Sturgis Girls Strong Again After 1st Finals Win, Surging in Repeat Pursuit
By
Scott Hassinger
Special for MHSAA.com
May 12, 2026
STURGIS – Sturgis girls track & field coach Lesley Starkey recalls working with a special group of young athletes a few years back in the Girls on the Run Program.
She is now reaping the rewards of that group's early introduction to running.
After winning the 2025 MHSAA Lower-Peninsula Division 2 Finals championship, Sturgis is off to another fabulous start this spring.
Led by seven returning runners who competed at the Finals a year ago, the Trojans haven't missed a beat despite losing some big-time contributors off that squad.
Sturgis has continued to thrive, completing the Wolverine Conference dual-meet season with a 7-0 mark and earning first in Friday's league meet in Vicksburg to capture a second-consecutive outright conference title.
Now the Trojans' attention shifts to repeating as Regional, St. Joseph County and Finals champions. The Trojans host their Regional on Friday.
Starkey, a native of Albion and a University of Michigan graduate, knew her team had the potential to do something out of the ordinary last season.
"We knew this group was special. I had watched these girls from the time they were in elementary school, junior high and they were very composed once they got to high school," said Starkey, a distance-running standout when she competed for the Wolverines.
The Trojans' coach used a situation at the 2025 Finals meet as an example when describing her athletes’ resolve.
"We were thrown a curveball last year at state with only one coach being allowed down on the infield during the meet. I decided that person should be Elton Raines, our sprint and relay coach,” Starkey said. “Our girls proved it wasn't necessary to have all us coaches there. They showed great maturity by doing it all on their own.”
J.B. Starkey, Lesley's husband, also grew up in Albion and then competed for Albion College in the steeplechase. Lesley teaches at Congress School in Sturgis, while J.B. is a physical education instructor at the high school and also the boys track & field coach. The couple have two children – 10-year old son Henry and daughter Alice, an eighth grader.
Sturgis' team was powered last season in the sprints and relays by now-Michigan freshman Keyanna O'Tey, who recently broke the Wolverines' record in the 200-meter dash at 23 seconds in the Duke Twilight Meet in Durham, N.C.
"Keyanna was home and came down and led our warmups at one of our practices. That shows that track & field is a path to something bigger in life than just sports," Lesley Starkey said.
Depth is once again a major strength at Sturgis with more than 50 athletes on the squad. The Trojans are especially strong in the relays and swept all four at the conference meet.
"Our relay teams have been huge for us this season. Our distance runners have also been a big focus, along with our hurdlers. Those kids have really stepped up and scored a lot of points in those areas," Starkey said.
Sturgis’ senior-dominated 3,200-meter relay of Sydney Bir, Tessa Hatt, Kinder Smith and Berkley Holtz has posted the second-fastest time in LP Division 2 this spring at 9:25.03 after earning third in the state as juniors.
"Winning state in the 3,200 relay has been in the back of our mind all year and we want to break our school record again. We have very good runners, and the coaching staff really pushes us. The girls before us set high standards and I believe we want to prove we can do that as well," said Bir, who will continue running at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and plans to study education with the intent of becoming a teacher and coach.
Among Bir's other goals before she's done with her prep career are to qualify for the Finals in the 400, in which she owns a personal-best time this year of 59.97.
Unlike most of her teammates, Smith concentrates solely on the four relay events.
"I really enjoy the relays because I'm so diverse in my running. I can go run a good 800 time in the longer relay and come back with a good 100-meter dash time in the 400 relay,” she said. “Everything can be individual in this sport, but we all know what we have to do to show up and get the job done for the team. No one complains, we just kind've lift one another up. It takes hard work and determination to get this done."
Smith will run for Spring Arbor University next and pursue a career as a nurse practitioner.
Sturgis' coach is excited about the Trojans' chances at the Finals in multiple events, especially the 3,200 relay.
"Sydney, Tessa, Kinder and Berkley are the most hungry event group of anyone on our team. They want to show what they can do. All four of them are college-bound runners. I've enjoyed working with them since they were really young, and its been so much fun," Starkey said.
Hatt signed recently to run cross country and track at North Central College, where she will study psychology with plans to obtain a degree in pediatric pre-occupational therapy.
