Preview: Legacy-Making Opportunities
May 31, 2019
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
We will say good-bye to a number of graduating champions at Saturday’s MHSAA Girls Track & Field Finals.
But it’s hard to not also be excited about some of the final legacy-making opportunities for outgoing seniors – and new chances to shine for a group of impressive rising athletes taking their places among the elite.
Below is a look at some of the teams and individuals to watch at Saturday’s girls meets. All events begin at 9 a.m. local time on both peninsulas.
Click for meet information including all qualifiers. Check out MHSAA.tv for live streaming of running events from both peninsulas, available with subscription and beginning at 10 a.m., and come back Saturday night for results as they come in and coverage of all seven meets on Second Half.
LP Division 1 at East Kentwood
Top Regional team scores: 1. Rockford 179, 2. Oak Park 152, 3. Grosse Pointe North 150, 4. Grosse Pointe South 149, 5. Salem 149.
Oak Park is the reigning champion and has won four of the last five titles in LPD1, also finishing runner-up in 2017. With contenders in nearly every running event, the Knights may be the favorites again. But keep an eye on Detroit Renaissance and Rockford, both also loaded with star power. Rockford was the runner-up last season, 6.5 points off the lead, while Renaissance finished sixth.
Dearborn Edsel Ford’s BreeAna Bates: The speedy sophomore finished ninth in the 100 and didn’t make the championship heat in the 200 last season, but she had the fastest 100 (11.82) at LPD1 Regionals and the second-fastest 200 (24.64).
Detroit Renaissance’s Kaila Jackson: A star already as a freshman, she could cap her first season with multiple titles entering with the second-fastest LPD1 Regional time in the 100 (11.98) and fastest in the 200 (24.37) plus as part of the fastest 400 and 800 relays.
Walled Lake Western’s Kennedy Jackson: Last season’s runner-up in the long jump had the best LPD1 Regional showing in that event (18.5.25) and the high jump (5-7) and the fifth-fastest time in the 100 hurdles (14.57).
Oak Park’s Aasia Laurencin: The champion in the 200 and runner-up in the 100 hurdles in 2018, Laurencin is one of many standouts for Oak Park (freshman Chloe Vines, sophomore Nysha Jordan and juniors Jayla Jones and N’Stajah Banks are perhaps the other most notable of numerous title contenders) and enters this weekend with the second-fastest LPD1 Regional time in the 100 hurdles (14.22), sixth-fastest in the 100 dash (12.23), fifth-fastest in the 200 (24.83) and as part of the second-fastest 800 relay.
White Lake Lakeland’s Grace Stark: The star sprinter and hurdler will try to cap her high school career with one more title after winning the 100 dash and 100 hurdles last season. She enters this weekend with the fastest LPD1 Regional time in that hurdles race (13.84) by more than three tenths of a second after setting the LPD1 Finals record in the event last year at 13.16.
Lake Orion’s Melissa Symons: After winning the 300 hurdles last season by nearly a second, the Dragons’ senior had the second-fastest LPD1 Regional time in that race (43.72) and third-fastest in the 100 hurdles (14.26) after also taking fourth in that event in 2018.
Rockford’s Ericka VanderLende: The Rams’ distance ace won the 1,600 last season and was runner-up in the 3,200, and she should make a run at three individual titles with the fastest LPD1 Regional times in the 1,600 (4:42.75) and 3,200 (10:33.32) and second-fastest in the 800 (2:13.08) trailing only Grand Haven standout Gabby Hentemann in that race.
LP Division 2 at Zeeland
Top Regional team scores: 1. Dearborn Divine Child 214, 2. Zeeland East 161.5, 3. Frankenmuth 154, 4. Corunna 129.25, 5. East Grand Rapids 123.
Zeeland East broke through last season for its first MHSAA Finals championship in this sport after finishing runner-up in 2017, and could be in the mix again of a closely-contested team race. Frankenmuth, Corunna, Saginaw and most of all Holland Christian also have the elite star power to make a run at the team title.
Grand Rapids Catholic Central’s Jakarri Alven: The 400 champion as both a freshman and sophomore, Alven missed last year’s Finals with an injury but could make up for that this weekend. She had the top LPD2 Regional time in the 400 (58.57), the second-fastest in the 200 (25.82), the third-fastest in the 100 (12.48) and also will compete in long jump (16-6.5).
