Johnson Follows in Hurdling Legacy at JHS

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(April 30, 2023 8:00 AM ET) Jackson High School hurdler Keiyera Johnson has enjoyed a bit of a legacy while attending JHS.

Johnson’s grandfather, Warren, was a well-known hurdler.

Here brother, Keigel, also participated in hurdling events at Jackson.

Johnson learned most of her form from Jackson High School’s hurdler Jaelynn Pryor – a champion in the 300-meter hurdles and the daughter of her head coach.

Now the JHS senior would like to make a name for herself.

Johnson won the Southeastern Conference White Division title in the 300-meter hurdles a year ago. She would like to make an appearance in the Division 1 state finals the first week in June.

She is taking some long strides to get there.

Despite being 5 feet, 1 inch tall, Johnson has learned to three-set the 100-meter hurdles. 

“They are very big steps, but a started three-stepping last year and began running some of my best times,” Johnson said. “I have to concentrate on using my legs and strength.”

Johnson started hurdling in sixth grade because her brother was involved in hurdles. She was somewhat concerned about moving up to higher heights in high school.

“Knowing that the height (of the hurdles) was a concern,” Johnson said. “I tell myself to attack the hurdles.”

Johnson grew only an inch since junior high but has learned that good form leads to good times. 

She is tops in the area – as of last week – in the 100-meter hurdles (16.74 seconds) and 300-meter hurdles (48.39). 

Johnson picked up the long jump this season and is only three inches away from a state qualifying spot. She is also running the 1,600-meter relay for Jackson in preparation for running the 400-meter hurdles in college next season.

She has signed to run track and field at Northwood University and plans to major in business/finance. The school has an accelerated program where Johnson can achieve a master’s degree in four years.

The JHS senior also plays basketball, is active in her church livestreaming events, and works with fellow students in Developing Responsibility in Our Peers. 

Sports has taught Johnson leadership throughout the years.

“Sports teaches you how to be a leader and how to make decisions,” Johnson said. “During basketball season I was the point guard and I had to make quick decisions on what plays to run for the good of the team.”

