Preview: LP Girls Finals Lineup Loaded with Past Champs, Potential Record-Setters
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
May 29, 2026
Years from now, or perhaps much sooner, this weekend’s MHSAA Lower Peninsula Girls Track & Field Finals might be remembered as one of the most star-studded we’ve seen in some time.
Returning qualifiers have won a combined 29 individual Finals championships over the last three seasons, and at least a few meet records are in danger of being rewritten Saturday as athletes compete at four Grand Rapids-area sites.
All four LP Finals will begin with pole vault and long jump beginning at 9 a.m., followed by race semifinals and the 3,200 relay at 10 a.m. and the rest of the running finals starting at noon. Tickets cost $11 and are available digitally only via GoFan.
MHSAA.tv will live-stream all four meets beginning at 10 a.m., viewable with subscription. Check out the Girls Track & Field page for meet information for all four sites and lists of all qualifiers. Those described as "seeded" below have received those seeds based on Regional performances or meeting early qualification standards. (Although not noted for most, several individuals below also will run on contending relays.)
Below is a glance at team contenders and individuals to watch in all four divisions:
Division 1 at Rockford
Team forecast: Oak Park has won the last three Division 1 championships, and Detroit Renaissance has finished second two of the last three seasons after claiming the title in 2022. Oak Park is certainly the favorite again Saturday, but Detroit Cass Tech might offer the greatest challenge this time, with 2024 runner-up Ann Arbor Pioneer another school to watch for at the top.
Nevaeh Burns, Oak Park junior: She’s won the 400 both of her first two seasons and run on five relay champs as well, and enters this weekend seeded first in the 400 (54.21), running the 100 and 200 and as part of the top-seeded 800 relay (1:38.62).
Natasza Dudek, Ann Arbor Pioneer sophomore: The Division 1 cross country record-setting champion this past fall will attempt to build on her second place in the 3,200 and fourth in the 1,600 last spring, seeded first in the 3,200 (10:01.05) and running on the top-seeded 3,200 relay (9:08.39) after scratching from the 800 and 1,600 despite being the top seed in the latter as well.
Payton Gee, Oak Park sophomore: She was part of two relay champions last year, and could add to that haul seeded first in the 100 hurdles (13.88) and 300 hurdles (44.49), slated to run on two top-seeded relays but also qualified in the 100, 200 and 400.
Kamryn Tatum, West Bloomfield senior: She’ll close a celebrated high school career seeking a fourth championship in the 200 and second-straight in the 100. She’s seeded first in the 200 (23.68) and second in the 100 (11.77) and could also run on two relays after scratching as the third seed in the 400, which she won as a freshman.
Collette Wierks, Holland West Ottawa junior: The reigning champion in the 800 also has run on two 3,200 relay winners and enters this weekend seeded second in the 800 (2:11.31) and running on 3,200 and 1,600 relays.
Lorelai Zielinski, Traverse City Central junior: The all-Finals records for shot put and discus could fall to the Trojans’ standout, whose top-seeded tosses of 52-6 and 167 feet, respectively, would be all-time bests. She swept the throws last season.
Division 2 at Hamilton
Team forecast: Sturgis claimed its first Finals championship last season, and Spring Lake is among contenders with a chance to do the same. Sturgis should be heard from again, and 2024 champion Dearborn Divine Child also has the capability to follow its standouts back to the top.
Evie Mathis, Wayland senior: The reigning pole vault champion posted a Regional-best 13-0 and will also run on two relays.
Eliza Schwass, Ludington freshman: She’s enjoyed an incredible first season and enters her first Finals seeded first in the 800 (2:08.61) by almost three seconds, first in the 1,600 (4:40.34) by nearly nine and first in the 3,200 by nearly 14.
Macy Subka, Spring Lake junior: She finished third in the 300 hurdles and 17th in the 100 hurdle prelims last season, and enters this weekend seeded second in the 100 hurdles (14.91), first in the 300 (44.13) and likely to run on two top-seeded relays.
Leigha Whitman, Stevensville Lakeshore junior: The reigning long jump champion is seeded first (18-10½) and likely to run on two relays as well.
Aubrey Wilson, Dearborn Divine Child junior: She’ll pursue her third 100-meter title and second-straight in the 200, and is seeded first in those two races (11.52 and 23.77, respectively) and the 400 (56.14) and could also long jump or run a relay.
Division 3 at Kent City
Team forecast: Olivet broke through last season for its first Finals team championship, and the Eagles have entries seeded at or near the top in every running event as they pursue a repeat. Lansing Catholic is seeking its first girls track championship and has the potential to put up major points in the distance open races and relays. Traverse City St. Francis and Pewamo-Westphalia are others to watch.
Julia Hughes, Ida senior: The reigning 100 hurdles champion is seeded first in that race (14.60) and second in the 300 hurdles (46.03).