Allendale’s Brianna Bredeweg: After winning pole vault last season as a sophomore, Bredeweg enters with the highest LPD2 Regional vault (11-10) by 10 inches. She set the meet record last year at 12-7.
Ludington’s Emma Fountain: Last year’s 400 champion as a junior had the second-fastest LPD2 Regional time to Alven in that race (58.98) and also will run the 200 (26.74) and on the 3,200 relay.
Holland Christian’s Michelle Kuipers: The Maroons’ junior standout has won four championships, three as part of relays plus the 800 last season. Her LPD2 Regional time in the 800 (2:19.29) ranks sixth, her 1,600 time third (5:03.43) and she’ll be running on the fastest 1,600 and 3,200 relays.
Marysville’s Kaia Scheffler: After taking fourth in the 300 and seventh in the 100 hurdles last season as a sophomore, Scheffler will be aiming for her first titles entering with the top LPD2 Regional times in both races, 46.33 and 14.52 seconds, respectively.
Bridgeport’s Payten Williams: The Bearcats’ sprint star swept the 100 and 200 last season and will run for a repeat in the 100 (12.73) and as part of Bridgeport’s contending 400 relay. Freshman teammate Chaniya Madison will be among her top competition in the 100, entering with the fastest LPD2 Regional time of 12.18.
LP Division 3 at Jenison
Top Regional team scores: 1. Warren Michigan Collegiate 171, 2. Saugatuck 163.5, 3. Berrien Springs 157, 4. Pewamo-Westphalia 150, 5. Kent City 135.
Including last year’s co-champions St. Charles and Hart, six teams have claimed the overall title over the last five seasons. Pewamo-Westphalia last won in 2015 (and also 2013) and might be the favorite again – but watch especially for Shepherd, along with Quincy, St. Charles and Jackson Lumen Christi among many others.
Hart’s Adelyn Ackley: One of the state’s all-time great distance champions, Ackley will run her final high school races after claiming 3,200 titles last season and in 2016 and the last three LPD3 cross country championships. She enters this weekend with the third-fastest LPD3 Regional time in the 3,200 (10:57.22), fourth-fastest in the 1,600 (5:07.48) and running on a contending 3,200 relay.
Shepherd’s Amber Gall: The senior standout won the 800 and as part of the 3,200 relay in 2017 and just missed adding another title a year ago. But she could single-handedly alter the team standings in her final high school event, running on the fastest 1,600 relay, second-fastest 3,200 relay and entering with the fastest LPD3 Regional time in the 800 (2:12.50) and third-fastest in the 1,600 (5:06.07).
Jackson Lumen Christi’s Renae Kutcha: Last season’s 400 champion as a freshman has the fastest LPD3 Regional time on that race (57.40) and will run the 200 (26.99) plus on two relays including a contender in the 1,600.
Byron’s Sarah Marvin: The third-place finisher in both the shot put and discus as a freshman, she has the top LPD3 Regional throws in both by significant margins at 41-10.5 and 128-10, respectively.
Farwell’s Jenna Odykirk: The reigning champion in the 100 enters her last Finals with the fifth-fastest LPD3 Regional time in that race (tied – 12.90) and also should contend for a place in the 200 (26.91).
Hanover-Horton’s Judy Rector: After claiming the 800 and 1,600 titles last season as a junior, Rector will go after the double again with the second-fastest LPD3 Regional time in the 800 (2:13.73) and fifth-fastest in the 1,600 (5:08.65).
Onsted’s McKenna Russell: The standout junior hurdler will run three relays and only one individual race, the 300 hurdles. She won it in 2018 and enters with the second-fastest LPD3 Regional time (47.17) after finishing second two weeks ago to Quincy’s Madelyn Allman.
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian’s Abby VanderKooi: Considered by many the next great Michigan high school distance runner, the freshman had the best LPD3 Regional time in the 3,200 (10:36.17) by more than 18 seconds.
LP Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin Middle School
Top Regional team scores: Royal Oak Shrine 169, Pittsford 167.16, Marcellus 149, Fowler 142, Athens 140.
Fowler has taken turns winning or finishing second the last four seasons, but coming off last year’s title could be in line for a repeat this time. Pittsford is the reigning runner-up and should be right there again, with Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart and Addison among other interesting possibilities.
