Photos by Scott DeCamp | CatchMark
KENT CITY — In talking to a reporter after his big day, Jerry Wiegers did not recall competing in the track and field state finals last season.
What he achieved Saturday at Kent City High School, the North Muskegon junior is not soon to forget.
Wiegers raced to first-place finishes in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and he anchored the Norsemen’s seventh-place 4×200 relay team in the MHSAA Division 3 finals.
“Yeah, still processing it,” Wiegers said while still trying to catch his breath moments after he turned on the jets down the stretch of his 200-meter victory. “It’s just, like, a good feeling to have when all the work you’ve put in through the whole year finally comes to a close out of everyone.
“I’ve been waiting to do this a long time.”
Wiegers saved his best of the 2023 season for last. He established personal records in both of his sprints, breaking the 22-second barrier in the 200 with a time of 21.93 and going lower than he ever has in the 400 with a clocking of 49.49 seconds.
He notched a third all-state effort in the 4×200 relay, joining Norse teammates Landon Christensen, Jaden Villalpando and Talan Thompson to run the event in 1:32.44.
On the strength of Wiegers’ performances, North Muskegon finished sixth in the team standings with 22 points. Fellow West Michigan Conference Rivers Division opponent Hart was third (38). Benzie Central captured the team title (51).
“This may be an individual sport, but is also has to do with your team,” Wiegers said. “Because if your team wasn’t there, supporting you on the sidelines and also supporting your practice when you really didn’t feel like going to practice … you’re more motivated to do better.”
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Coach Kevin Bennett-NMPS
June 4, 2023 at 9:02 am
Scott, thank you for the great coverage of our conference and our team all season. Slight correction on your article. Jerry competed in 2022 in the 400m at the state finals where he finished 9th with a time of 51.54. So he is not a first year competitor as reported.
Scott DeCamp
June 4, 2023 at 9:29 am
Thanks for letting me know, Kevin. Jerry told me himself that it was his first time competing at the state finals. He must have forgotten.