Day 1 Highlights

Girls’ Field: Strong wins for Greene, Gochenour

• 6-0 girls’ high jump (1.83m) by Nicole Greene (Ponte Vedra, FL sr), just off her PR and an easy winner over four others.
• 49.59m girls’ javelin (Youth 500g) by Katelyn Gochenour (Marian Catholic, IA jr), defeating NSAF Project Jav teammate Sophia Rivera (Brentwood, MO jr) at 44.42m.  Team NSAF had no entries in the women’s junior javelin.
• 56.75m girls’ hammer throw (Youth 3kg) by Kamryn Brinson (Throw 1 Deep/Marist, GA jr), taking 2nd behind Yaritza de la C. Martinez of Cuba at 58.27.  It was a 1-foot PR for Brinson with the implement.  Team NSAF had no entries in the women’s junior hammer.
• 39-4.75 girls’ triple jump by Chinne Okoronkwo (Mountlake Terrace, WA jr), taking 6th behind winner Liliana Breto of Cuba at 42-7.75 (wind-readings to be added).

Girls’ Track: Duncan on fire; Hall, Ghee look strong

• US#1 13.20(nwi) girls’ 100m hurdles (Youth 30”) by Alexis Duncan (DeSoto, TX jr), winning the Youth division by nearly half a second over Adriana Rodriguez of Cuba at 13.64.  Duncan had also led the way in the prelims, running a 13.18w(+2.8).
• US#11 11.59(-1.0w) girls’ 100m dash by Cassondra Hall (Northside, Warner Robins, GA jr) in the first of two prelims.  Twanisha Terry (Miami Northwestern, FL soph) won the 2nd of the prelims in 11.87(+0.8w).
• US#14 54.09 girls’ 400m dash by Lauryn Ghee (Grassfield, VA soph), finishing 2nd behind Roxana Gomez of Cuba at 52.95.  Ghee had qualified 3rd for the final at just 56.18.
• 13.76(nwi) girls’ 100m hurdles (33”) by Anna Cockrell (Providence Day, NC jr), winning the Junior division over Jersy Diaz of Cuba at 14.65.  Cockrell had run 13.55(nwi) in the prelim to Diaz’s 14.73.

Boys’ Track: Lyles returning to form; Holloway, MacKay win

• US#10 46.60 boys’ 400m dash by Josephus Lyles (T.C. Williams, VA jr), finishing ahead of Rasheed Tatham (St. Thomas Aquinas, FL sr) at 47.76, giving Team NSAF a 1-2 finish.  Deivy Year of Cuba was 3rd at 47.82.  Lyles and Tatham had run 48.02 and 49.14 to win their respective semis.
• US#11 10.47(+0.2w) boys’ 100m dash by Noah Lyles (T.C. Williams, VA jr), winning the 2nd of two semifinals.  Ryan Clark (Banneker, GA sr) ran 10.65(-0.4w) in the 1st semifinal.
• 14.34 boys’ 110m hurdles (39” Junior/HS height) by Grant Holloway (Grassfield, VA jr), winning a race where he was the only competitor after Cuban Rafael Noguera false-started and Holloway’s teammate Norman Grimes (Canyon, TX jr) scratched.  Holloway ran 13.93(+0.1w) in the semi, followed by Noguera at 13.99 and Grimes at 14.97.
• 3:58.69 boys’ 1,500m run by Logan MacKay (Davis, UT jr), outkicking Cuba’s Francisco Estevez (4:00.36) in the final lap.

Boys’ Field: Rogers’ rules; Ward 3rd vs. Cuban stars

• 19.19m boys’ shot put (Youth 5kg) by Isaiah Rogers (Throw 1 Deep/Campbell, GA jr), winning by more than 3 meters.
• 7.37m boys’ long jump by Ja’Mari Ward (Cahokia, IL jr), taking 3rd behind Cuban standouts Maykel D. Masso at 7.90m and Juan M. Echevarria at 7.85m.
• 14.82m and 14.52m boys’ shot puts (Junior 6kg) by Ryan Camp (Archer, GA jr) and Adam Kelly (Barrington, RI sr), taking 3rd and 4th behind Cuba’s Jose F. Gonzalez at 16.73m
• 54.84m boys’ javelin by Grayson Hill (Cathedral Prep, PA jr), victorious as the only Junior-age thrower and with the 800g implement (the other 7 throwers were all Youth-age and throwing the 700g jav).