Royal Oak Shrine’s Ellie Kendell: Last season’s fourth-place finisher in the 1,600 and third placer in the 3,200 as a sophomore, she ran the fastest LPD4 Regional times in both at 5:17.25 and 11:35.62, respectively – the 3,200 time the fastest by more than 30 seconds.
Addison’s Ally McLouth: The Panthers’ standout could pile up points entering with the best long jump (17-2.5) from LPD4 Regionals plus the fastest 300 hurdles time (44.94) and second-fastest in the 100 hurdles (15.32). She finished second in long jump and third in the 300 as a sophomore a year ago.
Bridgman’s Mikaela Owen: Last season’s runner-up in the 100 and fifth-place finisher in the 200 as a sophomore, Owen had the fastest LPD4 Regional time in the 200 (26.36), second-fastest in the 100 (12.78), sixth-fastest in the 400 (1:02.64) and also the third-best long jump (16-5). Lincoln Alcona sophomore Lily Bilbey should be right there with her in all three races, with the fastest 100 (12.67) and second-fastest 200 (26.71) at LPD4 Regionals.
Fowler’s Alyssa Vandegriff: The Eagles’ senior standout won the high jump and 100 hurdles during last year’s title run (and the high jump in 2017 as well), and she enters her last Finals with the third-fastest LPD4 Regional time in the 100 hurdles (15.59), fourth-fastest in the 300 (48.12), tied for seventh-best high jump (4-11) and running on the fastest 800 relay.
Hillsdale Academy’s Katie VanHavel: The reigning long jump champion had the second-best leap to McLouth in all of LPD4 at their Regional two weeks ago (16-7). She’ll also run on two relays including a contender in the 800 to finish up her high school career.
UP Division 1 at Kingsford
Top Regional team scores: 1. Marquette 66, 2. Negaunee 56, 3. Sault Ste. Marie 45.
Negaunee broke Marquette’s seven-year hold on the UPD1 championship last season, outpacing the Redettes by 25.5 points. Both enter as Regional champions Saturday and appear nearly even on paper. Side note: The winners of all but one individual event in 2018 will be competing again this weekend.
Kingsford’s Olivia Allen: The senior standout will try to win four individual titles to add to her previous six solos and three championships as parts of relays. She won the 100, 200 and 400 last spring and enters with the fifth-fastest UPD1 Regional time in the 100 (13.61), second-fastest in the 200 (27.68) and second-fastest in the 400 (1:02.14), plus she’ll long jump (15-2.5).
Houghton’s Lilly Baker: The reigning pole vault champion tied with two others for the top vault at the UPD1 Regionals with an 8-6.
Marquette’s Rachael Hunt: After winning long jump and as part of the 800 relay as a junior, she’s set for a big Finals running on the fastest 400 and 800 relays and also entering with the fifth-fastest UPD1 Regional time in the 200 (28.16) and fourth-best long jump (15-4.5).
Sault Ste. Marie’s Emily McLean: Last season’s shot put champion – and meet record setter at 38-1.25 – had the top UPD1 Regional toss (39.2) by nearly five feet and also the fourth-best discus throw (95-7).
Negaunee’s Chloe Norman: The junior standout will try to add to titles won last year in the 300 hurdles and as part of the 3,200 relay, entering with the top UPD1 Regional showings in the high jump (5-0) and long jump (16-7.5), the latter by more than a foot. She also had the second-fastest 300 hurdles time (47.21) and fourth-fastest in the 100 hurdles (tied – 17.30).
Kingsford’s Rylee Palmer: Last season’s discus champ had the third-farthest UPD1 Regional toss (96-6.5) and also tied for the fourth-highest pole vault (8-0).
Negaunee’s Emily Paupore: After earning a relay win as a freshman, Paupore broke out last year with championships in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and as part of the 3,200 relay. Her 3,200 time of 11:25.52 was a meet record. She had the UPD1 Regional bests in the 800 (2:22.97), 1,600 (5:26.00) and 3,200 (11:59.61).
Menominee’s Mackenzie Wellner: The reigning champion in the 100 hurdles enters her sophomore Finals with the top UPD1 Regional times in the 100 hurdles (16.19) and 300 hurdles (46.73) and as part of contenders in the 400 and 800 relays.
