Montague’s boys track and field team made long-awaited history Saturday on its home turf.
Led by Isaiah Atchison, Silas Jancek and a couple relays, the Wildcats captured the first boys regional track title since 1962, accumulating 117.5 points to fend off runner-up Grand Rapids Covenant Christian (93) in Division 3 competition at Townsend Athletic Complex.
Meanwhile, in a Division 3 regional at Manton, Hart’s girls squad collected another regional championship. Hart’s boys team finished runner-up to Hunter Jones-led Benzie Central.
In the boys competition at Montague, North Muskegon finished third (80.5 points) with Grandville Calvin Christian (67) and Saugatuck (48) rounding out the top five. Ravenna was ninth (35.5).
In the girls competition at Montague, Grand Rapids West Catholic captured top honors with 116 points. Saranac was second (72), Saugatuck third (67) and Kent City fourth (63). Montague, which won the the last two Division 3 girls regional titles, placed fifth with 57.5 points. North Muskegon was sixth (56.5) and Ravenna seventh (51).
First-place finishers for the Montague boys included 6-foot-8 Atchison in the 100-meter dash (personal-record 11.08 seconds); the 4×100 relay team of Jancek, Paul Olson, Brody Dietz and Atchison (45.15); the 4×200 relay quartet of DaCarri Williams, Olson, Mason Darke and Atchison (1:32.88); and Jancek in shot put (47 feet, 8 inches) and discus (season-record 127-7.5).
North Muskegon’s Jerry Wiegers won the 200 dash (22.52 PR) and 400 dash (50.58).
In the girls meet at Montague, North Muskegon’s Abbie Wiegers (Jerry’s sister) won the 200 (27.26) and 400 (59.97).
At Manton, Hart’s girls team cruised to the regional title by amassing 137.2 points. Traverse City St. Francis was runner-up (93.53), followed by Remus Chippewa Hills (80.33), McBain (78.33) and Manistee (72) in the top five.
On the boys side, Benzie Central (112) edged Hart (101) for the top team spot. Manistee was 10th (22) and Mason County Central 11th (17).
In the girls competition at Manton, Hart’s Jessica Jazwinski cruised to victories in the 800 run (2:19.96), 1600 (5:01.28) and 3200 (11:22.16), plus she anchored the Pirates’ winning 4×800 relay team also including Lexie Beth Nienhuis, Abigail Pretty and Alyson Enns (10:06.51). Hart’s Addi Hovey took first place in the 100 (12.38 PR) and high jump (5-3), plus she anchored the first-place 4×100 relay also including Aspen Boutell, Savanna Owens and Addison Hain (51.92).
Manistee’s Audrey Huizinga won the 400 (season-best 1:00.20) and she ran a leg on the Chippewas’ first-place 4×200 relay also featuring Ashtyn Janis, Libby McCarthy and Lacey Zimmerman (1:48.57).
In the boys competition, Hart’s Kellen Kimes dominated en route to victories in shot put (57-11) and discus (181-9 PR). Hart also took first place in three of the four relays: 4×100 of Hunter Chaffee, Revin Gale, Eman Hertzler and Easton VanderZwaag (45.04); the 4×200 of Gale, Hertzler, VanderZwaag and Chaffee (1:33.46); and the 4×800 of Clayton Ackley, Seth Ackley, Guillermo Ortega and Wyatt Dean (8:14.85).
Mason County Central’s Quentin Lange won high jump (season-best 6-4), while Manistee’s Damien McEntaffer took first place in pole vault (12-0).
Jones, an All-American for Benzie Central, swept the 800 (season-best 1:57.76), 1600 (4:19.78) and 3200 (9:24.89).
The MITCA Division 3 team state finals will be held Saturday, May 27, at Clare. The MHSAA Division 3 state championships will take place Saturday, June 3, at Kent City.
RELATED CONTENT
Whitehall rolls to Division 2 boys regional track title at Allendale
