The boys and girls track and field teams from Newberry and Engadine participated in the MHSAA Regional meets last week in Munising. The Track and Field Regionals are the qualifying events for the U.P. Finals in Kingsford Saturday, June 3. The top four finishers in each event, plus the top two relay teams in each race, earned an invitation to compete for State Championships in one of the premier events of the entire athletic school year.
LADY EAGLES TAKE TITLE
It’s been a banner year for the runners at Engadine, and the Lady Eagles Track team continued the run bringing home a Regional Championship in Rapid River. The Lady Eagles earned 65 team points, easily topping runner-up Superior Central (38). Bianca Briggs won the 100M and 200M, Ally Loebach was first in the 800M and 1600M, Leah French was tops in the 3200M, and Claire Oven earned a win in the 100M Hurdles.
All four Engadine relay teams qualified, with two wins and two runner-up finishes. Other qualifiers for UP Finals include Hali Butkovich (Shot Put & high jump), Bryce Zdebski and Elisa Carfora (discus), Sheyenne Nelson (400M), and 8th grader Kate Kovar (3200M). French also qualified in the 800M and high jump.
EAGLE BOYS FLY HIGH
The Engadine Boys almost matched the performance by the ladies, finishing as Regional Runner Up to the host Rapid River Rockets. Duane Krenek, Derek Clark, and Conrad Sieles took home individual Regional Championships with Krenek claiming the 3200M and Clark out throwing the competition in the Discus. Both will make the most of their trip to Kingsford, earning invites in multiple events.
Krenek also qualified in the 1600M and Clark in the shot put. Spieles, often known for his dominance in distance events, showed he could also find other ways to be effective, winning the 300M hurdles, while also qualifying in the mile and two-mile.
Connor Hall earned a trio of top-four finishes, getting in the 100, 200, and 400M dashes. Other Eagles flying to Finals include Pedro Okuba in the High Jump, Elijah Parker (300M Hurdles), and Dakota Taylor (3200M) Engadine’s boys also qualified their 4x100M and 4x200M Relay Teams.
NEWBERRY BOYS HAVE A SHOT
With a strong showing in their own Division 3 Regional last Friday, The Newberry Boys have positioned themselves as serious contenders for the Division 3 Championship at U.P. Finals. Facing tough competition from the host Munising Mustangs, the Indians finished the Regional Meet as the runner up.
The Indians and Mustangs will take their rivalry to the track in Kingsford, as both are among the top teams that will compete. The Indians qualified 22 participants in individual events plus the 4 relays.
LADY INDIANS LOOKING STRONG
The resurgence continued for the Lady Indians as they, too, will have great representation at the UP Finals. Kaylen Clark continued to dominate in the distance races, winning the 1600M and 3200M runs. Samantha Taylor was uncatchable in the 800M and finished second in the 400M, where Phinnea Bloom finished fourth to also earn a spot at UP Finals. Azariah Jackson is in for both the 100M (3rd) and 200M (4th). Mackennah Russell was third in the 200M. A pair of relay teams, the 4x400M (Jackson, Clark, Taylor, and Addison Schroeder) and the 4x800M (Bloom, Clark, Taylor, Schroeder) give the Lady Indians, who finished third, plenty of entrants at UP Finals.