UP Division 2 at Kingsford
Top Regional team scores: 1. St. Ignace 73, 2. Hancock 49.5, 3. Iron River West Iron County 45.
St. Ignace has won two straight UP Division 2 championship and three of the last five, and appears to be the team to chase again Saturday. The Saints won last season’s title by 70 points.
St. Ignace’s Elizabeth Becker: The Saints’ lead scorer last Finals won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and as part of the 1,600 relay as a junior. She has the top UPD2 Regional times in the 800 (2:22.74), 1,600 (5:37.24) and 3,200 (12:42.24) and will help pace another contending 1,600 relay.
Bark River-Harris' Hailee Demers: After winning the 300 hurdles and as part of the 400 relay in UPD3 a year ago, Demers will make a run with the top UPD2 Regional time in the 300 (50.17), the second-fastest in the 100 dash (13.18) and as part of the fastest 400 relay and second-fastest 800.
St. Ignace’s Heather Lamb: The reigning long jump champion will go for the repeat as a junior entering with the farthest UPD2 Regional jump (15-9.5) by nearly 18 inches.
Manistique’s Ashley McDonald: Last season’s pole vault champion as a junior could finish up high school in a big way, entering with the best UPD2 Regional vault (8-6) by a foot plus as part of the fastest 1,600 and 3,200 relays.
Munising’s Madeleine Peramaki: The senior distance star won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in UPD3 last season and the latter two in UPD2 in 2017. She enters with the second-fastest UPD2 Regional times in all three races at 2:26.84, 5:41.24 and 13:20.24, respectively.
St. Ignace’s Ally Schultz: The Saints’ freshman enters with the top UPD2 Regional times in the 200 (27.46), 400 (1:02.34) and third-fastest in the 100 (13.22), plus will run on a contending 800 relay.
Iron River West Iron County’s Jordan Shamion: After taking third in both hurdles races as a freshman, she enters this weekend with the top UPD2 Regional time in the 100 hurdles (17.40) and second-fastest in the 300 (51.51).
UP Division 3 at Kingsford
Top Regional team scores: 1. Lake Linden-Hubbell 82, 2. Felch North Dickinson 72.5, 3. Stephenson 68.
Lake Linden-Hubbell has won the last two UPD3 championships, last season’s by 33 points ahead of runner-up North Dickinson. The Nordics look capable of giving a major push Saturday, and watch out as well for relay-strong Rock Mid-Peninsula.
Felch North Dickinson’s Masyn Alexa: The 100 and 200 champ last season as a sophomore will go for the repeats with the second-fastest UPD3 Regional times in both at 13.33 and 27.53, respectively. She also had the fastest 400 time of 1:02:41 two weeks ago.
Lake Linden-Hubbell’s Jamie Hendrickson: She’s won the high jump and two relay titles both of her first two seasons of high school. Hendrickson enters with weekend with a UPD3 Regional-best high jump of 5-0, third-best long jump of 14-7, fifth-best 400 of 1:06.72 and as part of the top 1,600 relay.
Lake Linden-Hubbell’s MacKenzie LePage: Last season’s pole vault champion as a junior tied for the top UPD3 Regional vault of 8-6 and also will compete in high jump (4-6), long jump (13-8) and 100 hurdles (18.54).
Ontonagon’s Holly Jo Wardynski: The reigning discus champion enters her last high school Finals with the top UPD3 Regional toss (108-2) by more than five feet and also will throw shot (28-9).
PHOTOS: (Top) Oak Park’s Aasia Laurencin and White Lake Lakeland’s Grace Stark push through the finish of the 100-meter hurdles race at last season’s LPD1 Finals, as Stark set a meet record in the race. (Middle) Negaunee’s Emily Paupore breaks down the stretch during one of her three UPD1 championship wins in 2018. (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)
Madison Loaded for Another Title Pursuit
By
Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
April 13, 2017
By Chip Mundy
Special for Second Half
ADRIAN – Depth is a big thing at Adrian Madison and for its successful girls track & field team.
The Trojans return nearly all of its top performers from last year's runner-up finish in the Lower Peninsula Division 3 meet – when they finished just 3.5 points behind champion Ithaca.
They boast a deep coaching staff that features five event coaches in addition to head coach Josh Powers and strength and conditioning coach Bill Wilharms.
