×

Ishpeming big winner at Upper Peninsula Division 2 track & field finals: Boys share title with Norway, Lola Korpi accounts for 4 Hematites wins

Ishpeming anchor leg runner David Liimatta celebrates after crossing the finish line as the winner of the Division 2 boys 3,200-meter relay at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in track and field held at Kingsford High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

KINGSFORD — The Ishpeming boys had been Upper Peninsula Division 2 track and field champions five of the six years prior to last season’s cancellation due to COVID-19.

The Hematites made it six of seven, but only by sharing this spring’s title with Norway as each scored 95 points on Saturday at Kingsford High School.

Iron Mountain was a close third place with 85, too.

“We had a good day,” Ishpeming coach P.J. Pruett said. “Overall our kids did well.”

This marked the first U.P. championship since 2004 for Norway.

Lola Korpi runs the anchor leg of Ishpeming's victorious 3,200-meter relay for Division 2 girls at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in track and field held at Kingsford High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Ishpeming’s David Liimatta won the 400-meter dash in 54.16 seconds and placed second in the 800 (2:07.57) and 1,600 (4:41.42). Silas Broberg copped the 3,200 (10:50.91).

The Hematites also won the 1,600 (3:47.52) and 3,200 (9:25.34) relays.

Gwinn’s David Duvall took the 110 hurdles (17.81) and was runner-up in long jump (18-9). Teammate Max Jayne took second in the 100 (11.8) and the Modeltowners were runners-up in the 400 relay (47.0).

L’Anse had a double winner in Nathan Hochstein, who took high jump at 5 feet, 9 inches, along with the long jump (18-9 1/2). Purple Hornets’ teammate Eli Ostermeyer added a first in discus (114-11) and a second in shot put (37-9 1/4).

Newberry’s Eric Edwards won the shot put (40-4 1/2) and teammate Andrea LaBionda took second in the 400 (54.69) and third in the 200 (24.06).

Ishpeming's Jordan Longtine, left, hands off to teammate Hunter Smith in the Division 2 boys 3,200-meter relay at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in track and field held at Kingsford High School on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Also for the Indians, senior Ephram Evans was runner-up in the 3,200 (11:14.17), third in the 800 (2:10.34) and 1,600 (4:44.03), and was part of the fourth-place 3,200 relay (9:49).

“Even with them squirting the water on us in the 3,200, it was hot,” Evans said. “With the forecast being what it was, you had to be mentally prepared for it.”

In the 400, Gwinn’s Mastin Love took third (55.45), with Ishpeming’s Preston Gauthier fourth (56.48) and L’Anse’s Nathan Hochenstein sixth (57.61).

From Ishpeming, Broberg placed fourth in the 1,600 (4:55.78) as did Tramon Gauthier in the 300 hurdles (47.06), Parker Gauthier in the 3,200 (11:42.34) and the Hematites’ 400 relay (48.4).

Fifths for area athletes went to Ishpeming’s Luke Kostreva in high jump (5-2) and Seth Nora in discus (85-5); Gwinn’s Caleb Stieler in the 110 hurdles (19.77) and Jayne in the 200 (24.32); Newberry’s Edwards in the 300 hurdles (50.44) and the Indians’ 800 relay (1:40.71); and the L’Anse 400 relay (49.9).

Other sixth-place finishers were Ishpeming’s Aiden Rajala in shot put (29-10) and Robert Jacobs of L’Anse in discus (71-9).

The West Iron County girls edged Ishpeming 108-104 1/2 for their first title in eight years. They were followed by Bark River-Harris with 80 and three-time defending champ St. Ignace with 71.

West Iron secured its victory by winning the last event of the day, the 1,600 relay in 4:27.04. Ishpeming was second in 4:39.92.

Ishpeming freshman Lola Korpi collected four firsts, taking the 800 in 2:34.9, 1,600 (5:41.32), 3,200 (12:26.93) and anchoring the victorious 3,200 relay (10:56.42).

Division 1 and 2 runners ran together in the open 3,200, with times separated later by division.

“That was a season-best for me in the 800,” Korpi said. “Olivia (Moffitt of Marquette) did awesome. She’s a senior and she deserves it (becoming D-1 champion).

“I just wanted to separate from the girls behind me. Olivia was a quarter track ahead of me and I knew I wasn’t going to catch her. She really surprised me. She and (Division 1 Houghton’s) Ingrid (Seagren) were my competition.”

Teammate Rebekah Loman won shot put at 32-4 3/4 and discus (104-3).

Ishpeming’s Madisyn Mead placed second in the 100 hurdles (17.8) and Addison Morton was runner-up in high jump (4-10).

Gwinn’s Victoria Paquin took second in discus (88-5) and Jordana Hardy was third in the 100 hurdles (18.56) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (55.21).

L’Anse was led by Kyra Sipe, who placed second in the 400 (52.12), third in the 200 (27.88) and fourth in the 100 (13.59).

Newberry freshman Kaylen Clark was third in the 3,200 (13:39.25) and fourth in the 1,600 (5:58.05) as she also helped the Indians take third in the 3,200 relay (11:16.54).

The Hematites placed third in the 400 relay (56.99) and fifth in the 800 relay (1:59.38).

Ishpeming’s Taylor Longtine took fourth in the 3,200 (13:40.73) as did Mead in the long jump (13-6) and Gwinn’s Tiana Taylor in shot put (28-10 1/4).

Fifths went to Ishpeming’s Jocelynn Nyman in discus (73-8) and freshman Payton Manninen shared fifth with Ironwood’s Sienna Hollenbeck in pole vault (6-0).

Longtine was sixth in the 1,600 (6:12.84) as was Newberry’s 1,600 relay (5:02.19) and Hannah Kropp in high jump (4-2).

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today