The Cedar Springs boys track team finished second to Grand Rapids Christian at the Houseman Field regional meet last Friday, May 15. Qualifying for the MHSAA State Finals were: Remington Sawade in the pole vault, MavRick Cotten in the long jump and 110m hurdles, and Austin Sargent in the 1600m and 3200m runs. The state finals will be held on May 30, at Zeeland High School.

Other athletes earning valuable points in the meet were: Jaron Spencer in the discus; Caden Burrows in the shot put and discus; Mike VanAssen in the pole vault; Taylor VanDyke and Nikc Jackson in the high jump; Justin Jones in the 800m run; Alex Douglas in the 110m hurdles; the 400m relay team of Lane Gott, Austin Basso, John Todd and Cotten; and the 4x400m relay team of Sargent, Sawade, Todd and Jones.

The team will move on to the Pioneer and Daily News Invitationals before the individuals conclude their season at the state finals.

Cotten named MVP of Pioneer Classic

Three headed to state finals

Last Friday, the boys track and field team competed at the Pioneer Classic, a qualifying meet, that takes the northern areas top eight sprinters, hurdlers and relay teams, as well as the top 12 in field events and distance. Individuals from Cedar Springs, Evart, Reed City, Big Rapids, Manistee, Baldwin, Chippewa Hills, Tri-County, Morley Stanwood and Kent City made up the field.

Opening in field events, Jordan Johnson won the discus with a toss of 141’4”. MavRick Cotten jumped 20’5” to place second in the long jump. Brandon Sipka was third in the 100m dash and won the 400m dash with a time of 50.98 (fastest 400m time posted on the team since 2002). Caden Burrows was second in the shot put and third in the discus. State qualifier Cotten also won the 110m and 300m hurdles. Another state qualifier, Austin Sargent, won the 1600m relay with a time of 4:14. Cedar’s third state qualifier, Justin Jones won the 800m run.

MavRick was selected by the Pioneer Group as the male athlete of the meet by winning two events and placing second in the long jump.

“I am impressed that our performances continue to improve each week.  Our guys continue to set reachable goals and achieve them,” commented Coach Myers.

Sargent, Jones and Cotten will compete this weekend at the MHSAA state finals at GR Houseman Field.

Junior Kenzie Weiler won the 3200 meter run in a school record time of 10:46.86 and qualified for the MHSAA State Finals.

The Girls track team traveled to Houseman Field Grand Rapids to compete in the MHSAA Regional meet on Friday May 17. The team scored 46 points to finish seventh out of 15 teams.

Junior Kenzie Weiler was the lone Red Hawk to win a championship by winning the 3200 meter run in a school record time of 10:46.86 and qualified for the MHSAA State Finals on Saturday May 31 at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids. Maddie Pekrul placed fifth in the 3200 meter run and also qualified for the state finals with her personal time of 11:48.23. Also qualifying for the state meet was the fourth place 3200 meter relay team of Hannah Heintzelman, Shayne Mann, Maddie Pekrul and Kenzie Weiler.

Maddie Pekrul placed fifth in the 3200 meter run

Other placers at the Regional meet:

Fourth: Aly Hamilton 100 meter dash; 400 meter relay team of Marissa Oakes, Taylor Vanlangen, Abby Olszewski and Aly Hamilton.

Fifth: 1600 meter relay team of Hannah Heintzelman, Emily Shaft, Kenzie Weiler and Tara Tepin.

Sixth: Tara Tepin 100 meter dash; Allyson Marvel 100 meter hurdles; 800 meter relay team of Marissa Oakes, Taylor Vanlangen, Abby Olszewski and Aly Hamilton.

Seventh: Aly Hamilton 200 meter dash.

Eight: Marissa Oakes 100 meter hurdles; Tara Tepin 300 meter hurdles.

On Tuesday, May 13, the team hosted the OK Bronze JV meet. Allie Colley took two first places, winning the shot put and discus. Ellie Ovokaitys won the 1600 meter run. Placing second was Tara Tepin in the 400 meter dash and Aaliyah Sargent in the 200 meter dash; the 400 meter relay team of Allison Hall, Aaliyah Sargent, Jennifer Heintzelman and Tara Tepin; along with the 1600 meter relay team of Allison Hall, Jennifer Heintzelman, Ellie Ovokaitys and Aaliyah Sargent.

Marissa Oakes and Taylor Vanlangen of the 800 meter relay team

The team competes on Friday May 23 at Ferris State University in the Pioneer classic and Tuesday May 27 at Greenville in the Daily News meet.