Best times, distances, heights for Selby Track Classic so far

Girls

100 Meters

Alyssa Budd Napoleon 13.04

Rylie Ayelsworth Columbia Central 13.04

Kloe Franklin Lumen Christi 13.16

Grace Bullock Grass Lake 13.35

Madison Tracy Homer 13.43

Paige Austin Homer 13.46

Kaytie Warren 13.49

Lydia Bennett Manchester 13.50

Alexa Burgess Napoleon 13.54

Jenna Bradley Lumen Christi 13.56

200 Meters

Rylie Aylesworth Columbia Central 27.04

Grace Bullock Grass Lake 27.28

Paige Austin Homer 27.52

Everette Drummond Jackson 27.84

Kloe Franklin Lumen Christi 27.88

Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 28.11

Lydia Bennett Manchester 28.12

Alexa Burgess Napoleon 28.24

Addisyn Rudd East Jackson 28.61

400 Meters

Allie Koch Manchester 1:02.31

Sophia Reynolds Hanover-Horton 1:02.32

Rylie Aylesworth Columbia Central 1:02.61

Maycie Boyer Leslie 1:02.76

Everett Drummond Jackson 1:04.06

Trinity Cota Columbia Central 1:04.44

Natalie Coleman Western 1:04.64

Paige Austin Homer 1:05.00

Ann Roedel Napoleon 1:06.24

Leila Messner Leslie 1:06.38

800 Meters

Madison Osterberg Lumen Christi 2:13.12

Allie Koch Manchester 2:26.87

Sophia Reynolds Hanover-Horton 2:29.09

Sydney Fazekas Lumen Christi 2:32.28

Olivia Perrine Hanover-Horton 2:33.28

Madelyn Norman Napoleon 2:36.10

Jaidyn Smith Leslie 2:38.03

Layla Lopez Lumen Christi 2:38.57

Lauren McLain Napoleon 2:38.90

Ciera Barrett Concord 2:40.03

1,600 Meters

Madison Osterberg Lumen Christi 4:56.27

Olivia Perrine Hanover-Horton 5:33.36

Chloe Khon Northwest 5:44.65

Macy Fazekas Lumen Christi 5:46.17

Cieara Barrett Concord 5:46.53

Sydney Fazekas Lumen Christi 5:49.48

Hope Wilkes Columbia Central 5:52.80

Jalynn Schmelter Leslie 5:55.52

Layla Lopez Lumen Christi 6:05.58

Olivia OrtellJackson Prep6:06.10

3,200 Meters

Madison Osterberg Lumen Christi 10:59.93

Chloe Khon Northwest 12:25.31

Macy Fazekas Lumen Christi 12:35.11

Jalynn Schmelter Leslie 12:58.82

Hope Wilkes Columbia Central 13:21.21

Madelyn Norman Napoleon 13:50.13

Sarah Anastasiadis Lumen Christi 13:51.31

Grace Brown Jackson 13:52.20

Jaylee Chapman Stockbridge 13:55.14

Megan Sterly Homer 13:56.34

100-Meter Hurdles

Keiyera Johnson Jackson 16.74

Melyssa McJennett Columbia Central 17.72

Olivianna Watkins Hanover-Horton 17.73

Alexandra Ream Leslie 18.25

Zionah Gardner Homer 18.41

Keegan Schoendorf Napoleon 18.51

Erin Maloney Napoleon 19.35

Kayda Herrick Western 19.63

Kiara Hall Columbia Central 20.18

Paige Morris Concord 20.50

300-Meter Hurdles

Keiyera Johnson Jackson 48.39

Olivianna Watkins Hanover-Horton 49.77

Melyssa McJennett Columbia Central 51.01

Lillian Heydenburg Western 51.11

Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 51.68 

Zionah Gardner Homer 52.32

Cami Boldt Western 53.29

Thia Tello Lumen Christi 54.43

Alexandra Ream Leslie 55.10

Saige Patterson Springport 55.18

400-Meter Relay

Grass Lake 52.50

Homer 52.76

Jackson 53.00

Western 53.57

Napoleon 53.64

Hanover-Horton 54.44

800-Meter Relay

Grass Lake 1:51.17

Western 1:53.49

Napoleon 1:55.20

Manchester 1:56.96

Homer 1:57.50

Springport 1:58.31

1,600-Meter Relay

Lumen Christi 4:15.95

Western 4:23.01

Hanover-Horton 4:24.31

Jackson 4:24.86

Leslie 4:28.22

3,200-Meter Relay

Lumen Christi 9:50.71

Hanover-Horton 10:38.91

