Joshua Veneziano of Western High School was a state qualifier in the high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 2 inches. Madison Osterberg of Lumen Christi won three individual regional titles Friday at Hillsdale High School.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(May 21, 2023 8:00 AM ET) Jackson County schools flexed their muscles in track and field on Friday to win three regional titles.
Western High School edged Mason 105-102 in Division 3 boys regional, Napoleon won its first boys regional track and field title since 1994, and Concord boys used a little home cooking to win the Division 4 title at home.
All three regionals were held Friday afternoon and into the evening in some very wet conditions.
Individuals who finished first or second in each event are automatic qualifiers for the Michigan High School Athletic Association state track and field finals Saturday, June 3. Athletes may also earn a trip to the state meet by meeting state-set standards for times, distances, or heights. The standards are set by times, distances, and heights from previous state finals.
Western used a number of placers – earning points for the first eight places in each event – to outdistance the field.
I can’t emphasize enough how important our seniors are to this team,” said WHS Coach Lucas Sponsler. “Their leadership really helped bring out the best in this team.”
Despite just one first place finish – sophomore Brennan Faber won the shot put – the Panthers emerged victorious by just three points.
“Every point counts,” Sponsler said. “In a meet like this it’s all those second-through-eighth-places finishes that make the difference.”
Napoleon won its first boys’ regional track and field championship since 1994. The Pirates dominated track and field in the early 1990s with titles in 1992, 1993, and 1994.
Tom Gunnells won his first regional title as a coach.
“You look at our times two years ago and understand how much these athletes have improved,” Gunnells said. “The hard work has paid off.
“Winning a regional title is a great achievement.”
The regional title in track and field helps the track team keep up with football and basketball. Napoleon advanced to the state semifinals in football and won 20-plus games in basketball.
“Our goal was to get as many athletes as possible to the state meet,” Gunnells said.
Concord scored 122.5 points in winning their Division 4 regional title at home Friday.
The Yellow Jackets may be one of the favorite teams in Division 4 at the state meet in two weeks.
Some of the better individual regional results was Madison Osterberg of Lumen Christi won three regional titles taking the 800-meter run (2:16), the 1,600-meter run (4:59), and the 3,200-meter run (11:01). The junior said she would run as hard as she can in the first three races – 3,200-meter relay, 1,600-meter run, and 800-meter run – at the state finals and see what she has left for the 3,200-meter individual run.
Rylie Aylesworth of Columbia Central also had a big night qualifying for the state meet in the 100-meter dash (12.96), winning the 200-meter dash (27.2), and finishing second in the 400-meter dash (1:01).
Jackson runner Ahmad Ameen ran a stunning 50.04 seconds in the 400-meter dash to finish second in the event in Division 1. He should be one of the favorites to win the event at the state meet.
Here are the results from each of the regional events.
Girls Track and Field Regionals
Division 1 at Grand Ledge: Jackson High School finished eighth with 31 points and Northwest was 15th scoring seven points. Keiyera Johnson of Jackson qualified for the state meet in both hurdle events winning the 100-meter hurdles in 15.98 seconds and the 300-meter hurdles in 48.48 seconds.
Division 2 at Mason: Western High School finished eighth at the Division 2 regional meet at Mason High School with 51 points. The Panthers finished third in the 1,600-meter relay with a state-qualifying time of 4:15.14; Kayda Herrick tied for second in the high jump with a state-qualifying leap of 5-0; and Bayli Stewart was second in the long jump with a leap of 16-3.5.
