#75 - The Big Meets Are Coming Up

March 06, 2025

Inside This Issue

State Records Tumble

  • TJ Hansen got the chance to race against some fast competition at the Circuit meet in Boston over the 3000m distance. That gave him a chance to go after an old state record, the 8:17.8 that Dathan Ritzenhein split in Bloomington, Indiana, when he won the Nike Indoor Classic 2-mile as a high school junior. Hansen was shooting for a faster time, as the wavelights were set for 8:00 (the national HS record is 7:56.97 by Nico Young). Hansen bravely stuck close to the pace, passing 1000 in 2:41.83, 1600 in 4:18.56 and 2000 in 5:23.78. His last kilo was hard, however, and he finished with a 2:46.46 to hit 8:10.24. That lopped more than 7 seconds off the state record and is also No. 12 in U.S. history.

  • Addy Stiverson broke the state record in the shot again, hitting 51-1.75 at Grand Valley. That’s also a national record for sophomores, but only a stepping stone for the Montrose 10th grader, who is on her way to even bigger things. Her series: 47-10.5, 48-6.75, 48-4.5, 50-2.5, 51-1.75, 50-5. Here’s a video of the big throw, courtesy of her dad: https://bsky.app/profile/michtrack.bsky.social/post/3lirtpvvin22w

College Conference Action

Note this is not all of the college conferences—just the ones I had time to look at in a crazy week!

Big 10

With the addition of some of the best track schools in the nation to the Big 10, titles there are going to be much harder to get, so that’s the conference I’m leading off with.

  • UM’s Trent McFarland won the mile title in 4:03.56 in a kickers race against some of the nation’s best collegians. He closed with a 53.95 final 400. The day before he led the heats with his 3:59.29.

  • Aasia Laurencin came oh-so-close to winning the 60 hurdles, finishing 2nd in a PR 7.97, just five-thousandths of a second behind the winner.

  • Olivia Millen (Salem) of MSU placed 5th in the mile in 4:42.49.

  • Two Michiganders ran on UCLA’s 5th place DMR: Tamaal Myers II (ex-Cass Tech) ran 47.45 and handed off to Parker Raymond (Rochester Adams) who split 1:49.08.

  • MSU took 2nd in the women’s DMR (11:00.04) with strong legs from Alexis Wilson (Lincoln, 53.50), Shae Harbaugh (Clarkston, 2:08.91) and Rachel Forsyth (Pioneer, 4:36.44).

  • Elle Adrian of MSU was 4th in the weight throw at 73-2.75, just missing her PR.

  • Samantha Hastie of UM (AA Huron) placed 7th in the 800 in 2:05.65.

  • MSU’s Logan Allen (OL St Mary) ran 6th in the 60 hurdles in 7.86.

  • Rachel Forsyth finished 5th in the 3000 at 9:11.99.

  • Michigan placed 4th in the men’s 4×4 at 3:08.81, with Krish Gupta (Troy) leading off in 47.02, and Miles Brown next (Novi, 46.77).

NAIA Nationals

  • Hannah Antoviak (Allegan) starred for Olivet Nazarene, winning the 600 in 1:26.98 to become the No. 2 Michigander ever (No. 1 is Delisa Floyd’s 1:26.58, which was a World Record at the time). She was also 4th in the 60 hurdles in 8.38 and anchored the winning 4×4 in 52.78.

  • Siena Heights’ Emma Valentine (Morrice) won the high jump with a 5-10.75.

  • Emma Stewart (Salem) placed 4th in the vault at 12-7.5 for Siena Heights.

  • Linnearia Richards (Flint Kearsley) placed 3rd in the long jump at 19-4 for Siena Heights.

  • Camden Kohn (Spring Arbor/Armada) placed 4th in the mile (4:10.17).

  • Freshman Holden Van Poppel (Siena Hts/Napoleon) took 4th in the heptathlon (5117).

Mid-American

Emily Paupore winning the 5000. (Instagram)

  • Emily Paupore (Negaunee/CMU) won the 5000 in 16:22.39.

  • Chloie Musta (Cadillac/EMU) placed 2nd in the 800 at 2:09.11.

GLIAC

  • Jaylin Townsend (Beecher/Ferris) placed 2nd in the 60 (6.89).

  • Vincent Giuliano (Concord/GV) won the 200 in 21.25.

  • Scott Spaanstra (Brighton/GV) ran 1:49.72 and Samuel Allen (Norrix/GV) went 1-2 in the 800.

  • Koby Fraaza (Gull Lake/GV) won the 3000 in 8:10.66 ahead of Jack Lobodzinski (Milford/SV) in 8:13.39.

  • Andre Richmond (Whitehall/GV) took the 5000 in 14:26.59 ahead of Cooper Sorsen (Caledonia/Ferris) in 14:26.75.

  • Joshua Hurt (E Kentwood/GV) won the hurdles in 8.05.