And Adrian Madison is deep in versatility. Many of the track athletes competed on successful teams in cross country, basketball, volleyball and cheerleading – and some of them are doing the dual-sport thing this spring by playing softball as well.
Unlike some coaches at various schools around the state, Powers embraces the dual-sport status of his student-athletes.
“We've had dual-sports here as long as we've had sports here,” Powers said. “It's all about the kids. It happens at many, many schools, and you have to have a little patience and flexibility within the coaches, but it's whatever is best for the kids.
“If the kids can handle it and get their grades, if they are good enough of an athlete, they should be allowed to do both.”
Instead of looking at it like he is sharing his athletes with other coaches, Powers sees the benefits of dual-sport athletes.
“The speed that we are working on should transfer over to a softball player,” he said. “They're running the bases, and we're helping them get faster. And they are learning things over there that should benefit us, like how to keep cool and how to be prepared and focused as you're waiting on a pitch. That should transfer over, too.”
Whatever the reason, it has worked. Madison has won 10 consecutive conference championships in girls track, and last year its depth showed with MHSAA Finals championships in two relay events. The Trojans bagged a third event title with freshman Kaiya Wall in the 100 hurdles.
With all of those champions back except one member of a relay team, there is plenty of optimism at Madison this spring.
“We have some areas to improve on, but we have great depth from the 100, 200, 400 and up to 800 with good field events, and they are quality kids, too,” Powers said. “But our division gets a whole lot tougher this year with the addition of New Lothrop and Saugatuck. I think they were third and fourth in Division 4 last year, and basically they have everybody back this year, so it's going to be a whole lot tougher.”
Leadership and laurels
Every season, Powers has meetings with his captains, who are selected by the athletes on the team. And there is a list of values that are expected of the team captains.
“We have 10 values on a wall, and we go through that with the whole team,” Powers said. “It is what we're looking for and what the captain should be. It's not just who's the coolest or the prettiest. We discuss that with the kids, and we have expectations of the culture and the values that we want to express to people.”
This season, seniors Corie Marion, Soneida Rodriguez, Megan Rosales and Delaney Stersic were elected captains.
“We talk to the captains and go through leadership roles,” Powers said. “We talk with them about it all the time; how to lead by example and how to bring others alongside instead of barking out orders and to be a line of communication between the team and the coaches. We go over that stuff all the time.
“Our captains are great kids, both athletically and academically.”
Stersic said the transition has been pretty smooth.
“We encourage the team and have little pep talks,” she said. “It's really fun because I remember when I was a freshmen and looked up to the captains, so I think they are looking up to us and thinking they can be a captain one day. It's nice.”
Rosales, Stersic and Sierra Hernandez ran on both MHSAA championship relays last spring: the 800 and 1,600, and that trio ran on the 1,600 relay team that won the Division 3 title in 2015. Benedetta Vianello, an exchange student last school year, also ran on the 800, and she is the only champion from last season that is not back. Chelsea Short also ran on the winning 1,600 relay team.
Rosales also was second in the 300 hurdles last year for the second year in a row, and she won the 400 Finals title as a sophomore in 2015.
“Two years ago, she did back-to-back 400 and 300 hurdles,” Powers said. “Last year, she had a little injury and only ran three events in the state meet. She's back to full strength now, and we're hoping she can make that double again.”
Rosales is one of the many track athletes who compete in other sports.
“I do cross country and basketball,” she said. “Cross country helps me a lot to get in shape and build up my endurance for track. It really helps for the 400 and the 800.”
The other reigning Finals champion for Madison is Wall, who won the 100 hurdles and finished second in the 300 hurdles in 2016.
“She didn't run the high hurdles in middle school, so it was a whole learning experience for her to learn how to three-step and how to do the process of learning the high hurdles,' Powers said. “She picked it up pretty quickly, and she had a great time for a freshman at the state meet.
“It was a great race. She was about fourth or fifth about halfway through the race and came on at the end and had a perfect race.”
Wall said it was sheer will power that pushed her to the Finals win.
“I was just thinking in my head that this was the event that I could win, so I just had to do it,” she said. “It was pretty incredible. It was so overwhelming because at the beginning of the race I was behind. When I crossed the finish line I thought I was second, but they announced that I won, so that was pretty cool.”
Wall also finished second in the high jump.
“She is very consistent in the high jump,” Powers said. “She's not one who is up and down.”