"I used to want to be a teacher, but I became interested in helping kids in a different way," Hatt said.
In addition to the 3,200 relay, Hatt concentrates on the open 1,600 and 800 as well. She qualified for the Finals her junior year in the 800.
"We added Kinder to the 3,200 relay last year, and we all just really clicked. Since then we have all just done our part, and everything we do is to obtain the goal of winning state,” Hatt said. “Sydney gets out to such a strong start for us before she gives the baton to me. I try to maintain that. Kinder is faster than most teams’ third-leg runners, and Berkley does such a great job of chasing.”
Smith, Holtz and Bir team up with sophomore Olivia Green in the 1,600 relay, where the Trojans rank fourth in 4:10.01. Sophomore Addison Eicher, Smith, freshman Madelyn Oswald and senior Angela Cary are rated fifth in the 400-meter relay (50.87). Eicher, Cary, Bir and Smith comprise the team’s fourth-ranked 800-meter relay (1:47.21). The quartet already have met the Finals-qualifying time.
Cary has shined brightly in the high jump, where she is tied for third-best at 5-foot-5. She also long jumps (16-1) and competes in the two relays.
"As a junior I was only about a quarter inch off the school record in the long jump. I've been working on my landing, and that's a big key to reaching my goals there," she said.
"As a group we all enjoy spending time together. Our close connection is a big thing with this team. It helps to avoid any drama. We definitely are looking forward to Regionals and winning state again."
Holtz recently broke Ann Marie Arseneau's 10-year school record in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11:09.63.
"I was feeling really good that day and just went for it. They had combined the boys and girls races and I ran with one of my friends from the guys team. It was a little unexpected considering I hadn't ran the 3,200 since I was a freshman. The meet was against Otsego, so we were just trying to score as many points as possible to win," said Holtz, who has prospered following a late-season ankle injury as a junior that required offseason surgery.
Holtz credits Sturgis' success on the track to her team's strong work ethic and a solid coaching staff.
"Our success is built on great teamwork. We all work well together and lift each other up. Our coaches put in a great deal of effort and that encourages us to give 100-percent effort during practice and running faster times," said Holtz, who plans to study nursing at U-M.
Holtz also owns Sturgis' school record in the open 800 (2:16).
Oswald is also a rising star in the pole vault with a personal-best effort of 9-9.
"Madelyn is a very versatile kid who has made a very big impact so far," Starkey said.
While Sturgis is relatively young in the throws, junior Vivian Massey – last year's Division 2 adaptive shot put champion, returns for her third season and is primed to repeat. She is a two-time Finals qualifier and placer.
"We graduated some good kids last season, but the leadership our current seniors bring to practice every day has helped shape our younger kids. It shows that they can be just as successful if they are willing to put in the work as well,” Starkey said. “This is a real driven group who are super positive, and they celebrate each other's success. Their main goal is to build on the program's success. We have great team chemistry and a lot of these girls run cross country, play basketball and the opportunity to spend time so much time together has created a tight bond.”
Scott Hassinger is a contributing sportswriter for Leader Publications and previously served as the sports editor for the Three Rivers Commercial-News from 1994-2022. He can be reached at [email protected] with story ideas for Berrien, Cass, St. Joseph and Branch counties.
PHOTOS (Top) Sydney Bir, right, hands off the baton in the 800-meter relay to senior teammate Kinder Smith during a meet. (Middle) Berkley Holtz carries the baton during her leg in the 3,200-meter relay. (Below) Senior Tessa Hatt prepares to take the baton from a teammate during the 3,200-meter relay this season against Otsego. (Photos provided by Sturgis Public Schools.)
Preview: Watch for Falling Records
June 2, 2017
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
If there is one theme that can be drawn across all seven MHSAA Girls Track & Field Finals to be run Saturday, it’s probably this:
There are plenty of standouts who have climbed the medal stand before – and could knock down a number of records on their way back up.
Read on for some of the teams and individuals to watch at Saturday's girls meets. Click for meet information including all qualifiers and come back Saturday night for results as they come in. Check out MHSAA.TV for live streaming of running events from both peninsulas, available with subscription.
