Performance of the Week: Allen Park's Abby Russell
May 30, 2024
Abby Russell ♦ Allen Park
Senior ♦ Track & Field
Russell, already one of the most accomplished throwers in MHSAA history, threw a personal-record 47 feet, 6½ inches in shot put and added a 145-1 in discus to sweep those events May 21 at the Downriver League championship meet. She has won discus in all of her meets this spring and shot put in all but her first meet of the season.
Her discus winning streak actually goes back to the start of her sophomore year, as Russell is the two-time reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion in that event heading into Saturday’s Finals at East Kentwood High School. She also won the shot put in LPD1 as a sophomore before finishing third a year ago – the only time she didn’t win the shot as a junior. Her discus personal record is 165 feet, thrown at the Oxford Invitational on April 27. She’ll continue her throwing career next season at University of Michigan and plans to study kinesiology with aspirations of continuing in medicine or physical therapy and an interest in coaching.
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@mhsaasports 🥏POW: Abby Russell #tiktalk #questiontime #part2 #lipgloss #car #thrower #hearthands #jewlery #performanceoftheweek #mistudentaid #fyp #MHSAA ♬ original sound - MHSAA
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Past 2023-24 Honorees
May 23: Isabel Thelen, St. Johns tennis - Report
May 16: Ally Katinas, Novi lacrosse - Report
May 9: Peter Roehl, Rochester Adams golf - Report
May 2: Lilah Smith, Richland Gull Lake soccer - Report
April 25: Mason Mayne, Lawton track & field - Report
April 18: Alli Wright, Jenison softball - Report
April 11: Chloe Wishart, Trenton soccer - Report
March 28: Jenna Maki, Ishpeming basketball - Report
March 22: Jaremiah Palmer, Niles Brandywine basketball - Report
March 15: Leah Hodge, North Farmington gymnastics - Report
March 8: Darius Marines, Detroit Catholic Central wrestling - Report
March 1: Rylee Smith, Zeeland West bowling - Report
Feb. 22: Caleb Lewandowski, Traverse City West skiing - Report
Feb. 15: Jadin Mix, Onaway basketball - Report
Feb. 8: Onalee Wallis, Cadillac skiing - Report
Feb. 1: Abbey DeGraw, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek competitive cheer - Report
Jan. 25: Ewan Todd, Riverview swimming - Report
Jan. 18: Ashley Weller, Jackson Northwest basketball - Report
Jan. 11: Michael Baldwin, Saginaw Arthur Hill wrestling - Report
Dec. 15: Jena Fijolek, Fenton bowling - Report
Dec. 8: Sophia Wagner, Escanaba gymnastics - Report
Dec. 1: Isaiah Marshall, Southfield Arts & Technology football - Report
Nov. 24: Sarah Bradley, Clarkston Everest Collegiate volleyball - Report
Nov. 17: Kalieb Osborne, Waterford Mott football - Report
Nov. 10: Tekalegn Vlasma, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian soccer - Report
Nov. 3: Colton Kinnie, Birmingham Seaholm football - Report
Oct. 27: Lauren Timpf, Macomb Lutheran North golf - Report
Oct. 20: Alena Li, Okemos golf - Report
Oct. 13: Seth Norder, Grand Haven cross country - Report
Oct. 5: Paige Anderson, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer golf - Report
Sept. 29: MacKenzie Bisballe, Lake City volleyball - Report
Sept. 22: Jhace Massey, Gladwin football - Report
Sept. 15: Kaylee Draper, Sturgis swimming - Report
Sept. 8: Owen Jackson, Traverse City St. Francis tennis - Report
Sept. 1: Rachel Forsyth, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
(Action photo by Koren Easlick.)
Negaunee Girls Complete Perfect Season with Record-Setting Saturday
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
June 1, 2025
KINGSFORD — The Negaunee girls completed a perfect track & field season here Saturday, earning their first Upper Peninsula Division 1 title in three years with 155 points.
They were followed by Marquette with 109 and Gladstone at 78.
