Add to a dynasty: Marquette Senior High School boys win 4th straight MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals Division 1 track & field championship
Marquette's Tucker Welsh gets an explosive start out of the blocks in the first leg of the 800-meter relay that the Sentinels won during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 boys track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
From right to left, Sault Ste. Marie's Gabe Litzner holds a small lead during the first lap of the boys’ 1,600-meter run during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 boys track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. Following LItzner is Marquette's Evan Balko and Chase Thomsen, Houghton's Luke Hill and the Sentinels’ James Barch. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
Marquette's Tucker Welsh gets an explosive start out of the blocks in the first leg of the 800-meter relay that the Sentinels won during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 boys track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
From right to left, Sault Ste. Marie's Gabe Litzner holds a small lead during the first lap of the boys’ 1,600-meter run during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 boys track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. Following LItzner is Marquette's Evan Balko and Chase Thomsen, Houghton's Luke Hill and the Sentinels’ James Barch. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
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Other track finals: Because of computer issues, other U.P. track finals from Saturday will be available in Tuesday's Journal Sports
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KINGSFORD -- The Marquette Senior High School boys continued their domination at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 track and field, collecting their fourth consecutive title at Kingsford High School on Saturday with 163 points.
Kingsford was a rather distant runner-up with 101, while Gladstone also trailed far back in third with 67.
Sault Ste. Marie was fourth with 52, Gladstone fifth with 47 and Negaunee sixth with 34. They were followed by Menominee with 24, Manistique with 15, Escanaba 13 and Westwood and Calumet each with 3.
"We really did well," Marquette coach Derek Marr said. "I'm really proud of the fact we were able to score points in 16 of 17 events, and it was good to see our guys to win three relays. It's great to see a full team effort.
"A few years ago people talked about how good we were in the distances, but we weren't satisfied with that. We wanted to be a well-rounded team."
Marquette junior Kyler Sager won long jump with a leap of 19 feet, 11 1/2 inches and anchored the winning 400-meter relay, which was clocked at 44.4 seconds.
"Our coaches preach handoffs and today they went real well," he said. "Starts are also a big part of it."
Junior teammate Jacob MacPhee added a first in the 400 (50.47), took second in the 200 (23.58) and anchored the winning 800 and 1,600 relays at 1:32.47 and 3:32.5, respectively.
The Sentinels grabbed eight places in the distances, including three apiece in 800 and 1,600.
Senior Cullen Papin placed second in the 800 (2:02.84) and sophomore Seppi Camilli was runner-up in the 3,200 (9:42.89).
Sault Ste. Marie sophomore Gabe Litzner set the U.P. Finals record in the 3,200 (9:35.62), topping the previous best by Marquette's Carson VanderSchaaf (9:46.53) from two years ago.
"I was two seconds away from a PR (personal record)," Litzner said. "I was going to hold on for six laps and try to pick it up. I'm real happy about this one.
"After coming back from the injuries I had, this one is very special. This is the most proud of this of any my events. It's the greatest feeling ever. I'm the most proud of this of any of my events.
"It's the greatest feeling ever. I didn't think I'd ever make it to the finals again, let alone win it."
Litzner, who sustained serious injuries in a truck-pedestrian accident this winter in Sault Ste. Marie, was runner-up in the 1,600 (4:27.33).
Houghton junior Luke Hill won that race at 4:26.32. Litzner was followed by Marquette juniors Evan Balko (4:28.98) in third, James Barch (4:35.12) and Chase Thomsen (4:41.25).
Hill also took the 800 (2:00.05), followed by Marquette senior Cullen Papin (2:02.84), sophomore teammate Beepsee Teeple (2:03.58) and classmate James Kraeg (2:03.78).
Junior Brady Mager was Negaunee's leader, taking second in high jump (5-11) and 300 hurdles (39.93) and third in 110 hurdles (16.52).
Marquette senior Dasan Smith was runner-up in discus (127-2 1/2) with sophomore Talon Smith third (124-1/2).
In pole vault, Marquette junior Drew Bradley placed second and Michael Cattoor was third at 12-6 and senior Tucker Welch took third in the 100 (11.78) and helped the winning 400 relay.