Giuliana Nastale, Erie Mason senior: She’s seeking repeats in both the 100 and 200 dashes, and she’s a contender in three races seeded fourth in the 100 (12.25), third in the 200 (25.58) and second in the 400 (58.88).
Emily Peters, Olivet senior: She’s running for a fourth 300 hurdles championship and seeded first in that race (45.32) and third in the 100 hurdles (15.17) with opportunities as well to run the 100 and long jump (in which she’s seeded fourth) or on any of three contending relays.
Addyson Stiverson, Montrose junior: She swept the throws last season and won shot put as a freshman as well, and her Regional shot put of 51-10 also would break the all-Finals record this weekend. She’s seeded second in the discus (145-5).
Grace Wonch, Lansing Catholic junior: She’s seeded first in the 1,600 (4:59.96) and 3,200 (10:37.02) and second in the 800 (2:18.96) after finishing eighth in the 3,200 but running on the winning 3,200 relay in 2025.
Division 4 at Hudsonville Baldwin
Team forecast: Fowler has won the last two Division 4 team titles, and the Eagles remain in the conversation with potential point scorers all over this meet. But last season’s runner-up Frankfort may be the team to watch as it runs for a first championship, entering with three top-seeded relays plus contenders in sprints and pole vault. Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep also is seeking a first Finals win and has possible contributors spread among several events.
Ryleigh Ewald, Unionville-Sebewaing senior: The reigning discus champion had the top Regional throw of 124-8 and also will compete in shot put.
Kaylie Livingston, Whitmore Lake junior: She’s won two Division 4 cross country championships plus the 3,200 the last two springs, and she’s seeded first in that race (11:01.75) and the 1,600 (5:07.55) and fourth in the 800 (2:23.01).
Claire Long, Saginaw Nouvel Catholic Central junior: She won the 400 and finished third in the 200 a year ago, and this time she’s seeded first in the 400 (57.32), fifth in the 200 (25.77) and seventh in the 100.
Annie Saenz, Concord sophomore: The reigning high jump champion had the highest Regional jump this spring (5-7) by four inches and also could run on two contending relays.
Clara Slattery, Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep junior: She finished second in the 200 and 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles during a strong 2025 meet, and could follow that up substantially seeded first in the 200 (25.01) and 300 hurdles (43.86) and second in the 400 (58.12) and 100 hurdles (15.51).
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Natasza Dudek, front left, and Gaylord’s Kate Berkshire take the early lead in the Diamond 1,600 at Romeo’s Barnyard Invitational this season. (Middle) West Bloomfield’s Kamryn Tatum, middle, sprints to an Oakland County championship Friday. (Photos by Dave McCauley, at Oakland County, and John Brabbs at Romeo/RunMichigan.com.)
TC Central's Zielinski Eying Finals Records, U-M Stardom, Olympic Aspirations
By
Tom Spencer
Special for MHSAA.com
May 29, 2026
Lorelai Zielinski may be on the verge of winning her second-straight MHSAA Finals championships in both the discus and shot put as she prepares to compete at Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Division 1 Track & Field Finals in Rockford.
And, while being named a champion again would be an honor for the Traverse City Central junior star, she’s quick to put it in perspective.
“One thing that I always tell myself, the point of track & field is not to win — it’s all that hard work that you have done to build up to that point, and winning is just part of it all,” the University of Michigan commit said. “It's just the effect of everything that you do, and it definitely is a great accomplishment because it’s ‘states’ and some people's biggest meet of the year. Having state champion next to your name, especially more than once, and more than one event, is amazing.”
Zielinski won last year’s titles as a sophomore with throws of 46 feet, 11¾ inches in the shot put and 155-1 in the discus. She has dominated the competition so much the last couple years that local media often report her success as a winning “by a long way again.”
Her personal records, both set this spring, are 52-6 in the shot put and 168-5 in the discus. Both would set MHSAA Finals records for all divisions if she replicates them Saturday.
To Paul Anderson, Central’s head coach, Zielinski is in a category all by herself. Anderson has been around high school track in New Mexico and Michigan for 30 years. He’s coached a couple of nationally recognized names over the years, but noted Zielinski really stands out.
At Central, Anderson also coached recent Stanford graduate Julia Flynn, who made national headlines when she became the first prep girl during the 2020 season to run a 5K faster than 17 minutes. In New Mexico at Los Alamos High School, Anderson coached Chase Jackson (then Chase Ealey), currently a dominant global force in track & field. Jackson made history as the first American woman to win a shot put world title, claiming outdoor gold in 2022 and 2023.
“Lorelai is a thrower, a strong woman, and is just a great person,” Anderson said. “She is probably one of the highest-rated high school athletes that I've ever coached. It’s not just her consistency, but dominance.”
During Zielinski’s early days in the sport she was coached by her mother, Amanda. Lorelai competed in shot put as a sixth grader for Traverse City East Middle School.