LP Division 1 at East Kentwood
Top Regional scores: 1. East Kentwood 193, 2. Ann Arbor Pioneer 174, 3. Rockford 169½.
Ann Arbor Pioneer: Last season’s runner-up could score major distance points with junior Anne Forsyth, whose 1,600 (4:47.74) and 3,200 (10:21.92) top times are the fastest in the division this season. Senior Alice Hill’s top 800 time ranks among the top four, and junior Britten Bowen’s top 100 dash and 100 hurdles times both rank second and she’s the reigning champion in the latter. The 3,200 relay has the fastest time (9:02.69) by 17 seconds, and the 400 relay has come in second fastest.
Oak Park: The three-time reigning champion could be in line for a fourth straight title paced again by speedy relays – the 400 (47.38), 800 (1:39.03) and 1,600 (3:53.01) have run the division’s fastest times in those events this spring, and the 3,200 (9:19.68) has the second-fastest time. Senior Tamea McKelvy has top-three times in both the 100 and 200, and senior Carlita Taylor has the second-fastest 300 hurdles time. Dorriann Coleman is the reigning 800 champion.
Rockford: The Rams also could make a move on the title powered by relays. All four have run times that rank among the top five in LP Division 1 this season; the 800 and 1,600 relays have run the second-fastest times this spring.
Anavia Battle, Wayne Memorial senior: Battle finished fifth in the 100 and second in the 200 last season, and her top 100 time this spring (11.53) would push the all-Finals record.
Landon Kemp, Greenville senior: The reigning pole vault champion already holds the all-Finals record of 13 feet, 4 inches, and the second highest vault this season of 12-9 – plus the best long jump by more than five inches at 18-11 after finishing second in that event last season.
Taylor Manson, East Lansing senior: After finishing fifth in the 200 and second in the 400 last season, Manson enters this weekend with the fastest times in the division this season in both races – 23.90 and 54.96, respectively.
Grace Stark, White Lake Lakeland sophomore: Stark has run top-10 times in LP Division 1 in the 100, 200 and 100 hurdles, and that hurdles time (13.54) is especially notable because it came a week ago and would break the all-Finals record set in 2003.
Quiara Wheeler, Grand Blanc senior: After winning the discus championship last season by five feet, she has the best throw in the division this season (153-4) by more than four feet.
LP Division 2 at Zeeland
Top Regional scores: 1. Dearborn Divine Child 210, Ada Forest Hills Eastern 144, Zeeland East 137.
Holland Christian: Junior Kayla Windemuller is the reigning champion in the 1,600 and 3,200 and has the fastest times in the division this season in both races, 4:55.82 and 10:38.49, respectively, and is part of the the fastest 3,200 relay time (9:28.19). That 10:38 would set a meet record.
Lansing Waverly: The Warriors are coming off their first MHSAA team title, and could add a second with the top 400 (50.04) and 800 (1:44.88) relay times in the division entering the weekend after winning both last year. Freshman Priscilla Trainor has the third-fastest times in both the 100 and 200, and junior Malin Smith has the longest shot put (45-9¼) and second-longest discus toss (140-5).
Zeeland East: The Chix finished fifth last season and could make a move led by junior hurdler Suenomi Norinh, who has top-five times in both races in the division this spring. Sophomore Aliyah Boeve has top six throws in both, and Norinh has the top high jump (5-9¼) and second-best long jump (17-6¾) in LP Division 2. She won the high jump last season, and her best this season would break the meet record.
Jakarri Alven, Grand Rapids Catholic Central sophomore: The reigning champion in the 400 and runner-up in the 200 has run top eight times in the division this season in those races and the 100.
Ieisha Davis, Romulus senior: After placing third twice and runner-up in a third sprint last season, Davis is seeking her first title with the second-fastest times in the 100 and 200 and ninth-fastest time in the 400 this spring.
Zoe Eby, Carleton Airport senior: Eby has the fastest 100 (11.97) and 200 (24.35) times in the division this season, and the 200 would be a meet record while her best 100 would threaten the record in that race. She won the 200 and finished third in the 100 last season.
Casey Korte, Gaylord senior: Last season’s long jump champion (and fourth-place finisher in the high jump) has posted jumps among the top seven in the division this season in both events, although she is not doing high jump this weekend.
