By JOHN VRANCIC

Escanaba Daily Press

MANISTIQUE — Manistique’s Shelby Misniakiewicz wanted to place in at least one individual event in Friday’s MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 2 regional track meet.

She got her wish on a sunny, breezy and seasonably cool day, taking fourh in the 1,600-meter run in 6 minutes, 34.56 seconds.

The Ishpeming boys were crowned champions of their meet with 65 points, followed by Newberry with 45 and St. Ignace 21 1/2.

Misniakiewicz, a senior cross country runner in the fall, also helped the Manistique girls gain their lone first in the 3,200 relay (11:15.21).

“Our 3200 relay went real good,” she said. “We have four amazing 800 runners. If we’re in the right mindet, we can go all the way. I was also pleased with my 1,600. I’m glad I made it (to the Upper Peninsula Finals) in at least one event.”

St. Ignace, as expected, captured the team title with 98 points, followed by Ishpeming with 49 1/2 and Manistique 18.

Junior Ashley McDonald placed third in pole vault at 7-6 and 400 (1:04.83) and helped the Emeralds take third in the 1,600 relay (4:36.63).

Saints’ junior Libby Becker won the 1,600 run in a school-record 5:13.86, topping the previous mark of Krista Clement in 2001.

She also took the 800, 3,200, both personal bests, and helped the winning 1600 relay.

In the boys meet, Ishpeming junior Jonas Broberg copped the 800 (2:10.32) and 1600 (4:52.1), helped the winning 3,200 relay (8:59.22) and took third in the 3,200 (11:03.32).

Senior Hart Holmgren added firsts in high jump (6-2) and long jump (19-2 1/2).

“I’m happy with the performance by Hunter Smith (in the 100 and 200),” said Ishpeming coach P.J. Pruett. “They have some tough sprinters down here. I was afraid we lose some of our power, but I don’t think we lost any.

“We don’t have enough girls, although they did a good job. St. Ignace just keeps coming at you with their depth.”

Newberry junior Ethan Edwards won pole vault (12-6). The Indians also took the 400 (46.1) and 800 relay (1:35.04).

“We knew it was going to be between us and Ishpeming,” said Newberry coach Drew Schultz. “They’re so strong in the distances. We had a junior and freshman who PR’d (ran personal records) today. We qualified as many as we wanted. We’ve been nicked up, but had good showings all year.”

Stephenson junior Montel Glover collected four firsts, taking the 100 (11.5), 200 (23.02), 400 (51.25) and helping the winning 1600 relay (3:43.05).

St. Ignace junior Tucker Shepard copped the 100 hurdles (17.09) and 300s (43.88).

Sophomore Alex Misniakiewicz paced Manistique, taking second in the 1,600 (4:53.23) and 3,200 (10:57.36), helping the Emeralds place second in the 3,200 relay (9:10.19) and taking fourth in the 800 (2:13.13).

Classmate Schyler Anderson was third in shot put (39-10 1/2) and the 400 (54.44).

The top four finishers in each event qualified for the finals at Kingsford June 2.