The string of success is always a good thing at a school, but Powers pointed out that it does come with a certain downside.
“I don't think success always breeds success,” he said. “Sometimes it scares some kids away. They think they're not as good as the No. 1 – “I'll never be as good as that person, so I'll never help the team” – is how they think.
“In reality, when we go to the team state or the league meet, we need the top three, and we need that depth. There are kids in the high school that used to run but don't run anymore. It's too tough. They can't handle not being No. 1. That hurts us a little bit.”
Wall is a perfect example. She ended up winning that Finals titles as a freshman, yet she said she felt a little intimidated joining such a successful team.
“I didn't know I was going to be as successful as I was,” she said. “I was a little intimidated because Megan was all-state every year and Delaney was so good. There was a lot of pressure, but when I started doing good, it just came naturally.
“It's so nice that we're all connected. We're kind of a small school, so we always see each other in the hallways and we know everyone, so it's like a family.”
Carousel of coaches
There is no shortage of instruction at Madison. While it isn't the only school to have as many event coaches, it is not an ordinary situation for most Division 3 schools, either.
“It's a huge benefit,” Powers said of the deep coaching staff, “and it is something that not a lot of schools do. Some of our coaches are part-time guys and we split some salaries, but it's a huge benefit.
“It means I can plan and scheme and work with my sprinters, and I don't have to be running around trying to take care of everybody else. We have every area covered.”
The event coaches are Sherri Gamble (high jump and hurdles), Jim Sterling (distance), Larry VanValkenburg (pole vault) and Al Zubke (throws), and Keith Covey (assistant throws). Powers works with the sprinters.
“Most of those coaches have been with us for 10 years or more, and this is my 18th year and 20th overall as I had two years as an assistant,” Powers added.
The athletes seem to love it.
“Coach Gamble did high jump in high school and might have done hurdles, and it's nice to get a second opinion,” Wall said. “Coach P is awesome, and he knows so much, but it's nice to have her for a second coach.”
Stersic said some of the biggest advantages of having so many coaches come during the meets.
“Coach P is always so busy during meets running things, and he doesn't always have time to talk to us, so we have other coaches we can go to when we have questions,” Stersic said. “They pretty much tell us what Coach P would tell us, so that's nice.”
With a bevy of talent and a deep stable of coaches, Madison is primed to make another run at that elusive MHSAA Finals championship.
“It fueled our fire,” Stersic said of last season’s close miss. “We're working hard this year, and we definitely want to win the title.
“I remember the feeling when they said we got second. I knew we were good, but I thought we could have done better, so it definitely helped us to make us work harder.”
Powers is confident in his team, but he certainly isn't making predictions.
“We don't put the cart before the horse,” he said. “We don't think about the state meet because we can't control it. There might be a girl that comes out and high jumps 6 feet, and there are girls that we don't know about. There are freshmen who are elite talents, and there are other divisions.
“We don't worry about that. We are going to control what we can control and work hard and take one day at a time.”
But there is one thing he will boast without hesitation, and that is the type of character shown by his student-athletes. He also coaches the boys team, and he mixes the two together.
“Our girls are a separate team, and the boys are a separate team, but we're one team,” he said. “There are a lot of schools that separate the boys and girls and they never interact, and coaches coach different. We don't do that here. We're one team, but we're separate teams.”
Powers also said those separate teams can feed off each other.
“When you have two good teams, it works out really well,” he said. “But when you have one good team and one that is struggling, they will typically follow in the leadership values of the successful team.
“This is a great academic school. We've had team academic all-state the past two years for the boys and girls. They are great kids who are hard-working, and they respect the game. They respect the sport of track and field, and they try to represent not just our school but our conference and our county. They understand the big picture.”
Chip Mundy served as sports editor at the Brooklyn Exponent and Albion Recorder from 1980-86, and then as a reporter and later copy editor at the Jackson Citizen-Patriot from 1986-2011. He also co-authored Michigan Sports Trivia. E-mail him at [email protected] with story ideas for Jackson, Washtenaw, Hillsdale, Lenawee and Monroe counties.
PHOTOS: (Top) Kaiya Wall leads the pack during a hurdles race. (Middle) Megan Rosales, during a cross country race in the fall. (Photos courtesy of the Adrian Daily Telegram.)