MHSAA Track Home Pages: BOYS - GIRLS  |  NSAF Interviews/Select race finishes (Facebook)
D1 Results: LIVE - Compiled  |  Other Results: Div. 2 - Div. 3 - Div. 4 

Thanks to Michiana Timing for providing extra mile and 1500m FAT cameras.  Thanks to Jeff Hollobaugh for publishing times for those distances.

Top individuals: Fisher, Brazier, Johnson make history

• US#2 and state record 4:00.28 1,600m run, US#12/MI#1 8:53.41 3,200m boys’ distance double by 2-time NBNI mile champ Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc sr), giving him five outdoor state titles.  Fisher was also timed at 3:46.10 for 1,500 (trailing his own US#2 3:42.89) and a state record US#2 4:01.67 for the mile (#12 all-time).  Fisher was followed by Logan Wetzel (Saline sr) at MI#2 4:08.04/4:09.74, Ben Hill (Royal Oak sr) at MI#3 4:08.17/4:09.97 and Anthony Berry (Traverse City Central jr) at MI#4 4:09.03/4:10.67, as four ran under 4:10 and six under 4:12 in what was thought to be the deepest race in state history.
  
  In the 3,200, Fisher was followed by Ryan Robinson (Waterford Mott sr), who paced the race through a 4:23.8 1,600 and was 2nd at 9:00.65 (already MI#2 at 8:56.77), Kevin Hall (Saline sr) at MI#3 9:05.08, Connor Wuori (Portage Central sr) at MI#4 9:07.79 and Mickey Davey (DeLaSalle sr) at MI#6 9:11.23.
• State meet record 1:48.98 boys’ 800m run by 2014 NBNO champ Donavan Brazier (GR Kenowa Hills sr), defending his title and just off his US#1 1:48.07.  It was the 3rd sub-1:49 open 800 for Brazier in three weeks.  Seven broke 1:54, with Logan Wetzel (Saline sr) at 1:52.74 and Drake Gauthier (Grand Blanc sr) at MI#3 1:52.99 taking 2-3.  Brazier also ran a 1:48.25 (FAT) leg on Kenowa’s 4th-place (7:50.26) 4x800m relay and anchored their runner-up 4x400 (47.04 FAT).
• Freshman class national record 4:12.22 boys’ mile by Cole Johnson (Rockford), breaking the 4:15.07 by Andrew Perkins from 2005 as he finished 5th behind Grant Fisher (see above).  The mile record was made possible by the additional camera beyond the finish line for the 1,600m run, where Johnson ran 4:10.50 (#4 all-time freshman). 

Wetzel, Jefferson, Farrow pace team champs

• 21 points each for Logan Wetzel (Saline sr) and Anna Jefferson (Oak Park jr) in leading their teams to state titles – despite no individual wins.  Wetzel anchored the meet record-setting 4x800 (1:50.82), took 2nd in the 1,600 (4:08.04) and 800 (1:52.74), then ran a leg on the winning 4x400.  Jefferson anchored the winning 4x200 and 4x100 relays, then was 2nd in the 400 (56.10) and 200 (24.70w).
• US#1 8:54.29 girls’ 4x800m relay (#20 all-time) by the Oak Park team of Lashae Bowens, Jayla Fleming, Dorriann Coleman and Ersula Farrow, improving from 4th in 2014 and beating defending champs Birmingham Seaholm – which was 2nd at US#4/MI#2 9:01.33.  Oak Park’s performance was #2 in state history, trailing only Grosse Pointe South’s 8:48.29 from 2012 – a team that Farrow also ran on.  Waterford Mott edged Saline for 3rd, 9:15.15 to 9:15.50.
• US#3 and state meet record 7:38.97 boys’ 4x800m relay by the Saline team of Josiah Humphrey, Austin Welch, Kevin Hall and Logan Wetzel, defending their 2014 title.  Eight teams ran 7:55 or faster and four were at 7:50 or better, with Okemos at 7:47.55, St. Clair Shores Lakeview at 7:48.11 and Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills at 7:50.46 taking the next three spots.
• MI#1 1:39.55 4x200m, 48.17 4x100m and 3:51.50 4x400m girls’ relays by Oak Park, giving them a sweep of all four relays in D1.  They came in with state-leading times of 48.10 in the 4x1 and 3:46.89 in the 4x4.  Oak Park is thought to be the first school to win all four in one meet, after taking the 4x1/4x2/4x4 in 2014.  The 4x2 included soph Tamea McKelvy, soph Carlita Taylor, jr Brianna Holloway and jr Anna Jefferson; the 4x1 had sr Kailsi Latta-Thompson, plus McKelvy, Taylor and Jefferson; and the 4x4 featured sr Johnyce Powell, soph Drew Coleman, frosh Dorriann Coleman, and sr Ersula Farrow.
  
