Gwinn's Gage Jones comes around the first turn near the start of the Division 2 boys 800-meter relay at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in track and field held Saturday in Kingsford. Pickford won the event with the Modeltowners, who also included Andrea Susanni, Zahir Topping and Andrew Soules, finishing as runner-up. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

KINGSFORD — The Pickford boys made it a three-peat at the MHSAA Division 2 Finals in track and field on Saturday, earning their third straight championship with 127.5 points.

The Panthers were followed by Munising with 77.5 points, Rudyard 63 and Bark River-Harris 58.

Gwinn came in fifth with 50 points, while Ironwood had 42, Iron Mountain 36, Norway 34, West Iron County 30, Ishpeming 10th with 7 and Jeffers 2.

Munising senior Dan Goss had a hand in four firsts, taking the 800 (2:05.63), 1,600 (4:38.12) and 3,200 (10:34.55), while also leading off the winning 3,200 relay (8:45.96). Classmate Trevor Nolan was runner-up in the 800 (2:07.09) and 1,600 (4:40.97).

Pickford junior John Anderson set U.P. Finals and school records in the high jump, soaring over the bar when it was set at 6 feet, 7 inches, three inches higher than the previous record by James Sutton of Newberry established a dozen years ago.

“This feels great,” Anderson said. “I’ve been chasing that for awhile. We had a light practice here (Friday) and I worked on form. Warm weather and a positive mindset also helped…. This is definitely a good confidence builder.”

Anderson became runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles after Bark River-Harris sophomore Gionni McDonough dove across the finish line for the victory. Anderson also took second in long jump with a leap of 19-0.5.

“Before the race I knew it was going to be close,” McDonough said. “Right before the finish I decided to go for it. There was nothing to lose. Without diving I don’t think I would have won it.

“Pickford really does have a strong program. I told the guys I’m going to give it my all and maybe they will, too.”

McDonough was clocked in 16.18 seconds, a personal record by four-tenths of a second, with Anderson at 16.20.

Pickford junior Gunner Bennin added a first in the 400 (52.87), anchored the winning 800 relay (1:35.79) and placed second in the 100 (11.38) and third in the 200 (23.54).

“I knew the wind was going to be a factor in the backstretch,” he said. “Our handoffs went real well. I got the baton a little late, but was able to hold on. We ran a season-best time. That definitely helped set the tone.”

Senior teammate Tom Storey added a first in the 300 hurdles (42.7), tied for second with Gwinn senior Don Jourden in pole vault (10-6) and placed fourth in the 110 hurdles (17.1).

McDonough was runner-up in the 300 hurdles (44.15) and helped the Broncos take third in the 400 relay (47.17).

The Panthers also won the 1,600 relay (3:43.53) and placed second in the 3,200 (8:50.1). Junior Carver Day, a part of both relays, added a third place in the long jump with a personal-best 18-7.5.

Ironwood junior Talon Hughes took the 100 (11.18) and 200 (23.22) and placed third in the 110 hurdles (16.45).

John Vrancic is a regular sports contributor at the Daily Press in Escanaba and was reporting this story for the Michigan High School Athletic Association website, mhsaa.com.