  • Grand Valley won the men’s 4×4 in 3:13.93. Vincent Giuliano (Concord) and Desmond Chapa (West Ottawa) both helped.

  • GV also took the DMR in 9:41.35, with Owen Westerkamp (Big Rapids), Scott Spaanstra (Brighton) and Koby Fraaza (Gull Lake).

  • Sawyer Moloy (Sanford Medidian/SV) and Xavier Santiago (Onaway/SV) went 1-2 in the high jump at 6-9.5.

  • A 1-2-3 sweep in the vault for Camryn Battjes (Allendale/GV), Colton Emeott (EK/GV) and Wyatt Alwine (Constantine/GV), all at 16-8.

  • Myles Kerner (Kenowa Hills/GV) won the shot at 64-8.5; Andrew Berryhill (BC Lakeview/GV) was 2nd at 56-6.

  • James Mackey (EK/GV) took the weight at 66-10; Michael Griffey (Plainwell/GV) 2nd at 63-10.25.

  • Mark Palmeter (Clarkston/Davenport) placed 2nd in the heptathlon at 4341.

  • Chaniya Madison (Bridgeport/SV) won the 60 in 7.55; Julia Tuuri (Lowell/Davenport) 2nd in 7.63.

  • Tuuri also took second in the 200 in 24.63.

  • Claire Newman (Canton/GV) took 2nd in the 400 at 55.66.

  • Addison Washler (Forest Hills E/GV) won the 800 in 2:10.39; Emily Gordon (Northville/Wayne) 2nd in 2:11.00.

  • Karissa Picard (BC Western/SV) ran 2nd in the mile at 4:52.75.

  • Lauren Kiley (Plymouth/GV) won the 3000 in 9:26.76.

  • Reagan Justice (Salem/Wayne) took the 5000 in 16:56.52; Maggie O’Malley (McBain/GV) ran 17:04.41 in 2nd.

  • Grand Valley own the 4×4 in 3:48.75 with Claire Newman (Canton), Addison Washler (FH Eastern) & Megan Postma (West Ottawa).

  • GV also took the DMR in 11:38.77 with Landyn Howell (FH Eastern) & Lauren Kiley (Plymouth).

  • Kaylee Diamond (Lowell/GV) won the high jump at 5-10.75.

  • Brooke Bowers (FH Eastern/GV) won the vault at 13-7; Madisyn Lundquist (Cadillac/SV) 2nd at 12-1.25.

  • Erika Beistle (Big Rapids/GV) won the shot with a 55-7.5; Mackenzie Bohrer (TC Central/GV) 2nd at 48-7.25.

  • Shelby Ulven (Zeeland/GV) took the weight with her 63-8.25.

  • Olivia Carpenter (Midland/SV) won the heptathlon (3089).

Other Conferences

Sophie Novak now the #2 Michigander ever at 3000.

  • Georgia’s Kaila Jackson (Renaissance) won the SEC 60 in 7.12, her fastest low-altitude time ever. Then she finished 4th in the 200 (22.91).

  • Milena Chevallier (Texas A&M/Mercy) jumped 5-10 for 9th at the SEC.

  • Zofia Dudek (Stanford/AA Pioneer) won the ACC 5000 in 15:43.83.

  • South Carolina’s Dylan Targgart (Coldwater) placed 4th in the SEC shot at 63-1.5.

  • Liberty’s Adelyn (Ackley) Fairley (from Hart) won the Conference USA 5000 in 16:50.39, then took the 3000 in 9:28.67.

  • Liberty’s Kellen Kimes (Hart) won the Conference USA weight throw with a 68-7.5.

  • Kylee King (Oak Park) ran on Hampton’s winning 4×8 at the CAA Champs.

  • Benne Anderson (Syracuse/Ottawa Hills) ran a 3:59.28 heat in the ACC mile, then placed 5th in a tactical final at 4:02.95.

  • Sophie Novak (Notre Dame/Lake Orion) placed 4th in the ACC 3000 in a PR 8:51.94.

  • Hunter Jones (Benzie) finished 21st in the ACC 5000 for Wake Forest in 13:58.02.

USATF Indoors

  • Hobbs Kessler (ex-AA Skyline) leaned to win the 3000 by a mere 0.02 in 7:38.00. Morgan Beadlescomb (ex-Algonac) placed 7th in 7:40.52. The next day Kessler took the 1500 in 3:38.82.

  • Cheyenne Nesbitt (ex-Essexville-Garber) placed second in the pentathlon. Her 4462 is her No. 3 score ever. Her breakdown: 60H-8.30, HJ 5-8.75, SP 42-8.75, LJ 20-1.5, 800-2:16.91).

  • Grace Stark (ex-WL Lakeland) ran a PR 7.75 (the fastest time ever by a Michigander) to lead the heats of the 60 hurdles. In the final, she barely lost to Olympic champion Masai Russell in running 7.76.

  • Gabriela Leon (ex-East Kentwood) placed 2nd in the pole vault at 15-3. Kenzie (Shell) Beukes (ex-Port Huron Northern) no-heighted.