Gabriella LeRoux, Spring Lake senior: The reigning pole vault champion is tied for the top vault this season (12-0) and also will run on a top 800 relay.
LP Division 3 at Comstock Park
Top Regional scores: Clinton Township Clintondale 221, Pewamo-Westphalia 170, Saugatuck 168.
Adrian Madison: The Trojans finished second last season, 3½ points back, and have the firepower to take the next step. Senior Megan Rosales ran on two winning relays and was runner-up in the 300 hurdles last season, and she has the top times in the division this spring in that race (44.77) and the 400 (57.56).
Pewamo-Westphalia: The Pirates won in 2013 and 2015, making this their season again by that pattern. They should be able to back up that hope led by senior Brenna Wirth, whose fastest 200 time (25.74) is tops in the division this season while she also ranks among the fastest in the 100 and 400. Three relays also have posted times among the top four in the division.
Shepherd: Picking a third team to rise in this division is tough because the top performers are spread out over a number of possible contenders. But the Bluejays get the call because of the potential scoring of sophomore Amber Gall. She has the division’s top time in the 800 this season (2:14.83) and also ranks among the top performers in the 1600 and 3,200 and as part of 1,600 and 3,200 relays that have posted times among the top four in the division.
Adelyn Ackley, Hart sophomore: After winning the 3,200 last season as a freshman, Ackley could be in line for more. She has the division’s best time in that race (10:29.45), the second-fastest in the 1,600 (4:54.31) and also ranks as part of a top 3,200 relay. Her best 3,200 individual time would break the meet record by six seconds.
Hannah Hall, Millington junior: The reigning champion in the high jump has the division’s top jump this spring at 5-6, two inches higher than when she won a year ago. That jump Saturday would tie the meet record.
Brooklin Klopf, Montrose senior: As a junior, Klopf won the shot put and didn’t place in the discus, but she enters the weekend with the top throws in both this spring: 44-4½ and 143-6, respectively.
Kasey Staley, Clare senior: Staley broke the meet record last season winning with a vault of 12-4, and she’s gone 12-6½ this spring.
Olivia Theis, Lansing Catholic junior: Her top 3,200 time (10:31.03), while second to Ackley’s, also would break the meet record by four seconds. Theis also has the top time this season in the 1,600 (4:53.74).
LP Division 4 at Grand Rapids Houseman Field
Top Regional scores: 1. Fowler 208, 2. Manton 193, 3. Muskegon Western Michigan Christian 147.
Fowler: The Eagles are going for their second straight championship and fourth this decade. Fowler won last season with three relay titles but no individual wins; those relays are again strong, but sophomore Alyssa Vandegriff in particular has a chance to shine individually. She has the second-fastest time in the 100 hurdles and 10th-fastest in the 300, and the top high jump (5-3). The 1,600 relay (4:08.89) also has the fastest time for that event this spring.
Pittsford: The Wildcats’ lone top-two team finish in this sport was a runner-up in Class D in 1994, but they have the standouts to make a run. Most notably, the 400 relay (52.33) and 800 relay (1:49.72) have run the fastest times this season in those events, and senior Maddie Clark – runner-up in discus last season – has the top discus toss (138-3) by 16 feet and the second-farthest shot (36-11). Senior Katie Clement’s 11-0 top pole vault is a foot better than the field.
Southfield Christian: A pair of standouts will give the Eagles a chance to move all the way up from eighth last season. Junior Chika Amene has the top times in the 100 (12.58) and 200 (25.71) and second-fastest 400 (58.21) in the division this season. Junior Kaelin Ray has the fastest 300 hurdles (46.42) and third-fastest 100 hurdles times.
Baleigh Irelan, Reading junior: Irelan has posted only the eighth-best time in the division in the 300 hurdles – but her winning time last season would be the best.
Erika Lechner, Harbor Springs senior: Last season’s shot put champion has added nearly four feet to that title-winning throw with her best this spring being 45-10 – nine feet farther than the rest of the pack. She’s also a discuss contender.
Mary Leighton, Mendon senior: The reigning 100 hurdles champion also set the meet record last year at 14.93 seconds. She has the division’s best time this season (15.40) and the fourth-best in the 300 hurdles after finishing fourth a year ago in that race.
