Pickford Girls, Cedarville Boys Defend Div. 3 Regional Track Titles
By David Latva

Richard Gibson of Pickford (right) won the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 14.29 seconds, edging out Phillip Hood of Engadine, who placed second in 2:14.51.

The Pickford Panthers girls and Cedarville Trojans boys track and field teams defended their regional championships in Pickford Friday, May 18, although each team did so in different fashion.

The Panthers girls team tallied 69.5 points, followed by Brimley 41, Cedarville 26.5, Engadine 26, DeTour 10, and Mackinac Island 2.

The girls won nine events, including the four relays and five individual races. Changes in race assignments were key to Coach Sam Lightfoot's success, which he hopes will carry over to the Upper Peninsula Finals at Kingsford Saturday, June 2.

"After the meet at Rapid River three weeks ago, we made some changes and today the effort paid off," said Coach Lightfoot. "Winning the four relays, especially the 3200, the first time to qualify for the finals in four or five years was important and other event changes were important."

Scoring in the boys events was close, from the opening event to the final race of the day.

Cedarville Trojans boys team won the Division 3 track title and include (not in order, not all pictured) Jordan Sweeney, Justin Baker, Peter Treleaven, Matt Hansen, Aaron Sherlund, Joe Currie, Kevin Thompson, Cody Thompson, Jake Wellnitz, Sheldon Tassier, C.J. Paquin, Adam Dingman, Clayton Meyers, Peter Duman, Jordan Huff, Alex McMaken, Austin Bright, James Mitchell, Rex Rohrer, and Joe Manley.

The Engadine Eagles were declared the champions and were presented the trophy, however, a mistake was found in the scoring and after the correction was made, the Cedarville Trojans were the rightful winners, recording 47 points for the win, followed by Pickford with 42, Engadine 41, Brimley 31, DeTour 10, and Mackinac Island 4.

The first four individual places and the first two relay teams qualified for the Upper Peninsula Finals.

Girls Results

Pickford

Jessie Ledy: first in long jump (13'8"), first in pole vault (8'6"); Katie Jenkins: first in shot put (45'9.25"), second in discus; Caitlin Mortinsen: first in 400-meter dash (1:05.98), second in 200-meter dash; Veronica Gough: first in high hurdles (17.90). Jasmine Ledy: second in 1600, third in 800; Courtney Bruni: second in low hurdles; Renae Reich: second in high jump; Megan Arbic: third in 3200; Kaylynn Portice: fourth in shot put and discus; Jamie Rifenburg: fourth in high hurdles; Amanda Felty fourth in 400 and pole vault; Callie Smith: fourth in 3200.

Pickford Panthers girls track team won the Division 3 Regionals. The team includes (not in order, not all pictured) Coach Sam Lightfoot, Alyssa Anderson, Megan Arbic, Alicia Bjunes, Courtney Bruni, Krista Esslin, Veronica Gough, Rebecca Hancock, Katie Jenkins, Carolyn Lantzy, Erica Leach, Jasmine Ledy, Jenna Ledy, Jessie Ledy, Sydney Lewis, Tiffany McCord, Veronica Morrison, Caitlin Mortinsen, Jessica Osborn, Kaylynn Portice, Alli Priskhorn, Renae Reich, Jamie Rifenberg, Abby Rose, Rachel Schmitigal, Callie Smith, Savannah Sterling, Holly Wondergem, and Amanda Zambron.

The 3200-meter relay team of Savannah Sterling, Jasmine Ledy, Jenna Ledy, Callie Smith: first (10:51.39); 800-meter relay team of Veronica Morrison, Jessie Ledy, Veronica Gough, Caitlin Mortinsen: first (1:57.13); 400-meter relay squad of Renae Reich, Veronica Morrison, Jessie Ledy, and Veronica Gough: first (56.43); 1600-meter relay team of Courtney Bruni, Caitlin Mortinsen, Savannah Sterling, and Veronica Gough: first (4:30.82).

Max Peterson of DeTour took third in the long jump.

Brimley Kelly Graham: first in 3200 (13:26.50) and second in 1600; Rachel Carruthers: first in 200; Miranda Reattoir: second in 400 and 800; Miranda Rousseau: second in pole vault, third in high hurdles; Amber Aikens: third in 200; Courtney Amble: third in shot put; 800- and 1600-meter relay teams of Miranda Rousseau, Amber Aikens, Miranda Reattoir, and Rachel Carruthers: second; 400-meter relay team: fourth.

