Bacholzky, Dinanath, Dykstra, Fitchett, Laforest, & Reynolds Each Win Four Events
Blue Water Area Conference (BWAC) Track and Field meets kicked off Tuesday, April 9 and teams got their first glimpse of league competition. On one of the warmest season openers in recent memory, there were quite a few impressive performances right out of the gate.
Almont & Cros-Lex at Richmond
Girls
CL 97 - Almont 40
Almont 69 - Richmond 59
CL 113 - Richmond 23
Boys
CL 87 - Alm 50
Almont 98.5 - Richmond 38.5
CL 104 - Richmond 33
Almont’s Matthew Bacholzky had a perfect four-event winning streak, taking first in the 200 meters (24.49, PR), 400 meters (54.54), and the long jump (19-11.25, PR). The sophomore teamed up with Cole Walton, Tim Miller, and Nolan Muxlow for a 4x200-meter relay victory in 1:35.62. Junior Chase Battani had triple victories: he won the pole vault (13', currently ranked second in the state), the 100-meter dash (10.8), and was second in the 110-meter hurdles (16.06), only bested by senior Tye Kirschner of Cros-Lex (15.79), who also had a solid day. Along with the 110-meter hurdle victory, Kirschner won the 300-meter hurdles (44.31) and was part of the winning 4x100-meter relay (46.89) along with Jon Hurlburt, Isaiah Solis, and Ethan Jackson.
*Check out the photo album on Facebook under Almont Track and Field. https://www.facebook.com/AlmontVarsityTrack
Cros-Lex’s Ava Oleski was in four events and finished well in all: she won the high jump (5’ PR), was second in the 200 (30.87 PR), third in the 400 (68), and participated in the winning 4x200-meter relay (1:58.76) with Christina Seghi, Emma Adams, and Melody Persig. Cros-Lex senior Christina Seghi won the 4x100-meter relay (57.53), took fourth in the 200 (32.56), and third in the pole vault (6-6). Brynn Hurley was second in the 1600 (6:03), won the 3200 (13:00), and ran on the 4x800-meter relay for the Pioneers. Almont’s Madison Niedermaier won the pole vault (8’) and was second in the long jump (14-3.5). Her Raiders teammate Lola Battaglia won the 200 (30.4), was second in the 400, and second and third in the 4x200 and 4x400, respectively. Lainee Wagner took second in both the shot put (30-4) and discus (85’) for Richmond.
Some Cros-Lex freshmen wins included Gavin Oleski of Cros-Lex in the 800-meter run (2:19), Jennifer Baldwin in the shot put (30-9), and Max Knoll in the high jump (5-8).
Armada at Yale
Girls: Yale 71, Armada 62
Boys: Yale 132, Armada 5
Sophomore Sadie Dykstra was four-for-four on her home track at Yale, winning the 100-meter hurdles in 16.43 seconds, earning her a spot on Michigan’s top-ten list in that event, regardless of division. Dykstra also took first in the open 200 (28.12) and 400-meter dashes (61.13, PR), along with winning the long jump (17-6). Her best long jump of 17-11 currently tops the list at number one for the entire state. Armada’s Claire Sniesak (junior) wasn’t far behind, taking second to Dykstra in both dashes and taking wins in the 4x200 (1:54.86) and 4x400 relays (4:30), along with Ava Baltierra, Brooklyn Khon, and Bree Feys. A trio of Armada runners took the top three places in the 800 and 1600: senior Darrah Mackenzie, freshman Helena Reiff, and sophomore Abigail Denoyer went 1, 2, and 3 in both races for the Lady Tigers and all ran on the 4x800 relay. Yale’s Natalie Korotko won the 100 (14.10) and the 4x100 meter relay (55.63) while placing in the long jump and taking fourth in the 200. Her teammate Keirra Taube won the high jump (5 feet), 300-meter hurdles (51.69), and was second in both the 100 hurdles and 4x400 meter relay.
