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- #86 - Hurdles Record Tops State Meet Excitement
#86 - Hurdles Record Tops State Meet Excitement
Watch Out For Rabbit Holes!
Jeff Hollobaugh
June 06, 2025
Inside This Issue
Best Moments At D1
Note that we’ll have highlights from the other divisions next week. We are out of time this week.
It’s natural for me to lead off with the D1 action at East Kentwood, since I had the pleasure of announcing the meet once again there. Indeed, it was a fantastic meet, the kind of event that makes a track fan’s head spin. (In addition to the spinning head, I also had to announce with a back that had gone out on me several days before, so absolute pain every time I moved… but yes, it was worth it!)
I wish I had time to give all 34 events a complete write-up here, but that’s not going to happen until someone leaves Michtrack a massive donation and I can quit my day job. So instead, here are the events that made the biggest impression on me.
Smith & Gamble Destroy Hurdles Record - This is the undisputed headliner. Thomas Wilcher’s State Record of 13.48 had lasted since 1982. We knew that the Belleville guys were aiming at it; Will Jaiden Smith even predicted it would go. The day was windy, with the wind blowing in the right direction; the only question was whether it would be 2.0mps or under. Tiger teammates left the rest of the field behind and fought each other to the line in a see-saw battle. Smith ran 13.35 to edge Gamble’s 13.36 and rank No. 5 in the U.S., with Gamble at No. 6. Michael Wilkerson of Adams ran 13.78 and the third Belleville hurdler, Timothy Pinard, ran 13.82. The wind was the maximum legal at 2.0mps. It was the deepest, fastest hurdle race in history. Smith cut 0.13 off the 43-year-old State Record. Gamble set an 11th grade record, beating Wilcher’s 13.60 from 1981. It doesnt’t get much better than this.
Tatum Dominates The Sprints - Kamryn Tatum, the West Bloomfield junior who last year won the 200/400 double, this year moved down to capture the 100/200 crowns. In the 100, she showed a powerful mid-race drive to take the win in 11.66 over ‘23 champ Jayla Dace (11.75). The wind was a legal 1.7. Then in the 200, she again came through, streaking a wind-aided 23.55 to beat sophs Willow Mason (23.93) and Mauriel Seeberger (23.96), with 400 champ Nevaeh Burns at 24.13. It’s a shame the wind was over the allowable at 2.5, but that’s weather. Who are you gonna be mad at? (And for those who hate the wind gauge for “taking away” those records, remember that with a legal wind, they would have run slower.) Back to Tatum—she’s the real thing. And she also ran stunning anchor legs on the Laker teams that placed 3rd in the 4×1 (47.56) and 4×2 (1:39.97).
That Blazing Boys 100 - We weren’t talking about Catholic Central’s Samson Gash a year ago—he wasn’t even running track. But this year, he has become a force in the sprints. Our best dash men took the competition right to the line, and Gash came out on top at 10.41 (1.4 wind), becoming =2 in state history. he edged by mere inches Novi’s Chance McNeill (10.42) and defending champion Jeremy Dixon (10.45). It was an all-divisions meet record, and all three bettered the D1/A meet record. Think of that. Dixon ran faster than the winning time in 127 other Class A/D1 championships, and had to settle for 3rd. He got to the top of the podium in the 200 with a fast 21.11, edging McNeill’s 21.12 (wind 1.6).
The Record Girls 4 × 400 - Oak Park did it again on its way to another team title. In their hallmark 4×4, the Knights literally ran away from the field. Dayshana Kellogg led off at 55.6, then Janae Coleman ripped a 55.0, Mekhi Thompson ran third leg in 57.52, and Nevaeh Burns, already winner of the 400 at 54.34, 4th in the 200 and anchor on the winning 4×2 (1:37.80), still had energy left for a 55.46. The final time of 3:43.52 is a meet record and the fourth-fastest in state history, behind only three marks from nationals.
