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Newberry boys dominant at St. Ignace regional

By JOHN VRANCIC

Escanaba Daily Press

ST. IGNACE — Led by senior Jaylen James and four other multiple winners, Newberry dominated at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 2 track and field regional meet held Friday.

The Indians scored 74 points, more than double the co-runners-up total of 34 posted by Manistique and St. Ignace. Munising and Gwinn tied for fourth with 21 apiece.

St. Ignace dominated in much the same way in the girls meet, scoring 73 points to just 29 for runner-up Bark River-Harris. Manistique was a close third with 27, while Gwinn had 23, Munising 18 and Newberry 16.

Newberry wins with depth

Depth proved particularly crucial in this meet as those second-, third- and fourth-place finishes get a spot at the U.P. Finals the same as event winners. The finals will be held in Kingsford on Saturday, June 1.

“Our depth came through for us,” Newberry coach Drew Schultz said about his boys team’s dominance. “We’ve been real busy the past couple weeks. We had some weeks in which we had three meets. We like that because we can get the kids on the track, but it also takes its toll.”

James won the 100-meter dash in 11.49 seconds, 200 in 23.15 and the long jump with a leap of 18-feet-10 while anchoring the winning 800 relay that posted a time of 1:38.53 on this sunny and mild day.

“Surprisingly, this has been a good year,” said James, who plans to attend Bay de Noc Community College in Escanaba this fall. “I had little bit of a minor injury. I could use a little work on my start.

“Other than that, everything went pretty good. My teammates have really helped out in the relays.”

The Indians had four double winner, most coming from its three victorious relays. Ephram Evans won the 3,200 in 10:32 and anchored Newberry’s winning 3,200 relay that won by nearly 20 seconds in 9:11.55. He was also runner-up in the 1,600 in 4:49.45.

Chase Canfield was also with that relay and the winning 1,600 relay that timed 3:52, just one second ahead of Munising.

Two other Indians ran with the victorious 800 relay in 1:38.53 and the 1,600 relay — Richard Nalette and Logan McCormick.

In addition, Newberry’s Ethan Edwards won the pole vault by clearing 11-6, the only vaulter to break 10-feet.

From Manistique, junior Schyler Andersen took the 400 in 52.61 and discus with a heave of 140-10, and was also runner-up in the 200 (23.7) and shot put (43-0).

Classmate Alex Misniakiewicz added firsts in the 800 (2:10.51) and 1,600 (4:44.94), placed second in the 3,200 (10:49) and helped the Emeralds take second in the 3,200 relay (9:31.24).

“I just wanted to be good for the 1,600,” said Misniakiewicz, who ran a personal-best 4:40 at Newberry on Tuesday. “The 800 was mostly a warm-up for the 3,200. Although, the 800 gives me some speedwork.

“I was pretty happy with my time for the first lap of the mile (1,600). I’ve been close with Ephram (Evans) all year. He’s an amazing runner.”

Gwinn had a double winner in David Duvall, who took the 110 hurdles in 17.72 and 300s in 45.35.

Munising’s Jason Cornish claimed the high jump by clearing 6-feet as teammate Trevor Johnson was second at 5-8.

St. Ignace girls run away

The Saints were led by senior Libby Becker in the 800 (2:22.5), 1,600 (5:37) and 3,200 (12:42), while freshman teammate Ally Schultz captured the 200 (27.46) and 400 (1:02.1).

“My starts went pretty well,” said Schultz, who ran junior high track at BR-H. “The wind was like a wall on the last corner, although the weather was pretty good overall. I knew some of the Bark River-Harris girls already and saw some of my friends right away. It was nice to see them again.”

Broncos senior Hailee Demers copped the 300 hurdles (50.17) and helped the Broncos win the 800 relay (1:54.87) and take second in the 400 relay (54.2).

“I tried to get in front before the 100 (in the 300 hurdles),” said Demers, who was runner-up to Gwinn’s Emily Curtice by 0.03 second in the 100 (13.18). “It’s nice to be right up there. I’m nervous about the (Upper Peninsula) Finals, but I’m also excited.”

Manistique senior Ashley McDonald won the pole vault (8-6) and helped the winning 1,600 (4:29) and 3,200 relays (10:59.12).

“That was Ashley’s best jump all year,” Emeralds’ coach Amy Nixon said. “She was also a great help to us in the 1,600 and 3,200 relay. We’re three seconds away from the school record in the 1,600 relay.

“But Kayla Muth was our outstanding Emerald today. She was also in both winning relays and moved up in the 200 and 400.”

Muth was second in the 200 and joined Joslyn Muth and Emilee McDaniel on those winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays.

Gwinn’s Marissa Delmont won shot put (36-2) and ran with the Modeltowners’ winning 400 relay, as did Curtice, who was also second in the 200. Also on the 400 relay winners was Mallory Delmont and Trisha McGuire.

Senior Madeleine Peramaki paced Munising, taking second in the 800 (2:26.6), 1,600 (5:41) and 3,200 (13:20). Teammate Taylin Behning was second in the long jump.

Newberry’s top qualifiers were a pair of runner-up finishers — Katie Rahilly in the discus and Adrika Tomica in the pole vault.

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