  The 4x2 and 4x4 were dominant wins, with Rockford 2nd in the former at MI#4 1:41.90 and Ann Arbor Pioneer runner-up in the latter at 4:00.21.  The 4x1, however, was razor-close as Sekayi Bracey-anchored East Kentwood was 2nd by .01 at MI#2 48.18.
• MI#2 2:08.43 girls’ 800m run by Ersula Farrow, defending her 2014 title with a seasonal best.  She was also 2nd in 2013 and 4th in 2012.  Farrow was followed by fr teammate Dorriann Coleman at 2:11.44 and Katie Osika (Waterford Mott fr) at 2:12.99.  She also anchored Oak Park’s winning 4x800 and 4x400, which when added to four relay titles won with Grosse Pointe South in 2012-2013 gives her six state relay titles overall to go with two individual crowns.
• 3:22.91 boys’ 4x400m relay by the Saline team of David Alberdi, Logan Wetzel, Josiah Davis and Skyler Bowden, just off their MI#2 best of 3:21.29.  Wetzel had already finished 2nd in the 1,600 and 800, and anchored the 4x800 champs, while Bowden won the 400 and was 2nd in the 200.

More state-leading victories: Flournoy, Bracey lead sprinters

• MI#1 10.56(+1.0w) 100m dash, #1 (all-conditions) 21.25w(+5.3) boys’ sprint double by Jaron Flournoy (Westland John Glenn sr), adding to his indoor state 200 title.  In the 100, he was just .01 off the D1 meet record and ahead of Cedric Boswell (Beverly Hills Groves jr) at MI#4 10.72.  In the 200, Flournoy ran a wind-legal MI#1 21.64(+0.9w) in the prelims, then edged 400 champ Skyler Bowden (Saline sr) – who ran MI#2 (a-c) 21.29w – in the final.
• MI#1 11.83(+0.8w) 100m dash, 24.62w(+2.4) 200m dash, 17-5.75 long jump girls’ triple by Sekayi Bracey (East Kentwood jr), winning her 3rd straight title in the 100/200 and 2nd straight in the long jump for a total of eight overall.  Sekayi also ran a MI#1 24.49 prelim in the 200, anchored the runner-up 4x100, and she is the standing MI#1 in the long jump at 18-9.5.  Bracey dominated the 100, with Madison Merridith (Beverly Hills Groves jr) 2nd at 12.24, but the 200 was very close as she nipped Anna Jefferson of Oak Park (24.70w) for the 3rd straight year.  Angelica Floyd (Clinton Chippewa Valley soph) was 2nd in the LJ at 17-3 (all jumps NWI).
• MI#1 14.00(+0.9w) 110mH, #1 38.03 300mH boys’ hurdles double by Robie Webster (Ypsilanti Lincoln sr), scoring big PRs in each race.  He was followed by Alex Liggett (Traverse City Central sr) at MI#3 14.25 and Tristen Frey (East Kentwood sr) at MI#4 14.37 in the short race, while Frey at MI#3 38.36 and Josiah Davis (Saline jr) at 38.76 were 2-3 in the longer race.
• MI#1 46-2 girls’ shot put by Emily Meier (Canton jr), beating her previous PR by three feet and winning by more than a foot over Briana Nelson (East Kentwood sr) at 44-11.5.  Maegan McCarthy (Rockford sr) was 3rd at 44-7.  Meier, who was 4th last year in the shot, was also 2nd in the discus at 133-0. 
• MI#1 13.95(+0.3w) girls’ 100m hurdles by Maya Roberts (Farmington Hills Harrison sr), winning decisively over Lauren Rodriguez (Northville sr) at MI#2 14.38 and Brianna Holloway (Oak Park jr) at 14.61.  Roberts, who was also 5th in the 100, was 3rd in the hurdles last year.
• MI#1 47.87 boys’ 400m dash by Skylar Bowden (Saline sr), backing up his indoor 400 title and beating Corey Goodloe (Monroe sr) at 48.47 and Nick Coon (HH Dow sr) at 49.53.  Bowden was also 2nd in the 200 at 21.29w (see above) and anchored Saline’s winning 4x400 relay.
• MI#1 1:27.42 boys’ 4x200m relay by the Monroe team of sr Dathan Dickerson, sr Javon McQueen, jr Marlon Martin and sr Stephen Blunt, coming from behind for the close win.  They were followed by MI#2-3-4 performances by Oak Park at 1:27.62, East Kentwood at 1:27.67 and Saline at 1:27.84.