Brody Leyendecker - The Byron Center senior first was a bit of a surprise in the 400, where his final stretch was far faster than anyone else’s, giving him a big win in 47.96. But it was in the 4×4 where he really opened eyes. The Bulldogs were in 4th at the final handoff, and most eyes were deservedly on Oak Park, which was hammering out what would be a 3:15.52 win, the second-fastest in meet history. On the final stretch, Leyendecker again showed unbelievable strength, passing the other two teams and chewing up much of Oak Park’s margin. While Rondre Austion anchored Oak Park in 47.62, Leyendecker clocked one of the fastest FAT splits in meet history, 46.68.
And Yes, Running Out Of Time To Finish This Newsletter - So here are more great moments, in abbreviated form:
Northville boys now at three-in-a-row in the 4 × 800, a feat never before done. All credit to Rece Grezak 1:57.17, Ryan Stojov 1:53.94, Ethan Powell 1:56.60, Ben Hartigan 1:53.53 = 7:41.24.
Collette Wierks winning the 800 in 2:11.65 over Valerie Beeck (2:11.94). Perhaps the deepest race ever in Michigan? 9 under 2:15, 6 under 2:14. Impressive.
Wendell Childs and Greg Myers don’t mess around. You know when they line up in the 800, they’re not going to hold back. Childs, a sophomore, ripped the first lap in 55.40, with Myers at 55.69. At the finish, Childs’ 1:50.71 missed the state soph record by just 0.24, and Myers ran a PR 1:51.36.
Helen Sachs already knew that frosh Natasza Dudek has an amazing kick. So in the 3200, the West Ottawa senior broke away early to run negative splits (5:10.20/5:06.36) to take the win in 10:16.56.
Luka Hammond winning the 1600 in 4:09.69… He is the first soph winner of the event since Skyline’s Anthony Giannobile in 2016.
Carrie VanNoy caught one of the biggest tailwinds of the day (4.2) in the hurdle final, but that takes nothing away from the immensity of her win over Laila Hawkins, 13.70-13.98. And then VanNoy showed that she has mastered the 300 hurdles, taking the longer event in 42.59 to Jada Wilson’s 42.80. She is now No. 8 in history in that event.
Belleville’s boys win was the first-ever by a team coached by a woman. Candice Davis-Price guided the Tigers to that 24-pt finish in the 110H, plus wins in the 300H, 4×1 (from lane 1) and 4×2.
Lorelai Zielinski won the throws double as a soph. In 50 years of MHSAA girls track history, she is the seventh to do the double, and only the second sophomore.
Garrod Alexander added an impressive three feet to his shot best with his second-round 64-1.25. That makes the Walled Lake Central senior No. 12 in Michigan history.
Reece Emeott successfully defended his title in the pole vault with a PR 16-0. He’s the first to win two-in-a-row since Bedford’s Logan Lynch in 2007.
Quincy Isaac put together a historic long jump series, hitting meet records of 24-10 (wind 1.6) in round 4 and 24-11.5 (-0.8) in round 5. Can he add the national outdoor title to the indoor crown he won in March?
Hansen Goes 4:00.69 In St. Louis
Running at the HOKA Festival of Miles, TJ Hansen finished 3rd in the mile in 4:00.69. The race was loaded with talent, with 5 athletes who had already broken the 4:00 barrier. However the hopes for more a deep sub-4:00 race were dashed by a very slow second lap, as no one wanted to follow the pro pacer. With a lap to go, the leaders were at 3:03.01. Iowa’s Quintin Nauman won in 3:58.65 with a 54.71 final lap, ahead of Oregon’s Josiah Tostenson (3:59.00). Hansen ran splits of 60.63 (409m), 62.65, 60.31, and 57.10, passing two others on the final lap to finish 3rd.
Hansen’s 4:00.69 is the No. 3 performance on the outdoor mile all-time list for Michigan, after only his own 3:59.02 and Grant Fisher’s 3:59.28 (run at the same meet 10 years ago). He passed through 1500 in 3:44.70, a PR that makes him No. 3 in state history (and also the No. 5 performance ever).
What’s Coming Up?