Zielinski, who remains the sixth, seventh and eighth-grade record-holder at East, started exploring throwing discus the summer after seventh grade.
“Lorelai started learning about and following the sport very early, but not obsessively,” Anderson said. “She loves it — but it's not owning her — it doesn't mean that’s who she is. It’s like, ‘This is what I do, and I'm not going to be like anybody else.’ Everybody talks about what a good person she is and then being an athlete — then being a thrower — gives a nice dimension.”
Zielinski has high hopes for success in college sports and quite possibly, and most likely, as onlookers say, for the national team someday.
She has her eyes on the throwing qualifying standards for the 2028 U.S. Olympic Trials, and she realizes 2032 might be a more obtainable goal. She’s planning to focus on shot put and discus while exploring the javelin, hammer and weight throws while competing for the Wolverines and pursuing studies in physical therapy or audiology.
But for now, she is celebrating having an impact on young female athletes. She recalls her younger sports days looking up to basketball and track athletes, including current teammates.
“Obviously, track is about performing and all that, but I wanted to be able to be a role model for these younger girls,” said Zielinski, who also plays basketball for the Trojans. “I wanted to be able to inspire younger girls. It's definitely a great feeling that other people look to me for inspiration.”
Zielinski is a recognized figure around middle school and elementary track meets as she volunteers to help with events including shot put. She’s enjoyed watching anecdotal evidence of growth in the sport’s numbers and talent as well as in the presence of high school coaches helping out middle school throwers in particular.
As further evidence of Zielinski’s impact, earlier this week Traverse City kids swept the shot put podium at the MHSAA Middle School Regional in Cadillac. West’s Anna Hornacek, the school’s seventh and eighth-grade record-holder, took first with a 40-2 throw. East’s Delaney Neveau, a sixth grader, was second at 33-5, and West’s Eilley Dwyer, the second-leading seventh-grade thrower all-time, was third at 32-11.
Zielinski and Anderson are thrilled to have field events coach Chad Norton guiding her success. Zielinski especially appreciates Norton’s constant reminders that “practice doesn’t make perfection – practice makes progress.”
Norton’s been especially helpful with the mental aspects of throwing, something with which Zielinski admits she has often struggled.
“One thing Coach Doug always tells me is to breathe and have fun,” she said. “Getting in my head or setting my standards too high, I won't be having fun, and the point of it is to have fun.”
Anderson, now in his 10th year at the helm of the Trojans’ track program, is quick to point out the pride Norton has in Zielinski’s success. Anderson also points to the development of freshman thrower Nora Jensen, who already has found success under Zielinski’s mentorship.
“Doug avoids the spotlight and he’s very much honed into knowing what he had with Lorelai and his responsibility,” Anderson said. “I love Chad as a coach, because not only does he work with Lorelai, but then he takes as much time, or more, with the new shot putters. It's a great community that he has going there.”
Zielinski, who is hoping to have Norton train with her over the summer and next winter, has her freshman year MHSAA Finals in the back of her mind as she prepares for this year’s meet.
She finished second in both shot put and discus two years ago to then senior Abigail Russell of Allen Park. But she’s since exceeded Russell’s distances as she looks to become a teammate to Russell at Michigan.
Zielinski bettered Russell’s distances, in fact, at this year’s Regional Meet in Mount Pleasant. The Trojan stellar throw topped the 50-foot mark in the shot put and exceeded 161 feet in the discus.
Expect Zielinski to be wearing her trademark different-colored shoes again at the Finals. She’s worn two colors since entering high school, and this time she’ll be sporting a new pair of yellow and orange Nikes. She introduced them this week at the Traverse City Record-Eagle Honor Roll Meet.
Zielinski must replace the shoes during the season because she wears out the bottom of her right one.
“So I buy two pair of shoes for that reason, as well as my freshman year when I started doing it I felt a little bit superstitious. So I always have different-colored shoes as a tradition,” Zielinski said. “I also write different affirmations on each of my shoes such as ‘Have fun,’ ‘Breathe,’ ‘Control,’ and ‘Be the one thing in life you can control.’”
Tom Spencer is a longtime MHSAA-registered basketball and soccer official, and former softball and baseball official, and he also has coached in the northern Lower Peninsula area. He previously has written for the Saginaw News, Bay County Sports Page and Midland Daily News. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Manistee, Wexford, Missaukee, Roscommon, Ogemaw, Iosco, Alcona, Oscoda, Crawford, Kalkaska, Grand Traverse, Benzie, Leelanau, Antrim, Otsego, Montmorency, Alpena, Presque Isle, Cheboygan, Charlevoix and Emmet counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Traverse City Central’s Loralei Zielinski winds up during a discus throw. (Middle) Zielinski launches the shot while a gathered crowd watches. (Top photo by Jan Michael Stump/Traverse City Record-Eagle. Middle photo by TC Rick Sports Photography.)