Performance of the Week: Detroit Renaissance's Kaila Jackson
June 10, 2022
Kaila Jackson ♦ Detroit Renaissance
Track & Field ♦ Senior
Jackson has graduated from Renaissance as one of the all-time greats in MHSAA track & field history. Despite not having a sophomore season in 2020 because of the COVID-19 shutdown, Jackson finished up by winning the fourth and fifth individual championships of her career Saturday at the Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals – and besting one of the most celebrated performances on the state record board.
The Renaissance sprinter repeated in the 100 and 200-meter dashes – winning the 200 for a third time – and also added fifth and sixth relay championships to her list of Finals career achievements. She already was part of an all-Finals record setter in 2021 as part of the Phoenix’s winning 400 relay. But she joined that list as an individual this time with a 23.51 in the 200 – breaking the previous record of 23.74 seconds run by Mumford legend Shayla Mahan in 2006. Jackson also just missed Mahan’s record of 11.54 in the 100, clocking a time of 11.64 seconds Saturday. Jackson last week was named Michigan Female High School Athlete of the Year by the Detroit Athletic Club and will continue at University of Georgia, running for one of the nation’s top track & field programs.
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2021-22 Honorees
June 3: Armon Howard, Rochester Adams track - Report
May 27: Brock Porter, Orchard Lake St. Mary's baseball - Report
May 20: Brady Schultz, Menominee track & field - Report
May 13: Robert Burns, Flint Powers Catholic golf - Report
May 6: Bo Lockwood, Hartland lacrosse - Report
April 28: Nonah Waldron, Oak Park track & field - Report
April 21: Theryn Hallock, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Central soccer - Report
April 14: Kaitlyn Pallozzi, Farmington Hills Mercy softball - Report
April 7: Mason Docks, Williamston basketball - Report
March 24: Mya Petticord, Ypsilanti Arbor Prep basketball - Report
March 16: Charley Bayer, East Grand Rapids diving - Report
March 9: Ja'Marcus Smith, Detroit Mumford wrestling - Report
March 2: David Schaberg, Holt bowling - Report
Feb. 24: Adelaide McRoberts, Kingsford swimming - Report
Feb. 17: Christopher Kavanaugh, Petoskey hockey - Report
Feb. 10: Ira Jenkins, Whitehall wrestling - Report
Feb. 3: Emma Stewart, Salem gymnastics - Report
Jan. 28: Tyler Ray, Pinckney swimming - Report
Jan. 21: Elle Craven, Traverse City Central skiing - Report
Jan. 14: Nevaeh Williams, Mount Clemens basketball - Report
Dec. 2: Lucas Dunn, Chelsea football - Report
Nov. 25: Riley Nugent, Plainwell swimming - Report
Nov. 18: Harper Murray, Ann Arbor Skyline volleyball - Report
Nov. 11: Abby VanderKooi, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian cross country - Report
Nov. 4: Arianne Olson, Holland West Ottawa cross country - Report
Oct. 28: Jack Guggemos, Okemos soccer - Report
Oct. 21: Sachiv Kumar, Northville tennis - Report
Oct. 14: Kate Brody, Grand Blanc golf - Report
Oct. 7: Lilly Nelson, Negaunee tennis - Report
Sept. 30: Stella Chapman, Ann Arbor Pioneer swimming - Report
Sept. 23: Riley Hough, Hartland cross country - Report
Sept. 16: Josie Bloom, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Report
PHOTO Renaissance's Kaila Jackson crosses the finish line Saturday at Rockford after setting the all-Finals record in the 200 meters. (Click for more from Run Michigan/Jamie McNinch.)
Performance of the Week: Gaylord's Katie Berkshire
April 17, 2026
Katie Berkshire ♦ Gaylord
Senior ♦ Track & Field
The Blue Devils' distance star enjoyed a fast start, literally, to her final high school track season last weekend, winning the 3,200 meters at the Freeland Invitational in an outdoor personal-record 10:26.87. She won the race by just under 57 seconds, and her time was nearly 10 seconds faster than what she ran at last spring's Lower Peninsula Division 2 Finals where she finished runner-up.
Berkshire actually has finished LPD2 runner-up in the 3,200 the last two seasons after placing third as a freshman, and she also returns this spring after finishing second at last year's Finals in the 1,600. She also finished second at the LPD2 Cross Country Final in the fall after placing third as a junior. She finished lower than second only once last track season in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, and in addition to chasing a championship this spring will work to approach her 3,200 indoor PR of 10:13.17 run during a meet in February. She will continue her academic and running careers at Central Michigan and is considering studying business and entrepreneurship.
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MHSAA.com's "Performance of the Week" features are powered by MI Student Aid, a division within the Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP). MI Student Aid encourages students to pursue postsecondary education by providing access to student financial resources and information. MI Student Aid administers the state’s 529 college savings programs (MET/MESP), as well as scholarship and grant programs that help make college Accessible, Affordable and Attainable for you. Connect with MI Student Aid at www.michigan.gov/mistudentaid and find more information on Facebook and X @mistudentaid.
Previous 2025-26 honorees
March 26: Kayla Hairston, Goodrich basketball - Report
March 19: Liam Smith, Otsego swimming - Report
March 12: Jack Sayen, Houghton hockey - Report
March 5: Devin Patrick, St. Clair Shores Lake Shore - Report
Feb. 26: Madison Nieuwenhuis, Plainwell wrestling - Report
Feb. 20: Sophie Ramey, Allen Park competitive cheer - Report
Feb. 13: Cam Ryans, Grand Rapids Northview basketball - Report
Feb. 6: Melanie Kolnitys, Midland Dow basketball - Report
Jan. 29: Stella Musialowski, Huron Valley United gymnastics - Report
Jan. 22: Baylor Perkins, Grand Blanc swimming - Report
Jan. 15: Delaney Vanier, Flint Kearsley bowling - Report
Jan. 8: Stevie Hall, Detroit Cass Tech basketball - Report
Dec. 18: Ethan Martha, Ishpeming Westwood basketball - Report
Dec. 11: Louis Smith, Three Rivers wrestling - Report
Dec. 4: Traverse Moore, DeWitt football - Report
Nov. 28: Elizabeth Eichbrecht, West Bloomfield swimming - Report
Nov. 20: Brady Kieff, Blanchard Montabella football - Report
Nov. 13: Ella Laupp, Battle Creek Harper Creek swimming - Report
Nov. 7: Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix cross country - Report
Oct. 31: Stephen Gollapalli, Lansing Christian tennis - Report
Oct. 23: Talya Schreiber, Pickford cross country - Report
Oct. 16: Avery Manning, Dexter golf - Report
Oct. 9: Brady Van Laecke, Hudsonville football - Report
Oct. 2: Sarah Giroux, Flat Rock volleyball - Report
Sept. 25: Sam Schumacher, Portage Central tennis - Report
Sept. 18: Kaylee Mitzel, Saline field hockey - Report
Sept. 11: Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer cross country - Report
Sept. 4: Kate Posey, Big Rapids golf - Report
(Photos provided by the Gaylord athletic department.)