Champion of Champions - Set for Friday (today) and Saturday, the MITCA Festival at Davison is looking like the best since its inception two years ago. The events we’re most excited about is the girls 400 between D2 champ Sydney Kuhn and D1’s Nevaeh Burns. There will be plenty of other highlights. Free livestream on YouTube and https://freetracklive.com/.
Brooks PR: On Saturday, some of our elite athletes will be racing in Seattle, and we might see some great performances. The Michigan entrants: TJ Hansen (mile), Emmry Ross (800), Zacchaeus Brocks (110H), Cayla Hawkins (Jr 400), Eliza Schwass (Jr mile), Alexandra Scappaticci (Jr mile), Hudson Doll (Jr mile). Plus the pro 1500 will have alum Nick Foster (Pioneer). Free livestream at https://brooksprinvitational.runnerspace.com/eprofile.php?event_id=5619&do=videos&video_id=427054
Pro/College Highlights
Is Donavan Brazier Back? The 2019 World Champion in the 800, the alumni of Kenowa Hills is supposed to be racing Saturday night at the Toad Fest in Brentwood, Tennessee. He is entered the next weekend in an 800 race in Portland. Missing from the scene for the last few years because of injuries and surgery, Brazier would make a big splash indeed if he returns with anything resembling his old form. He’s been missed.
Big Dance Invites: The Michigan HS alumni who earned their way to the upcoming NCAA D1 Championships—Women: Kaila Jackson (Renaissance/Georgia) 100, 4×1; Fatouma Conde (AA Huron/Ohio St) 200, 4×1; Rachel Forsyth (Pioneer/MSU) 5000, Zofia Dudek (Pioneer/Stanford) 5000; Emily Paupore (Negaunee/CMU) steeple; Abigail Russell (Allen Park/UM) SP.
NCAA D1 Men’s Qualifiers: Brendan Herger (Northville/UM) 1500; Trent McFarland (Utica/UM) 1500; Braxton Brann (AA Huron/Ohio St) 110H, 4×1, 4×4; Tamaal Myers II (Cass Tech/UCLA) 400H; Andrew Nolan (Lake Orion/MSU) steeple; Dylan Targgart (Coldwater/South Carolina) SP; Kellen Kimes (Hart/Liberty) HT; Ben Barton (Seaholm/BYU) decathlon.
Beware The Rabbit Hole!
When you’re a stat nut, it’s hard to get away from track & field, even when you’re dead tired and sapped of motivation. That’s my only excuse for getting out this newsletter later than usual. After announcing the D1 Finals, I was absolutely exhausted (as usual). Add to that the aforementioned back pain and a load of work deadlines in the following days. Then incorporate some nasty insomnia. Yes, a litany of complaints it was that caused me—when I should have been working on the newsletter—to fall down a rabbit hole of obscure Michigan track history.
Something I saw—I can’t even remember what—got me digging up newspaper microfilm of the Free Press Pentathlon, an event held in Detroit for girls in the 1920s and ‘30s. The event was huge: every school in Detroit conducted pentathlons in which virtually every school girl in the state competed. The top 800-1000 scorers then went to Codd Field in late May to compete in the big show.
The events were strange by today’s standards: a 50-yard dash, a 60-yard low hurdle races, a basketball throw, a standing broad jump, and something called the “dash & throw” that I can’t figure out the details of. A “perfect” performance in each was worth 1000 points. In 1922, the winner was 14-year-old Aurelia Hughey from Majeske Grammar School. (The school’s history itself was fascinating. It was later turned into an “open-air” school for students with tuberculosis, then bulldozed in the ‘80s to build a GM plant.)
Hughey scored 4505 that year (6.8 in the 50, 9.0 in the hurdles, 7-5 in the standing broad jump, 60-feet in the basketball throw (her weak event) and 16.0 in the dash-and-throw, whatever that was. Of course, that took me down another rabbit hole, wondering whatever happened to this girl who was at the top of our high school track world more than 100 years ago.