On the boys’ side, another Bulldog went four-for-four, as senior Ty Forester earned wins in the 100, 200, long jump, and high jump. His marks were 12.27, 25.01(PR), 5-4 (PR), and 19-4 (PR), respectively. Yale juniors Isaac Gardner and Riley Winters traded off second and third places in the 100 and 200 and then teamed up for first in the 4x100-meter relay (along with Jeremy Griffith and Chase Holly) in 47.77 seconds. Senior Giovanni-Pardo Keegan had a distance triple, winning the 800 (2:01) and 1600-meter run (4:37), along with a victory in the 4x800-meter relay (9:27). His relay teammates Acer Campbell (3200-meter run winner), Teddy Rutkofske (second in 3200), and Blake Ferguson (third in mile, second in 800) all had solid distance performances. Brett Bearss won the 300-meter hurdles (45.13), while Leo Bearss took the 110 hurdles (18.54 PR). They teamed up with Jackson Kohler and Blake Dudley to win the 4x400 relay (3:54), and Brett was also part of the winning 4x200 (1:40.47). Zack Haywood took victories in both the shot put and discus, in 41-11.5 and 136-03.
Anthony Alvarez of Armada was fourth in the 200 (26.25), third in the 400 (56.89), and part of the 4x400 relay (4:01). Austin Malburg was second in the 110-hurdles for the Tigers (18.95).
North Branch & Imlay City at Algonac
BOYS:
North Branch 79/Imlay City 39
North Branch 95/Algonac 23
Imlay City 86.5/Algonac 27.5
GIRLS:
North Branch 73/Imlay City 41
North Branch 97/Algonac 15
Imlay City 83/Algonac 18
There must have been something in that warm spring air on Tuesday, as yet another BWAC athlete had a perfect four-event meet. In Algonac, North Branch’s Ethan Dinanath started his senior season off with an exclamation mark. Dinanath won the 100 (10.94, PR), 200 (22.84, PR), and 400-meter dash (53.74) and helped his 4x400-meter relay wrap up their first conference match with a victory.
North Branch’s Bryce Barkowska, Caiden Sherrieb, Wyatt Opperman, and Thomas Kann were victorious in the 4x800-meter relay (9:33). Kann won the 800 (2:10), Barkowska was third in the 400 (55.1) and fifth in the 200, and joined Dinanath for a 4x400 win. Opperman was third in the 1600 and fifth in the 3200 as well. Eli Bickel won the shot put in 41-2 and the discus for the Broncos (116-10).
Julian Walker was second in the 800 (2:12) and won the 3200 (11:04) for Algonac. Isaac Sommer won the 1600 (5:09) and placed third in the 800 (2:19) for Imlay City. Conner Wildie had wins in both hurdle events for the Spartans, with times of 18 seconds and 47 seconds, respectively, both of which were personal bests for him. He even added a mile run to his hurdle double, finishing sixth and gaining another PR (5:46). Sophomore Enrique Cardenas gave Dinanath a run for his money, running 10.8 in the 100 and a 54.7 in the 400 to take second in both, along with helping Imlay City to a win in the 4x200-meter relay and a close second to North Branch in the 4x400.
For the ladies, freshman Penelope McNutt had a fantastic day for the Imlay City Spartans, winning the 200 (28.04) and 4x100 relay (56.84) and also taking second in the 100 (13.34) and 4x200 relay (2:03). Her teammate Charlotte O’Brien completed the 800-1600 double (after running the 4x800-meter relay), taking first in both. She ran her personal best in the 800 with a 2:43 and clocked a 6:16 in the 1600, but her day wasn’t done yet: she also ran on the winning 4x400 relay (4:50).
North Branch’s Grace Clemens had a strong performance, winning the 100 (12.54) and helping her 4x200 relay (1:57.5) to victory, along with Lily Hurd, Rowan Conley, and Sarah Munro. Conley also won the 400 (69.7) and 4x800 (11:39), along with second in the 4x400 (4:55).
Dryden @ Deckerville VS. Akron-Fairgrove/North Huron
While not a BWAC Team, Dryden had two perfect four-for-four athletes at their quad meet Tuesday at Deckerville. For the girls, Olivia Reynolds won the 200 (27.24 PR), 400 (62.24), 4x200 (1:53.8), and 4x400 (4:44). On the boys' side, Aiden Fitchett won the 400 (no time available), 800 (2:28), 1600 (5:26), and 4x800 relay (9:38).
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