Napoleon 10:50.09

Leslie 11:09.10

Western 11:20.24

Stockbridge 11:31.69

Northwest 11:35.68

Shot Put

Ereka Risner Grass Lake 37-5.75

Mariah Kerley East Jackson 33-10

Jaylyn Perkins Homer 33-2.5

Megan Mackinder Stockbridge 33-1.5

Hope Overweg Springport 33-0

Toby Leffler Michigan Center 32-9

Rayah Hitt Western 32-7.25

Zoie Bamm Columbia Central 32-3

Tracy Ackley Hanover-Horton 30-7

Addison Singleton Western 30-5.5

Discus

Jaylyn Perkins Homer 123-11.75

Megan Mackinder Stockbridge 109-1

Kaylee Kopulos Springport 106-6

Samantha Snider Leslie 99-0

Mariah Kerley East Jackson 97-7

Hope Overweg Springport 95-8

Olivia Hunt Napoleon 95-3

Cheyenne Slider Lumen Christi 93-3

Ashlyn Hoffman Western 89-1

Brayley Cook Grass Lake 85-5

High Jump

Mara Mitchell Northwest 5-3

Kayda Herrick Western 5-2

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

Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 4-8

Pole Vault

Emma Wildt Homer 10-0

Addisyn Rudd East Jackson 8-6

Natalie Coleman Western 8-0

Alayna Shackelford Hanover-Horton 8-0

Madison Rentfrow Columbia Central 7-6

Alyssa Budd Napoleon 7-6

Avery Brown Napoleon 7-6

Hannah Alvarez Grass Lake 7-6

Long Jump

Alyssa Budd Napoleon 17-9.5

Keiyera Johnson Jackson 16-6.5

Bayli Stewart Western 16-3

Mara Mitchell Northwest 15-8

Kaytie Warren Hanover-Horton 15-7.25

Gracee Robidou Stockbridge 15-5.25

Alexis Kermans Napoleon 15-1

Iymonnie Pace Springport 15-0.5

Maggie Stewart Manchester 14-11.75

Melyssa McJennett Columbia Central 14-10

Boys

100 Meters

Travis Collins Michigan Center 11.33

Malachi Boyd Concord 11.44

Graham Gumper Hanover-Horton 11.46

Mitchell Williams Western 11.55

Luke Bergkoetter Western 11.60

Xavier Gibbs Jackson 11.60

Kardiair Sumner Jackson 11.64

Andrew Stockton Grass Lake 11.70

Tyler Selby Jackson 11.74

Javion Taylor Concord 11.74

Cooper Wyers Napoleon 11.74

200 Meters

Haden McLain Napoleon 23.43

Cooper Wyers Napoleon 23.54

Travis Collins Michigan Center 23.55

Alex Pastrioza Lumen Christi 23.56

Andrew Stockton Grass Lake 23.62

Logan Fish Columbia Central 23.64

Jackson Jones Western 23.71

Mitchell Williams Western 23.79

Luke Fish Columbia Central 23.84

Javion Taylor Concord 23.94

Kardiair Sumner Jackson 23.94

400 Meters

Ahmad Ameen Jackson 49.46

Travis Collins Michigan Center 51.66

Adair Artis Concord 51.74

Hudson Cooper Northwest 52.46

Haden McLain Napoleon 53.50

Maxwell Woods Manchester 53.81

Noah Berdiner Western 53.98

Caden Cummings Homer 53.99

Cody Smith Manchester 54.21

Austin Brown Hanover-Horton 54.28

800 Meters

Adair Artis Concord 2:00.35

Austin Brown Hanover-Horton 2:01.05

Cooper Singleton Western 2:01.98

Rogan Melling Hanover-Horton 2:02.89

Isaiah Dinverno Lumen Christi 2:09.59

Wyatt Vowell Columbia Central 2:10.46

Ethan Lubahn Leslie 2:10.47

Zach Hassenzahl Hanover-Horton 2:12.10

Michael Allen East Jackson 2:12.55

Seth Good Western 2:12.89

1,600 Meters

Rogan Melling Hanover-Horton 4:26.42

Cooper Singleton Western 4:26.80

Austin Brown Hanover-Horton 4:28.42

Isaiah Dinverno Lumen Christi 4:43.78

Michael Allen East Jackson 4:48.54

Caiden Kippnick Manchester 4:51.22

Javin Mericle East Jackson 4:54.55

Micah Bolton Stockbridge 4:54.24

Landon Boulis Hanover-Horton 4:54.35

