Osterberg ‘Exceeds Expectations’ in Girls’ Track

Lumen Christi Catholic High School runner Madison Osterberg (9) competes during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state track and field finals on Saturday at Jenison High School.   Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(June 9, 2021 4:14 PM) If someone had told Lumen Christi Catholic High School track and field runner Madison Osterberg in April that she would be on the podium three times at the Division 3 track finals, she would probably have laughed.

It would have been a slightly muted laugh as Osterberg was diagnosed with COVID 19 in April and then suffered complications.

But a couple of weeks after being cleared, the freshman was “running crazy times” – as if nothing ever happened.

Osterberg finished fourth in the 800-meter run (2 minutes, 15.52 seconds), was third in the 1,600-meter run (5:08) and was a member of the 1,600-meter relay team that finished fourth (4:14) at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state meet at Jenison High School on Saturday. 

The time in the 1,600-meter run bested her top time of the season by nearly 10 seconds.

Osterberg did not run in April due to COVID 19 restrictions and then a case of heart palpitations – feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart. 

“That (heart palpitations) was terrifying because you finally think you are over it (COVID 19),” Osterberg said. “Two weeks later I started running these crazy-fast time.

“God has blessed me.”

Osterberg said she ran good times because she trusted in her training and had teammates who backed her. 

“I exceeded all of my expectations in track this season,” Osterberg said.

The freshman was all-state in cross country last fall and earned three all-state medals at the Division 3 finals. 

LCCHS senior Renea Kutcha finished third in the 400-meter run (57.93) and teamed with Osterberg, Lily Beebe, and Anna Whetstone in the 1,600-meter relay.

Kutcha was attempting to three-peat as the 400-meter champion. She won the event as a freshman and sophomore but missed the entire season in 2020 due to COVID 19.

She may have a lesson or two for Osterberg about expectations in track and cross country. Kutcha was a three-time all-state cross country runner for the Titans. 

“I think my sophomore year coming back as a state champion (in the 400-meter dash) there was more pressure,” Kutcha said following the regional event two weeks ago. “Without the season last year taught me even more to run it (track) because I love it.”

Kutcha will run track at Wayne State University in the fall. 

Lumen Christi finished ninth in Division 3 with 22 points at the state meet.