Division 3 at Hillsdale: Lumen Christi finished second with 74 points, Hanover-Horton placed fourth scoring 56, Grass Lake was right behind the Comets scoring 55, Columbia Central tied for sixth scoring 54, Napoleon was 10th tallying 28.5, and Springport tied for 14th with 11 points. Rylie Aylesworth of Columbia Central had a big night qualifying for the state meet in the 100-meter dash (12.96), winning the 200-meter dash (27.2), and finishing second in the 400-meter dash (1:01); Madison Osterberg of Lumen Christi won three regional titles taking the 800-meter run (2:16), the 1,600-meter run (4:59), and the 3,200-meter run (11:01); Sophia Reynolds of Hanover-Horton was second in the 800-meter run (2:24); Hope Wilkes of Columbia Central placed second in the 3,200-meter run (12:23); Olivianna Watkins of Hanover-Horton was the regional champion in the 300-meter hurdles (49.85) and Melyssa McJennett of Columbia Central was second (50.39); Grass Lake finished second in the 400-meter relay (52.04), second in the 800-meter relay (1:49.33), and won the 1,600-meter relay (4:15); Lumen Christi was second in the 1,600-meter relay (4:20) and won the 3,200-meter relay (9:50); Hanover-Horton was second in the 3,200-meter relay (10:21); Ereka Risner of Grass Lake placed second in the shot put (35-11); teammate Mya Viegelahn finished second in the high jump (4-11); and Alyssa Budd of Napoleon finished second in the long jump (16-7).
Division 4 at Concord: The Yellow Jackets finished third in the regional with 77 points, East Jackson was fourth scoring 62, Jackson Prep placed 11th with eight points, and Vandercook Lake was 13th with one point. Cieara Barrett of Concord won the 800-meter run (2:28) and Olivia Ortell of Jackson Prep (2:35) was second in the event; Concord finished second in the 3,200-meter relay (12:38); Mariah Kerley of East Jackson won the shot put (33-8) and the discus (90-2); and Addisyn Rudd of East Jackson won the pole vault (9-6), and teammate Kennedy Goodwin was second (8-0); Rudd was also an additional qualifier in the 200-meter dash (28.02).
Boys Track and Field Regionals
Division 1 at Grand Ledge: Jackson High School finished 11th scoring 27 points. Ahmad Ameen of Jackson placed second in the 400-meter dash in 50.04 seconds.
Division 2 at Mason: Western High School edged Mason 105-102 to claim a regional championship. Cooper Singleton of Western finished second in the 1,600-meter run (4:25); Joshua Veneziano placed second in the 300-meter hurdles (40.98); the Panthers finished second in the 800-meter relay (1:31.96); Brennan Faber won the shot put for the Panthers (49-10); Owen Fremeau was second in the discus (150-11) and A.J. Scutt also qualified for the state meet with a qualifying toss of 140-0 to place fifth; Veneziano also finished third in the high jump with a state qualifying leap of 6-2; Lucas Inosencio was second in the pole vault at 13-2; and Caleb Rudd-Jones qualified for the state meet with a 20-10.25 long jump.
Division 3 at Hillsdale: Napoleon High School won its first boys’ regional track and field regional since 1994 by scoring 95 points at the Division 3 regional at Hillsdale High School. Hanover-Horton was fourth scoring 70.5, Lumen Christi was eighth with 40 points, Springport was 10th scoring 21, Columbia Central was 13th with 15 points, Michigan Center was right behind the Golden Eagles with 11 points, and Grass Lake placed 16th scoring four points. A bevy of athletes finished in the top two or earned state qualifying spots with times, distances, or heights. Alex Pastrioza was second for Lumen Christi in the 100-meter dash (11.34) and third in the 200-meter dash with a state-qualifying time (23.39); Travis Collins of Michigan Center (11.36) and Graham Gumper of Hanover-Horton (11.41) also qualified in the 100-meters; Holden Van Poppel of Napoleon finished second in the 200-meter dash (23.36); Austin Brown won the 800-meter run for Hanover-Horton (2:00); teammate Rogan Melling won the 1,600-meter run (4:31) and the 3,200-meter run (9:48); Isaiah Dinverno of Lumen Christi also qualified in the 1,600-meters (4:36); Van Poppel won the 110-meter hurdles (14.87) and was second in the 300-meter hurdles (43.04); Eli Dyer of Springport won the 300-meter hurdles (42.15) and was a qualifier in the 110-meter hurdles (15.98); Gavrik Belcourt of Napoleon also qualified in the 110-meter hurdles (16.05); Napoleon won the 400-meter relay (45.0) and the 800-meter relay (1:31.94); Columbia Central qualified for the state tournament in the 800-meter relay (1:34.22); Hanover-Horton won the 3,200-meter relay (8:21); and DeVonta Habern of Napoleon won the high jump (6-0) and teammate Lionel Campbell had a qualifying leap (6-0).