Cedarville

Emily Feldhake: first in discus (98'6"); Bille McLeod: first in low hurdles (51.89); Katie Bowlby: third in long jump; Lindsay McLeod: third in 400; Rebecca Bickham: third in pole vault; Kara Griffin: third in 3200; Ashley Sweeney: fourth in 800 and 1600; Jillian Collins: fourth in pole vault; 800-, 1600- , 3200-meter relay teams: third.

Stefen Albright of Engadine placed second in the long jump.

Engadine

Elicia Derusha: first in 800 (2:34.95) and first in 1600, (5:53.58); Shauni Rutledge: second in shot put, third in discus; Lauren MacArthur: second in long jump, third in high jump; Shannon Browning: third in 100; Samantha Dunne: fourth in high jump; 3200- relay team of Brenda Albrecht, Kayla Miller, Shannon Browning, Elicia Derusha: second; 400-, 1600- meter relay teams: third.

DeTour

Nicole Melcer: first in high jump (4'10"); Danielle Weiman: fourth in 100; 400-meter relay team of Liz Lehman, Kaley Barbeaux, Danielle Weiman, Nicole Melcer: second; 800-meter relay team: fourth.

Mackinac Island Michi Mullings: fourth in 200 and long jump.

The boys 100-meter dash finishers: (from left) Jordan Dillon-second, Grayson Hood-first, C.J. Paquin-third, and Robert Chambersfourth.

Boys Results

Cedarville

C.J. Paquin: first in long jump (17'11.5"), third in 100, fourth in 200; Kevin Thompson: first in pole vault (10'6"), fourth in high jump; Jordan Sweeney: second in 1600, third in 800; Justin Baker: second in low hurdles, third in high hurdles, fourth in long jump; Cody Thompson: second in high jump; Joe Currie: third in discus, fourth in shot put; Matt Hansen: third in high jump; Sheldon Tassier: fourth in 1600 and 3200.

The 3200-meter relay team of Aaron Sherlund, Sheldon Tassier, Clayton Meyers, Jordan Sweeney: first (9:20.92); 400-meter relay team of Jimmy Eberts, Peter Duman, Jake Wellnitz, Peter Treleaven: second; 1600-meter relay team of Jake Wellnitz, Jordan Sweeney, Clayton Meyers, Peter Treleaven: second; 800-relay team: third.

Pickford

Richard Gibson: first in 800 (2:14.29), first in 1600 (4:57.92), first in 3200 (11:24.00); Scott Coullard: second in 200 and 400; Joe Jenkins: second in shot put and discus; Jonah Hascall: second in pole vault; Nic Raden: third in 3200; Mikael Cantin: third in shot; Tony Stefanski: fourth in 800 and pole vault; 3200-meter relay team of Victor Merchand, Dylan Rye, Nic Raden, Tony Stefanski: second; 800-meter relay team of Jamie Nettleton, Chris King, Kyle Barry, Scott Coullard: second; 400- and 1600-meter relay teams: third.

The DeTour Raiders girls 400- meter relay team of Danielle Weiman, Liz Lehman, Kaley Barbeaux, and Nicole Melcer placed second at the regional track meet.

Engadine

Grayson Hood: first high hurdles (15.51), first in 100 (11.97), third in high hurdles; John Troyer: first in shot (49'9.25"), first in discus (129'105"); Stefen Albright: second in long jump; Phillip Hood: second in 800, third in 400; Chris Keller: fourth in high hurdles; 400- meter relay team of Chris Keller, Stefen Albright, Grayson Hood, Phillip Hood: first (48.02); 800-, 1600-, 3200-meter relay teams: fourth.

Brimley

Ryan Freedman: first in 200 (24.74), second in 100; Harlan Chartrand: first in 400 (53.05); Jordan Dillon: second in high hurdles, fourth in low hurdles; Kenny Schwiderson: third in 1600; 800- meter relay team of Ryan Freedman, Preston Parish, Jordan Dillon, Harlan Chartrand: first (1:41.36); 1600-meter relay team of Kenny Schwiderson, Ryan Freedman, Jordan Dillon, Harlan Chartrand: first (3:46.18).

DeTour

Teryn Miller: first in high jump (5'6"); Stan Stocking: second in 3200; Max Peterson: third in long jump; 3200-meter relay team: third.

Mackinac Island

Robert Chambers: third in 200, fourth in 100; Woody Beardsley: fourth in discus.