“I am incredibly proud of my team’s effort today,” Negaunee coach Vickie Paupore said. “They have been undefeated throughout the season, and I know they were a little nervous going into the final meet, but they took the confidence that they have had all year and finished strong.”
Miners’ sophomore Keira Waterman set school records while winning the 400-meter dash in 58.55 seconds and 800 (2:21.86). She anchored the winning 400 relay, which was clocked at a school-record 51.21.
Waterman added a second place in long jump at 15-11¼ and was runner-up to Marquette sophomore Taylen Todd, who jumped a personal-best 16-3½.
“My Regional time in the 800 wasn’t the best,” Waterman said. “I came in here seeded sixth, but it ended up being a pretty good day. Taylen had a real good jump.”
Miners classmate Sadie Rogers also had a hand in three firsts, retaining her 100 hurdles title (15.78), winning the 300 (47.94) and anchoring the 400 relay on this sunny and mild day at Flivver Field.
“I like it,” she said. “Feels good to win the 100 hurdles again. I was nervous before the race, but just had to have a positive mindset and do my best. This gets me in a good spot, although I have to stay humble. You never know what can happen. We had perfect weather with no wind when we were running.”
Senior Macyn Dellangelo added a first in the 100 at 12.88 seconds, followed by Gladstone senior Lauren Sundquist in 13 seconds flat and Negaunee freshman Elvera Coyne (13.05).
“I enjoy starting out of the blocks,” Dellangelo said. “It’s always nice to know I got a good start and push through it.
“This is probably the best team we’ve had in a while. We’re filled with good athletes.”
Dellangelo, who will continue her education at Northern Michigan University this fall, also led off the 400 relay.
“Keira had a phenomenal day and ran with so much heart,” Paupore said. “She improved upon her own 400 record time and broke Emily Paupore’s record in the 800 from 2018. Sadie Rogers also had some phenomenal performances in the hurdle races. She has run the hurdles so well all year.
“Our seniors really showed up today. Madison Pekrul had PRs (personal records) in both hurdles and was on a winning leg of the mile (1,600) relay. Macyn was the U.P. champion in the 100 and was a leg of our school-record setting 400 relay. She has had some tremendous improvements this season.”
Negaunee junior Baylie Bourdeau won discus with a personal-best toss of 98-2, and sophomore Priya Morey took second (93-10).
“Our discus throwers really came in clutch today,” Paupore said. “They were sitting in fourth and fifth after the preliminary rounds and ended up throwing themselves into first and second place on their last throws.”
Marquette showed its strength in the distances.
Junior Ella Fure won the 3,200 (11:44.58), and senior Maija Maki-Warne added a first in the 1,600 (5:20.98) and was runner-up in the 800 (2:22.56).
Fure placed second in the 1,600 (5:21.12) and third in the 800 (2:27.45).
“I’m really happy with my day,” she said. “I’m really proud of my teammates and Alisha (Mabie of Escanaba). Our friendship is going to last a lifetime. It’s kind of bittersweet because all my best friends are graduating. I ran my race for special people (Jenn, Addie, Stella and Jordan DeMay).”
Mabie, also an NMU recruit, was runner-up in the 3,200 in a personal-best 11:51.46 and third in the 1,600 (5:28.3).
Marquette senior Chloe Miller, bound for Wisconsin-Parkside this fall, placed fourth in the 400 (1:02.41) and 800 (2:31.58) and helped the winning 3,200 relay (10:21.35).
“I’m happy with the times I ran,” the former Alton, Ill., the resident said. “I moved up here in May 2024. I think we have the best athletes we could ask for. The people are so supportive. I never had that before. The thing I’ll remember the most is the way they took me in as one of their own.”
PHOTOS (Top) Negaunee's Sadie Rogers (center) jumps over the last hurdle of the 100 race ahead of the rest of the field Saturday at Kingsford. (Middle) Manistique's Ashlyn Jones, Marquette's Eryn Veverka, and Negaunee's Nori Korsman start the 3,200 relay. Marquette took first place and Negaunee took second. Members of the winning team also included Evelyn Grant, Chloe Miller, and Ella Fure. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)