Division 4 at Concord: Concord High School gave Jackson County its third regional crown of the night by winning the regional at home Friday with 122.5 points. East Jackson finished fifth with 51 points, and Vandercook Lake and Jackson Prep finished tied for 11th with four points. Tyreke Brown of Concord was second in the 200-meter dash (24.32); Adair Artis of Concord won the 800-meter run (2:01); Ashton Easterwood of Concord finished with a state-qualifying time in the 110-meter hurdles (16.51) placing third; Concord ran a state-qualifying time in the 400-meter relay (45.91) and placed third, the Yellow Jackets won the 800-meter relay (1:34), and won the 1,600-meter relay (3:31); East Jackson was second in the 3,200-meter relay (8:35); Collin Thompson of Concord was second in the pole vault (8-6); and Mekhi Wingfield of Concord won the long jump (21-2.5); Randy Reddick of East Jackson (20-0.5) and Anthony Evans of Concord (19-8) also qualified for the state meet in the long jump.
Best times, distances, heights for Selby Track Classic as of May 21
Girls
100 Meters
Rylie Ayelsworth Columbia Central 12.85
Grace Bullock Grass Lake 12.94
Alyssa Budd Napoleon 13.04
Kloe Franklin Lumen Christi 13.05
Paige Austin Homer 13.19
Lydia Bennett Manchester 13.21
Madison Tracy Homer 13.43
Bayli Stewart Western 13.45
Adisyn Pierce Vandercook Lake 13.45
Alexa Burgess Napoleon 13.47
200 Meters
Rylie Aylesworth Columbia Central 26.37
Paige Austin Homer 26.99
Grace Bullock Grass Lake 27.28
Kloe Franklin Lumen Christi 27.28
Lydia Bennett Manchester 27.37
Bayli Stewart Western 27.40
Everette Drummond Jackson 27.44
Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 27.68
Addisyn Rudd East Jackson 28.02
Ally Koch Manchester 28.04
Reese Kelly Lumen Christi 28.04
400 Meters
Rylie Aylesworth Columbia Central 1:00.10
Everette Drummond Jackson 1:01.24
Maycie Boyer Leslie 1:01.25
Allie Koch Manchester 1:02.31
Sophia Reynolds Hanover-Horton 1:02.32
Grace Bullock Grass Lake 1:02.74
Natalie Coleman Western 1:03.43
Ann Roedel Napoleon 1:04.40
Paige Austin Homer 1:04.43
Cieara BarrettConcord1:05.03
800 Meters
Madison Osterberg Lumen Christi 2:11.91
Sophia Reynolds Hanover-Horton 2:22.93
Macy Fazekas Lumen Christi 2:26.68
Alli Koch Manchester 2:26.87
Sydney Fazekas Lumen Christi 2:27.60
Cieara Barrett Concord 2:28.43
Ava Viegelahn Grass Lake 2:30.60
Olivia Perrine Hanover-Horton 2:31.70
Olivia Ortell Jackson Prep 2:35.50
Madelyn Norman Napoleon 2:36.10
1,600 Meters
Madison Osterberg Lumen Christi 4:54.27
Olivia Perrine Hanover-Horton 5:28.39
Chloe Khon Northwest 5:30.74
Sydney Fazekas Lumen Christi 5:38.46
Cieara Barrett Concord 5:41.61
Hope Wilkes Columbia Central 5:41.73
Macy Fazekas Lumen Christi 5:46.17
Jalynn SchmelterLeslie5:47.14
