Conference championship weekend delivered everything West Michigan track and field fans could hope for, record-breaking performances, state qualifiers, dominant team efforts and unforgettable milestone moments. Ludington’s girls completed a perfect season with a WMC Lakes championship, Whitehall’s boys ran away with the Lakes Division title, Hart swept the WMC Rivers crowns, and Oakridge shattered another school record while punching tickets to the state finals. But one story stood above the rest Friday night: the Fruitport girls track and field team finally climbed back to the top, capturing its first conference championship in 17 years.
Fruitport Girls Capture First Conference Championship Since 2009
For the first time in nearly two decades, the Fruitport girls track and field team can celebrate a conference championship season.
The Trojans captured the O-K Silver Conference title Friday at Comstock Park High School, finishing with 149 points to outdistance Hopkins, NorthPointe Christian and Calvin Christian in one of the area’s deepest conference meets.
The championship was built on balance, depth and star performances from nearly every corner of the lineup.
Leading the way was standout sprinter Chloe Anderson, who delivered one of the best performances of the entire meet. Anderson won both the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, including a state-qualifying time of 12.45 seconds in the 100.
She also anchored two winning relay teams, helping Fruitport dominate both the 4×200 relay and 4×400 relay.
The relay quartet of Genevieve Franklin, Layla Phan, Bailey Garner and Anderson proved nearly unbeatable all evening, providing huge momentum swings for the Trojans as the team race tightened.
Garner added another championship in the 400-meter dash, while teammate Layla Phan finished second, giving Fruitport a critical one-two finish in one of the meet’s most important races.
Fruitport continued to stack points in the field events as well.
Lily Johnson won the high jump with a clearance of 5-foot-2, earning a state qualifying mark, while Zoe German captured the conference championship in the pole vault.
Franklin added runner-up finishes in both hurdle events, while Sallyana Conn placed third in discus to help secure valuable team points.
“The girls fought for every point,” said Fruitport head coach Randy Johnson. “They really wanted to win this one and it showed. Everyone came through with flying colors.”
The championship represented more than just a trophy.
It marked the return of Fruitport girls track and field as one of the area’s premier programs after years of rebuilding and growth. Now, with regionals approaching, the Trojans carry both momentum and confidence into the postseason.
Other Championship Meet Highlights Around West Michigan
Ludington Girls Finish Perfect Season With WMC Lakes Championship
The Ludington girls capped an undefeated conference season by winning the West Michigan Conference Lakes Division title with 127 points.
Distance standout Eliza Schwass stole the spotlight, winning both the 800-meter run and 1600-meter run while setting a new school record in the 800 with a time of 2:08.61.
Camille Brahm added victories in the high jump and long jump, including an early state qualifying mark in the high jump.
Ludington also captured the 4×200 relay championship behind Harper Rasmussen, Greta Kehrer, Sophia Janicki and Leah Allen.
Whitehall Boys Dominate WMC Lakes Division
Whitehall’s boys overwhelmed the field with 169 points to claim the WMC Lakes championship.
The Vikings earned victories in:
- 200 meters (Tim Vieira)
- 400 meters (Jevon Hilliard)
- 110 hurdles (Judd Musk)
- 300 hurdles (Judd Musk)
- 4×100 relay
- Discus (Caden Bowyer)
- High jump (Ayden Mendoza)
- Pole vault (Grayson Olstrom)
Whitehall’s combination of sprint depth, hurdles and field-event dominance proved too much for the rest of the conference.
Oakridge Breaks School Record, Sends Athletes to State
Oakridge produced some of the weekend’s biggest moments despite finishing second in the WMC Lakes standings.
The Eagles’ 4×800 relay team of Trent Galdeen, Jayden Mueller, Lawson Miller and Bryce Falbe shattered the school record by another 10 seconds, running 7:58.43 to early qualify for the Division 2 state finals.
Falbe later won the 800-meter run in 1:57.50, also securing an early state qualifying time.
Oakridge also won the 4×400 relay and received standout performances from Jayden Dailey, Preston Six, Mason England and Rodrick Parks Jr.
Hart Sweeps WMC Rivers Team Championships
Hart claimed both the boys and girls championships in the WMC Rivers Division.
The Hart boys were led by sprint sensation Chase Lorenz, who won the:
- 100-meter dash
- 200-meter dash
- 400-meter dash
Hart also dominated the distance events and relays to secure the conference crown.
On the girls side, Hart totaled 162 points behind strong performances from Addison Hain, Natalie Rosema, Joselyn Flores and Ellie Gross.
Mason County Central Continues Program Growth
Mason County Central’s boys finished second overall in the WMC Rivers Division, marking the Spartans’ best conference finish since 2020.
MCC event champions included:
- Eli Glamzi (high jump)
- Desmond Thomas (discus)
- Jackson Poll (300 hurdles)
- 4×200 relay team
The girls team also delivered strong performances, led by Maylan Sanders, who won both hurdle races and helped the Spartans capture the 4×400 relay title.
Mona Shores, Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon Shine in O-K Green
The O-K Green Conference produced several standout area performances.
For the boys:
- Reeths-Puffer’s Marvin Moore won the 400
- Mona Shores’ Ryan Opsommer captured the 300 hurdles
- Muskegon won the 4×100 relay
- Reeths-Puffer won the 4×200 relay
For the girls:
- Natalie Hall won the 300 hurdles for Mona Shores
- Jersi Bilek captured the 800 for Reeths-Puffer
- Emma DeYoung won the high jump for Mona Shores
Regionals Next on the Schedule
With conference championship season complete, athletes across West Michigan now turn their focus toward regional competition and the state finals.
Several athletes and relay teams already hold early qualifying marks, and after a weekend filled with championships, school records and breakthrough performances, the postseason momentum continues to build across the region.
Regional competition begins Friday, May 15, with:
- MHSAA LP Region 23-3 at Montague — featuring Montague, Whitehall, North Muskegon and Ravenna
- MHSAA LP Region 33-4 at Brethren — featuring Hesperia and Holton
- MHSAA LP Region 02-1 at Zeeland East — featuring Muskegon, Mona Shores and Reeths-Puffer
- MHSAA LP Region 11-2 at Cadillac — featuring Ludington
Competition continues Saturday, May 16, with:
- MHSAA LP Region 12-2 at Allendale — featuring Fremont, Fruitport, Oakridge, Orchard View, Spring Lake and Whitehall
- MHSAA LP Region 22-3 at Manton — featuring Hart, Manistee, Mason County Central and Shelby
With conference trophies already decided, the focus now shifts to qualifying for the state finals and continuing what has already become one of the most memorable track and field postseasons in recent West Michigan history.
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