Cameron Peirce Leslie 4:54.72

3,200 Meters

Rogan Melling Hanover-Horton 9:48.10

Michael Allen East Jackson 10:22.77

Isaiah Dinverno Lumen Christi 10:22.97

Edison Lopeman Western 10:27.12

Cameron Pierce Leslie 10:31.34

Landen Boulis Hanover-Horton 10:32.46

Javin Mericle East Jackson 10:48.50

Evan Shepherd Hanover-Horton 10:49.75

Micah Bolton Stockbridge 10:50.14

Ethan Wright Stockbridge 10:59.21

110-Meter Hurdles

Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 15.26

Diego Lebron Homer 15.87

Gavrik Belcourt Napoleon 16.04

Lucas Inosencio Western 16.28

Brady Plate Western 16.36

Cyron Stamper Jackson 16.84

Noah Wisniewski Michigan Center 16.89

Elijah Dyer Springport 16.92

Blair Pippen Jackson 16.94

Ashton Easterwood Concord 17.14

300-Meter Hurdles

Elijah Dyer Springport 42.59

Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 43.45

Gavrik Belcourt Napoleon 43.53

Noah Wisniewski Michigan Center 43.79

Kyson Cooper Jackson 44.53

Cyrus Comfort Western 45.53

William Melton Western 45.54

Ashton Easterwood Concord 45.54

Jeffery Peterson Grass Lake 45.62

Julius Smith Michigan Center 46.05

400-Meter Relay

Jackson 44.30

Concord 44.69

Western 45.00

Homer 45.86

Hanover-Horton 45.87

Columbia Central 45.88

Lumen Christi 46.05

Napoleon 46.23

800-Meter Relay

Concord 1:33.22

Napoleon 1:33.35

Jackson 1:34.82

Western 1:35.06

Columbia Central 1:35.77

Lumen Christi 1:37.46

Grass Lake 1:37.99

1,600-Meter Relay

Concord 3:36.20

Western 3:36.77

Leslie 3:41.84

Manchester 3:42.39

Lumen Christi 3:43.77

Michigan Center 3:43.97

Jackson 3:44.62

3,200-Meter Relay

Hanover-Horton 8:40.70

Leslie 8:44.41

Concord 8:49.72

Manchester 8:58.30

East Jackson 9:00.45

Jackson 9:02.35

Homer 9:08.81

Shot Put

Ronald London Western 48-10.5

Brogan Dodge Leslie 45-8

Brennan Faber Western 44-6.75

Broden Steinke Columbia Central 43-4

Owen Fremeau Western 42-11.5

Garrett Corwin Manchester 42-7.5

Jackson Tucksen Leslie 42-6.5

Luke Smith Lumen Christi 41-9.5

Lucas Cain Hanover-Horton 41-9.5

Miland Weatherspoon Jackson 41-5

Discus

Owen Fremeau Western 145-8

Brogan Dodge Leslie 131-0

Jackson Tucksen Leslie 131-0

Braelon Carr Grass Lake 126-3

Garrett Slider Lumen Christi 124-8

Ronald London Western 124-5

Cody Branner Manchester 122-7

Lucas Cain Hanover-Horton 122-3

Brennan Faber Western 119-11

Patrick Culbreth Springport 119-0

High Jump

Mekhi Wingfield Concord 6-4

Joshua Veneziano Western 6-4

Diego Lebron Homer 6-4

Foster Pybus Stockbridge 6-0

Addison Fisher Northwest 5-10

Landen Little Northwest 5-10

Joe Lathers Lumen Christi 5-10

Cody Richardson Columbia Central 5-10

Aiden Thorne Napoleon 5-10

DeVonta Habern Napoleon 5-10

Kaiden Henry Hanover-Horton 5-10

Pole Vault

Lucas Inosencio Western 13-0

Grason Weber Leslie 11-0

Braden Vancalbergh Western 11-0

Cyrus Comfort Western 10-0

Jonathan Warner Michigan Center 9-6

Isaac Isham Springport 9-6

Adam Carlson Western 9-6

Jameson Cranmore Leslie 9-3

Long Jump

Mekhi Wingfield Concord 22-5.5

Holden Van Poppel Napoleon 21-3

DeVonta Habern Napoleon 20-3

Tyler Selby Jackson 19-11.5

Anthony Evans Concord 19-10.5

Caleb Rudd Jones Western 19-9

Aamar Harrell Jackson 19-7

Kyson Cooper Jackson 19-6.75

Elijah Dyer Springport 19-6.5

Graham Gumper Hanover-Horton 19-6.5