Sophie Reynolds Hanover-Horton 5:50.30
Jaylee Chapman Stockbridge 5:51.03
3,200 Meters
Madison Osterberg Lumen Christi 10:36.08
Chloe Khon Northwest 11:59.67
Olivia Perrine Hanover-Horton 12:06.64
Hope Wilkes Columbia Central 12:15.16
Macy Fazekas Lumen Christi 12:35.11
Jalynn Schmelter Leslie 12:48.91
Lily Mason Hanover-Horton 13:26.97
Megan Sterly Homer 13:29.49
Ava Schnell Hanover-Horton 13:30.16
Isabella Stoetzel Western 13:31.15
100-Meter Hurdles
Keiyera Johnson Jackson 15.61
Melyssa McJennett Columbia Central 16.94
Alexandra Ream Leslie 17.27
Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 17.38
Olivianna Watkins Hanover-Horton 17.73
Zionah Gardner Homer 17.73
Keegan Schoendorf Napoleon 18.20
Mya Viegelahn Grass Lake 18.34
Kayda Herrick Western 18.43
Lorelai Malinowski Grass Lake 18.44
300-Meter Hurdles
Keiyera Johnson Jackson 47.68
Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 48.30
Olivianna Watkins Hanover-Horton 49.02
Melyssa McJennett Columbia Central 50.39
Cami Boldt Western 50.41
Lillian Heydenburg Western 50.57
Allie Koch Manchester 50.66
Zionah Gardner Homer 51.49
Mya Viegelahn Grass Lake 51.84
Gracie Tallman Napoleon 53.60
400-Meter Relay
Grass Lake 51.32
Homer 51.55
Western 52.49
Jackson 53.00
800-Meter Relay
Grass Lake 1:49.33
Western 1:50.58
Hanover-Horton 1:51.08
Manchester 1:51.35
1,600-Meter Relay
Lumen Christi 4:14.93
Western 4:15.14
Grass Lake 4:15.26
Hanover-Horton 4:23.28
3,200-Meter Relay
Lumen Christi 9:50.71
Hanover-Horton 10:19.56
Napoleon 10:25.30
Stockbridge 10:46.06
Leslie 10:47.52
Shot Put
Ereka Risner Grass Lake 37-5.75
Mariah Kerley East Jackson 33-10.75
Jaylyn Perkins Homer 33-6
Rayah Hitt Western 33-5
Zoie Bamm Columbia Central 33-3.5
Megan Mackinder Stockbridge 33-1.5
Hope Overweg Springport 33-0
Toby Leffler Michigan Center 32-9
Kaylee Kopulos Springport 31-5
Samantha Snider Leslie 31-0.5
Discus
Jaylyn Perkins Homer 123-11.75
Megan Mackinder Stockbridge 115-10.5
Mariah Kerley East Jackson 107-0.5
Kaylee Kopulos Springport 106-6
Zoie Bamm Columbia Central101-8
Olivia Hunt Napoleon 100-10
Hope Overweg Springport 99-4
Samantha Snider Leslie 99-3
Ashlyn Hoffman Western 97-10
Lillianna McCabe Concord 95-11
High Jump
Kayda Herrick Western 5-4
Mara Mitchell Northwest 5-3
Mya Viegelahn Grass Lake 5-0
Bayli Stewart Western 5-0
Mya Clay Hanover-Horton 4-10
Allie Koch Manchester 4-10
Kalli VanBogelen Manchester 4-10
Olivia Woods Manchester 4-9
Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 4-8
Ella Best Michigan Center 4-8
Sophia Reynolds Hanover-Horton 4-8
Alayna Brown Leslie 4-8
Alexis Soderberg Leslie 4-8
Pole Vault
Emma Wildt Homer 10-3
Addisyn Rudd East Jackson 9-6
Natalie Coleman Western 9-0
Alayna Shackelford Hanover-Horton 8-6
Kennedy Goodwin East Jackson 8-0