Samantha Saenz, Concord junior: Her division-best time in the 1,600 (5:05.69) is more than 10 seconds better than the rest, and she’s also among the top six in the 3,200 and 800 after winning the 1,600 and finishing third in the 3,200 last year.
Ava Strenge, Battle Creek St. Philip senior: Strenge will try to add at least one more title to a celebrated career. She finished first in the 3,200 last season, has the fastest time this season (11:02.79) by nine seconds and the second-fastest in the 1,600.
UP Division 1 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: 1. Marquette 75, 2. Sault Ste. Marie 49, 3. Houghton 47.
Marquette: The Redettes have won six straight U.P. Division 1 titles and remain favorites even after graduating some stars last spring. Marquette won all four relays at its Regional, and senior Izabelle Peterson was first in the 200 and second in the 100 after winning both races at last season’s Finals.
Sault Ste. Marie: The Blue Devils tied for second at the Finals last season and finished second to Marquette at this year’s Regional, but had the winner in three of eight running events in the latter. Senior Courtney Arbic was a relay standout at last year’s Finals, but enters this one with a first place in the 800 and second place in the 400 at the Regional.
Olivia Allen, Kingsford sophomore: The reigning 400 champ and 200 runner-up won both races and was second in the 100 at her Regional.
Jenny Brandt, Escanaba senior: She won the discus last season by eight feet, and won it at her Regional by 17 in addition to finishing third in shot put and high jump.
Clara Johnson, Negaunee junior: She won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at her Regional, setting herself up well to add to last season’s Finals title in the 3,200.
Sydney Mills, Gladstone junior: The reigning high jump champion won that event and was second in the long jump at her Regional.
Kendra Monette, Houghton junior: She’ll be favored to win the shot put again after doing so by nearly five feet a year ago and by more than five at her Regional; she also won the 100 at the latter.
UP Division 2 at Kingford
Top Regional scores: 1. Ishpeming 70, 2. St. Ignace 64, 3. Munising 50.
Ishpeming: The Hematites have won the last two championships and return two significant scorers for one last high school meet –reigning discus and shot put title winner Marissa Maino, and reigning 800, 1,600 and 3,200 winner Khora Swanson. Junior Katie Loman won both hurdles races at the Regional and could make another sizable contribution.
St. Ignace: The Saints are going for their fifth championship this decade and after finishing third a year ago. Junior Linnie Gustafson is the reigning high jump champ and has gone 5-3, three inches higher than at last year’s Finals. Sophomore Emily Coveyou also will be key to contention; she won the 200 and 400 at her Regional.
Taylor Bryant, Newberry senior: She won the 100 hurdles in Division 3 last season but is competing in Division 2 this time. So far, so good: she won the 100 and 300 hurdles at her Regional.
Emmy Kinner, Iron River West Iron County senior: She’s won seven individual Finals titles, including the 100, 200 and 400 two straight seasons. She won all three at her Regional, two races by significant margins.
UP Division 3 at Kingsford
Top Regional scores: 1. Lake Linden-Hubbell 91½, 2. Stephenson 64, 3. Pickford 59.
Lake Linden-Hubbell: The Lakes should make a good run at their first Finals title since 1994. Junior Laura Lyons was the long jump champion by five inches last season and posted top-four finishes in the 400 and 200; she won all three and the 100 at the Regional, where the Lakes took first in four of five field events and three of four relays.
Stephenson: The Eagles are seeking their first title – and top-two finish – since 1993. Their highest placer last season was a third in the 200, but that could change with sophomore sprinter Amanda Starzynski riding the wave of Regional championships in the 100, 200 and 400.
Ashtyn Buss, Engadine junior: After winning the shot put and finishing runner-up in discus a year ago, Buss helped her team to a Regional title with wins in both events.
Camryn Croasdell, Rock Mid-Peninsula freshman: She’s a reigning champion despite being a freshman, having finished first in the 200 last year as an eighth grader. She took first at her Regional and also finished second in the 100.
PHOTO: Newberry’s Taylor Bryant charges over a hurdle during last season’s U.P. Division 3 Finals. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)