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Ishpeming Hematites’ Lola Korpi closes one chapter of her running career with win at MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 2 girls track and field finals

Bark River-Harris’ Lauren Zawada, center, and Munising's Dayne Behning, third from left, are the two fastest athletes coming over the last hurdle before Zawada would hold on for the win in the 300-meter hurdles during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 2 girls track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

KINGSFORD — Ishpeming senior Lola Korpi bid farewell to her high school running career at the Kingsford High School track on Saturday, winning one race and placing second in three more at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 2 girls track and field.

Bark River-Harris was crowned team champion for the third straight year with 127 1/2 points, followed by West Iron County with 82 and Ishpeming third with 71.

“The girls have been working hard for this,” BR-H coach Jason Lockwood said. “Three titles under their belt is incredible. Everybody contributed, which is instrumental in putting up that many points.”

The rest of the D-2 girls field included Pickford with 69, Hancock 56, Ironwood 41 1/2, Munising 39, Iron Mountain 26, Gwinn 5, Jeffers 2 and Rudyard 1.

Korpi, who will run cross country at Northern Michigan University this fall, won Saturday’s 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 26.36 seconds.

Ishpeming’s Lola Korpi, front left, crosses the finish line to win the 800-meter run during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 2 girls track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

In that event, Korpi was followed by Pickford sophomore Talya Schreiber in 2:27.88, Hancock senior Brielle Kero (2:27.96) and BR-H senior Julia Olson in a school-record 2:29.2.

Schreiber won the 1,600 (5:19.16) and 3,200 (11:49.86). Korpi was runner-up in the 1,600 in a school-record 5:20.19 and 3,200 (12:12.63).

“I let her creep away a little too much and couldn’t quite catch her in the 1,600,” Korpi said. “She started her kick, too.

“I’m obviously happy with another school record. I didn’t feel very good during the 3,200. It seemed like I had no energy left and got a side stitch and started to cramp up a little.

“I’m very happy about my 800. I feel I left my mark. I’m also happy for Talya. She worked so hard and helped me get my PR (personal record). Second place isn’t bad. I’m happy where I am.”

Ishpeming's Lola Korpi, right, and Houghton's Tessa Rautiola run in a combined divisions’ 3,200-meter run during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in girls track and field held in Kingsford on Saturday. Korpi finished as runner-up in the Division 2 race, while Rautiola won the Division 1 race. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

Korpi began her day by anchoring the second-place 3,200 relay that clocked 11:05.23.

“Lola is a great runner,” Schreiber said. “It definitely helps to have her here to push me.

“I’m happy to be here for our team. The atmosphere is awesome. Everyone is so nice.”

Ishpeming sophomore Mya Hemmer added a first place in the discus at 114 feet, 6 inches and took second in shot put (34-5).

West Iron County senior and Central Michigan University recruit Danica Shamion set U.P. records in the 200 (26.17) and 400 (56,94) and won the 100 (12.65) and high jump at 5-1.

Just four days earlier, she set school records in the 200 (25.79), 400 (56.74) and high jump (5-5) at Houghton.

“I went out with a bang, which is something I wanted to do as a freshman,” she said. “I kept thinking ‘Take it one step at a time.’ The high jump runway was a little slippery (during a brief rainfall). It was hard to get your grip.”

Munising senior Sabryna Smith placed third in the 100 (13.44) and 400 (59.66).

Lake Linden-Hubbell gained sole possession of the D-3 championship after sharing the title with Stephenson last season.

The Lakes scored 71 points this time, followed by Newberry with 64 and Stephenson 62. Among the 20 teams that scored points, Baraga was 14th with 9.

LL-H junior Emily Jokela opened with a victory in the 100 (13.04), then set U.P. Finals records in back-to-back races, taking the 400 (58.61) and 300 hurdles (44.8) before taking second in the 200 (27.03).

“My starts were better than usual,” she said. “Those are tough races, but you just got to push through that. You always try to prepare for that in practice. I just try to beat everybody to the next hurdle.”

Her effort in the 400 topped the old mark (58.7) by Superior Central’s Lauren Spranger in 2011 and topped her own record in the hurdles (45.63) from a year ago.

The Lakes, who also won the 800 relay in 1:52.52, finished undefeated this season.

“Our regional has been tough since 2016,” LL-H coach Gary Guisfredi said. “Since that time, teams from our regional have won the U.P. Finals eight times.

“Emily scored 38 points alone today. Our shot putter (sophomore Maddy Dudenas) taking third and our girl (sophomore Cleo Milkey) taking fourth in long jump were big points. We knew Newberry and Stephenson were going to be tough.”

Newberry sophomore Samantha Taylor set the U.P. record in the 1,600 (5:14.9), topping the previous best (5:17.2) by Amy Kerst of Munising in 2011.

She was followed by freshman teammate Abby Taylor (5:22.7), Stephenson sophomore Faith Cappaert (5:36.7) and Newberry senior Kaylen Clark (5:37.49), who will run at Davenport College this fall.

Clark added a first in the 3,200 (12:33.7), withstanding a challenge from North Dickinson senior Mya Grunlund (12:43.65).

“I knew I had my kick and had to use it today,” Clark said. “I just wanted to defend my title one more time. I think my conditioning from cross country helped me. I missed three meets because of bronchitis. Once I got over that, I put in a lot of slow miles. It was a struggle.

“I’ll get to run against Lola (Korpi) again in college. I’m real excited about that. It will also be exciting to do something new.”

Newberry also overcame a slow start to win the 3,200 relay in 10:24.16.

“We weren’t too worried,” Abby Taylor said after anchoring that relay. “We knew Taylor and Sam would close it. I felt pretty relaxed and confident in the final leg.”

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