More outstanding champions: Bandel doubles throws

• 59-7.5 shot put, 175-3 discus boys’ throws double by Connor Bandel (Oxford jr) – off his state-leading 61-1, 192-11 PRs, but adding to the state shot put title he won indoors.  Vonn Pallett (Farmington sr) was 2nd in both throws at 56-1.5 and 163-5.
• 55.32 girls’ 400m dash by Sammy Cuneo (Rockford sr), topping 2-time defending champ Anna Jefferson (Oak Park jr) at 56.10.  Cuneo was also 3rd in the 200 and ran on Rockford’s runner-up 4x200 and 3rd-place 4x100.
• 10:26.58 girls’ 3,200m run by Audrey Belf, defending her 2014 title and winning by more than eight seconds over Emma Wilson (Romeo jr) at MI#3 10:34.64 and Lexa Barrott (Northville jr) at 10:37.52.  Belf, who came in at MI#1 10:09.48, also anchored Seaholm’s runner-up 4x800.
• 43.50 girls’ 300m hurdles by Brianna Holloway (Oak Park jr), just off her state-leading 43.33 seasonal best.  She moved up from 2nd in 2014.  Trailing Holloway was Taylor Mullins (Clarkston sr) at MI#2 43.92 and Rebekah Walter (Midland jr) at MI#4 44.37.
• MI#2 42.20 boys’ 4x100m relay by East Kentwood’s team of Shane Harris, Michael Catching, Tristen Frey and Kevin Smith – just .02 ahead of Monroe at MI#4 42.22.  The result avenged EK’s earlier loss to Monroe in the 4x200.
• MI#2 15-6 boys’ pole vault by Nick Burkhalter (South Lyon sr), just an inch off his PR and almost a foot ahead of Ryan Hunt (Port Huron Northern sr) at 14-7.
• MI#2 5-7 girls’ high jump by Whitney Mergens (Milford sr), beating five others at 5-5.
• MI#3 4:46.05 girls’ 1,600m run by Rachel DaDamio (Birmingham Seaholm sr), leading most of the race and pulling away from Rachel Bonner (Port Huron jr) at MI#5 4:49.68.  DaDamio, also the indoor 1,600 state champ, ran on Seaholm’s runner-up 4x800 earlier in the day.
• 145-5 girls’ discus by Andrea Sietsema (FH Central sr), winning by more than 12 feet over shot champ Emily Meier (Canton jr) at 133-0.  East Kentwood frosh Corrine Johnson was 3rd at 132-0.  Sietsema, 3rd last year, came in as the state leader at 150-1.
• 12-0 girls’ pole vault by Mackenzie Shell (Port Huron Northern sr), defending her title with a single clearance.  Shell, who has a PR of US#3 13-9 from her regional meet, opened at 12-0, passed 12-3, then missed 12-7 in the poor vaulting conditions.  Dana Tessmer (Dexter sr) also cleared 12-0 (MI#5), but was 2nd on misses.
• 6-7 boys’ high jump by defending champ Brandon Piwinski (already MI#1 at 6-10), with Cody Semple (White Lake Lakeland sr) also clearing 6-7 but taking 2nd on misses.  Piwinksi cleared 7-0.25 last year and was 3rd at NBNI in March.
• 22-4.25 boys’ long jump by Austin Edwards (Grand Ledge jr), defending his 2014 title and giving himself a chance at a 3-peat in 2016.  Kevin Smith (East Kentwood jr) was 2nd at 22-1.75.  All jumps were NWI.