. I wasn’t supposed to win the 100, which made for added pressure. It was very nerve-wracking. I didn’t think I had won. There were two people to my right. It was crazy close. I’ve been getting under 13 seconds in the past few meets. I would have been very disappointed if I hadn’t gone under 13 today.”
Bleau won the 200 in a meet and school-record 26.02, followed by Rapid River senior Emma Sundling (26.86) and Nwose (26.93).
“I feel pretty good about it,” Bleau said. “It’s a good way to end the season. There were a lot of schools here I hadn’t seen before. I’d say I had good starts. I think this is something I can learn from.”
Her meet record in the 200, topped the previous best (26.36) by Jamie Dompier of Chassell from 2013.
Jokela, a Grand Valley State recruit, became a triple-winner by taking the 100 hurdles (15.98), 300s (46.46) and 400 (59.84).
“I think the competition draws the best out of me,” she said. “They (Newberry) are a bigger school. We’re happy with where we finished. My starts were pretty good. I think this will give me more motivation to work hard for next year.”
Dollar Bay junior Kiera Isaacson won high jump with a school-record leap of 5-4, and sophomore teammate Laila Bell claimed long jump (15-7) and placed third in pole vault (8-0).
Stephenson junior Faith Cappaert took second in the 800 (2:28.6) and third in the 400 (1:02.35) and 1,600 (5:48.01), and anchored the winning 3,200 relay (10:24.35).
Brimley junior Tallulah Slabosheski captured shot put (33-6½) and discus (109-9).
PHOTOS (Top) Newberry's Adanne Nwose (center) wins the 100 dash by four hundredths of a second over Lake Linden Hubbell's Emily Jokela (far left). (Middle) Lake Linden-Hubbell's Ella Schneiderhan hands off the baton to Payton Goldsworthy and St. Ignace's Jillian Fraser hands off to Gwen Kellan in the 800 relay Saturday. St. Ignace went on to win the race with Chloe Bigger and Tayah Shepard also running legs. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)