The next year, Hughey scored even better, 4635, winning again. She graduated from Detroit’s Northeastern High in 1928, a classmate of legendary Eugene Beatty, one of our Hall of Famers. She fell in love with Wash G. Hardy, a young detective in the Detroit Police Department. They snuck away to a justice of the peace and got married on Christmas Day, 1934, telling their parents they couldn’t wait until the planned wedding 6 months later.
In the 1930s, Detective Wash Hardy got plenty of publicity for battling against jitterbug parties. “A determined drive to end private dance parties in homes where an audiophone is used to furnish music has been started by a group of police officials this week, according to Detective Wash Hardy.” In one case in 1935, he arrested 44 youth, mostly teenagers, for dancing to jazz at the “Jitter Bug Society”… “an organization of which Cab Calloway is alleged to be president.”
Aurelia and her husband loved hunting and fishing, and they opened a motel in Mackinac City—they were the first black business owners in the city. Later they ran a travel agency together. Aurelia died in in 1995 in Detroit at the age of 88, three years after her husband.
Other Things
Thumbs Down: Once again, let us rant on how absolutely stupid it is for these high school elite events to have all the competitors wear matching uniforms courtesy of the sponsor. Especially for distance events that are run in bad lighting, having a bunch of kids in the same kit means that fans in the stadium and watching the livestream have a hell of a hard time figuring out who is who, depriving the event of much of its drama. Sponsors, when you insist on this, we know that your priority is on yourself, not on the athletes or the event. If you’re can’t afford to at least give them shirts in different colors, please save the bling giveaway till after the race!
FAT 1500m splits were taken in the D1 Final 1600s by Portage’s Dan Wytko. Big thanks to his willingness to take the time and effort to give us these splits at the distance these athletes will be running in college. Here they all are: Girls Heat 1: Neuer 4:41.67, Lindley 4:41.79, Kauppila 4:42.36, Mascari 4:42.39, Skinner 4:43.01, Drnek 4:43.18, McMahon 4:43.18, Lorenz 4:43.85, Karasinski 4:47.73, Becker 4:50.53, Lawrence 4:50.69, Isom 4:51.84, Dicken 4:52.20, Koval 5:01.41, Anatalio 5:29.99. Girls Heat 2: Garces 4:31.86, Sachs 4:33.41, Beeck 4:36.22, Egli 4:38.01, Raab 4:39.07, Dudek 4:39.22, Alkema 4:40.07, Guaresimo 4:40.73, Hughes 4:40.75, Peters 4:40.88, McKay 4:43.98, A Hrabovksy 4:45.14, V Hrabovsky 4:45.20, Boggess 4:46.17, Cook 4:47.05, Peikert 4:49.94, Aleisa 4:59.15, Goodsell 5:03.25. Boys: Livermore 3:55.35, Hammond 3:55.71, Lam 3:58.50, Chadwick 4:04.51, Mussen 4:04.88, Mullan 4:04.93, Stojov 4:05.14, Cochran 4:05.96, Wierzba 4:05.75, Wright 4:06.29, Kundapur 4:06.57, Powell 4:06.84, Linden 4:08.20, Essenmacher 4:08.53, Algahmi 4:08.64, Dicken 4:08.80, Nowik 4:09.29, Forbord 4:10.29, Wesley 4:10.89, Mohl 4:11.33, DeGrendel 4:13.73, Wyderko 4:14.52, Cusick 4:15.50, Huhn 4:16.50, Warren 4:21.04, McCutcheon 4:22.06.
The Pink Floyd Effect: Remember hearing that if you listen to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon while watching “The Wizard of Oz” with the sound off, it all makes great sense? That thought occurred to me as I made a recording of my D1 announcing. For years folks have mistakenly thought mine is the voice on the MHSAA video of the meet. I’ve had parents come after me for getting names and pronunciations wrong, among other criticisms. But that’s not me. Now maybe, I can release the actual recording of the stadium play-by-play, and you can listen to it while watching the video with the sound off, a la Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz! It will make great sense! (But first I would have to edit the sound recording, because I think I might have said a bad word or two while the stadium mic was off but my recording was still going. Oops.
Please excuse today’s typos. No time for proofreading today.
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