Dylana Whalen Vandercook 8-0
Lillian Heydenburg Western 8-0
Madison Rentfrow Columbia Central 7-9
Jenna Bradley Lumen Christi 7-9
Alyssa Budd Napoleon 7-6
Avery Brown Napoleon 7-6
Hannah Alvarez Grass Lake 7-6
Jadea Stevens Michigan Center 7-6
Olivia Butler Homer 7-6
Zionah Gardner Homer 7-6
Ashleigh Simon Grass Lake 7-6
Long Jump
Alyssa Budd Napoleon 17-9.5
Keiyera Johnson Jackson 17-2.5
Mara Mitchell Northwest 16-11
Kaytie Warren Hanover-Horton 16-10.25
Bayli Stewart Western 16-5.75
Alexa Burgess Napoleon 15-9.5
London Henderson 15-7.5
Iymonnie Pace Springport 15-7
Maggie Stewart Manchester 15-7
Jaelynne Williams Homer 15-6
Boys
100 Meters
Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 11.10
Graham Gumper Hanover-Horton 11.22
Alex Pastrioza Lumen Christi 11.33
Travis Collins Michigan Center 11.33
Mitchell Williams Western 11.40
Malachi Boyd Concord 11.44
Xavier Gibbs Jackson 11.47
Javion Taylor Concord 11.51
Ethan Applegate Michigan Center 11.54
Logan Fish Columbia Central 11.54
Christian Reed Leslie 11.54
200 Meters
Ahmad Ameen Jackson 22.46
Xavier Gibbs Jackson 22.49
Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 22.70
Alex Pastrioza Lumen Christi 22.96
Javion Taylor Concord 23.00
Haden McLain Napoleon 23.10
Cooper Wyers Napoleon 23.14
Mitchell Williams Western 23.31
Jackson Jones Western 23.43
Graham Gumper Hanover-Horton 23.44
400 Meters
Ahmad Ameen Jackson 49.46
Hudson Cooper Northwest 51.29
Travis Collins Michigan Center 51.66
Adair Artis Concord 51.74
Maxwell Woods Manchester 52.47
Cooper Singleton Western 52.58
Austin Brown Hanover-Horton 53.04
Haden McLain Napoleon 53.04
Andrew Fielder Hanover-Horton 53.51
Jackson Jones Western 53.55
800 Meters
Adair Artis Concord 1:59.69
Austin Brown Hanover-Horton 2:00.44
Cooper Singleton Western 2:00.74
Rogan Melling Hanover-Horton 2:02.22
Seth Good Western 2:05.67
Michael Allen East Jackson 2:06.33
Andrew England Jackson 2:07.45
Javin Mericle East Jackson 2:07.46
Caiden Kippnick Manchester 2:07.89
John Edler Homer 2:08.42
1,600 Meters
Cooper Singleton Western 4:25.37
Rogan Melling Hanover-Horton 4:26.42
Austin Brown Hanover-Horton 4:28.42
Isaiah Dinverno Lumen Christi 4:36.19
Michael Allen East Jackson 4:46.94
Javin Mericle East Jackson 4:50.30
Caiden Kippnick Manchester 4:51.22
Kyler Pequet Napoleon 4:51.90
Seth Good Western 4:52.67
Zach Hassenzahl Hanover-Horton 4:53.97
3,200 Meters
Rogan Melling Hanover-Horton 9:17.86
Michael Allen East Jackson 10:07.59
Isaiah Dinverno Lumen Christi 10:10.63
Landen Boulis Hanover-Horton 10:13.50
Micah Bolton Stockbridge 10:17.27
Cameron Pierce Leslie 10:19.04
Edison Lopeman Western 10:22.60
Evan Shepherd Hanover-Horton 10:31.83
Cooper Singleton Western 10:41.99
Jack Gorton Columbia Central 10:43.71
110-Meter Hurdles
Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 14.86
Gavrik Belcourt Napoleon 15.54
Diego Lebron Homer 15.55
Brady Plate Western 15.75
Eli Dyer Springport 15.98
Matt Mazerov Hanover-Horton 16.14
Lucas Inosencio Western 16.28
Dylan Gloar Northwest 16.34
William Melton Western 16.34
Noah Wisniewski Michigan Center 16.44
300-Meter Hurdles
Eli Dyer Springport 40.91
Josh Veneziano Western 40.98
Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 41.40
Kyson Cooper Jackson 41.83
Noah Berdiner Western 42.34
Gavrik Belcourt Napoleon 42.79
Noah Wisniewski Michigan Center 43.79
William Melton Western 44.24
Jeffrey Peterson Grass Lake 44.34
Dylan Gloar Northwest 44.84
400-Meter Relay
Western 44.15
Napoleon 44.24
Jackson 44.30
Concord 44.60
Lumen Christi 45.07
800-Meter Relay
Napoleon 1:31.17
Jackson 1:31.28
Western 1:31.96
Concord 1:32.52
1,600-Meter Relay
Concord 3:31.07
Jackson 3:33.25
Hanover-Horton 3:35.80
Western 3:34.30
Hanover-Horton 3:35.80
Napoleon 3:35.83
3,200-Meter Relay
Hanover-Horton 8:21.48
Leslie 8:26.32
East Jackson 8:35.07
Hanover-Horton 8:40.70
Western 8:42.17
Jackson 8:45.02
Columbia Central 8:48.27
Stockbridge 8:48.49
Shot Put
Brennan Faber Western 49-10
Ronald London Western 48-10.5
Noah Shaw Western 47-7
Miland Weatherspoon Jackson 45-9
Brogan Dodge Leslie 45-8
Garrett Corwin Manchester 44-6.75
Jackson Tucksen Leslie 43-10.5
A.J. Scutt Western 43-8
Luke Smith Lumen Christi 43-7
Lucas Cain Hanover-Horton 43-6
Discus
Owen Fremeau Western 150-11
Brogan Dodge Leslie 143-1
A.J. Scutt Western 142-11
Broden Steinke Columbia Central 140-2
Luke Smith Lumen Christi 139-6
Lucas Cain Hanover-Horton 132-1
Jackson Tucksen Leslie 131-0
Derek Huff Manchester 129-0
Noah Shaw Western 129-0
Braelon Carr Grass Lake 126-3
High Jump
Mekhi Wingfield Concord 6-4
Joshua Veneziano Western 6-4
Diego Lebron Homer 6-4
Kadale Williams Lumen Christi 6-2
DeVonta Habern Napoleon 6-1
Foster Pybus Stockbridge 6-0
Addison Fisher Northwest 6-0
Aiden Rogers Western 6-0
Lionel Campbell Napoleon 6-0
Cody Smith Manchester 6-0
Pole Vault
Lucas Inosencio Western 13-0
Braden Vancalbergh Western 12-0
Aiden Booth Napoleon 11-6
Grason Weber Leslie 11-0
Andrew Norman Napoleon 10-9
Adam Carlson Western 10-6
Collin Doederlein Western 10-6
Cyrus Comfort Western 10-0
Nate Pettit Grass Lake 10-0
Collin Thompson Concord 9-6
David Fielder Hanover-Horton 9-6
Jonathan Warner Michigan Center 9-6
Isaac Isham Springport 9-6
Long Jump
Mekhi Wingfield Concord 22-5.5
Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 21-3
Caleb Rudd-Jones Western 21-3
Tyler Selby Jackson 20-6
DeVonta Habern Napoleon 20-4
Graham Gumper Hanover-Horton 20-1.5
Randy Reddick East Jackson 20-0.5
Anthony Evans Concord 19-10.5
Austin Warner Homer 19-9.5
Landen Little Northwest 19-8.5