  • Rachael Walters (ex-Lowell) placed 6th in her heat of the 800 in a PR 2:03.51; not advancing.

  • Erika Beistle (ex-Big Rapids) no-marked in the shot.

  • Trevor Stephenson (ex-E Kentwood) placed 11th in the pole vault at 17-8.5.

HS Names In The News

The Circuit: Some good performances in Philly this weekend (3/1) on Penn’s new 200 banked track:

  • G400: Nevaeh Burns ran 54.77 for 2nd; Janae Coleman 3rd in 55.15, Dayshana Kellogg 57.54.

  • B400: 2nd, Rondre Austion 48.80; 6th, Phillip Burney 50.01.

  • G60: 6th, Asia Elder 7.82.

  • G60H: 6th, Jayda Watson 8.82 - huge PR!

  • B60H: 2nd, Angelo Finnie Jr. 8.34.

  • B-Mile: 2nd, TJ Hansen 4:04.46.

  • G200: Nevaeh Burns 24.69, Payton Gee 24.98.

  • B200: Rondre Austion (21.87) and Devin James (21.97).

  • G800: 2nd, Janae Coleman 2:15.80, 5th Rhian Jeffries 2:18.16.

The LAB’s Midwest Showcase (Feb. 21-22):

Payton Gee is lighting up the hurdles. (Motor City TC)

  • Oak Park frosh Payton Gee displayed a massive improvement in the hurdles, with rounds of 8.77, 8.64 and 8.60. That crushes the old state record for frosh, an 8.74 by Nonah Waldron. She is now the #1 9th-grader in the nation.

  • Chance McNeil hit a 6.90/21.75 sprint double. In the 200 he topped Will Jaiden Smith (21.78), Rondre Austion (21.91) and Rodney Endsley (21.99).

  • Rondre Austion won the 400 in 48.41.

  • Sophomore Wendell Childs blasted 1:52.47, the fastest 10th-grade time ever in the 800, leading PRs for the next 12 runners, including Greg Myers (1:54.14) and Abenezer Cerone (1:54.86).

  • With many of the state’s top distance runners racing in Allendale, out-of-staters put on a great distance show. Jameson Pfifer won the double in 4:12.32/9:07.77.

  • Will Jaiden Smith (7.79) and Schmar Gamble (7.82) battled to PRs in the hurdles. Both of them are top 10 marks in MI history.

  • Motor City burned 3:31.01 & a US leader 4:02.17 in the sprint medley.

  • Giovanni Charles high jumped 6-8.

  • Eighth-grader Aubrey Douglas won the 60 in 7.77, teammate Nevaeh Burns the 200 in 25.05.

  • Sydney Kuhn improved to a 54.63 in the 400, beating Emmry Ross (55.51) and Nevaeh Burns (56.12).

  • Janae Coleman took the 800 in 2:14.90.

Saginaw Valley (Feb. 22):

  • Little-known Karsen Gonyea of Lincoln-Alcona tied the state lead in the 60 with a reported 6.85. Last season he had a best of 11.18 in the 100 and was 7th in the D4 finals.

  • Kamryn Tatum blazed a swift 7.46 in the 60.

  • Sam Mitas won the 200 in 21.93.

  • Jordan Paige of Novi long humped 22-3.

Grand Valley (Feb. 22):

  • The girls Gazelle Elite 3200 went to Indiana’s Mallory Weller in 10:11.33. Behind her was Helen Sachs of West Ottawa at 10:12.68, then Pioneer frosh Natasza Dudek (10:12.92) and Emma Hoffman at 10:25.49.

  • The boys Elite 3200 went to Milford junior Kyle O’Rourke in 9:06.65. The UP’s Gabe Litzner was next in 9:10.87, followed by Seth Conner (9:13.63) and Colin Murray (9:14.40).

  • El McMahon won the 800 in 2:14.37, edging Valerie Beeck (2:14.61) and Ella Wierks (2:14.79).

  • Jeremy Dixon won the 60 in 6.92, and then the elite 200 in 22.04.

  • Mia Barnett PRed an 8.76 in the hurdles.

  • Mason Mayne threw 58-4.5 in the shot.

  • Kentwood’s Lorenzo Reynolds won the long jump at 22-6.5.

  • Liam Takace hit another great performance in the weight at 73-4.25.

  • Greta Caprathe high jumped 5-9 to lead the state, plus an 18-3.

  • Katie Blue of Grand Ledge cleared 12-9 in the vault.

  • Shelbie Choponis threw 45-7.75 in the weight.

College/Pro Names In The News

  • Gabriela Leon vaulted 15-3.5 (4.66) in Albuquerque, taking 2nd to Amanda Moll’s historic collegiate record of 16-0 (4.88).

  • Three Rivers/Spring Arbor Nathan Martin placed 9th in the USATF Half Marathon Championships, running a PR 61:45. He recently signed with adidas.

  • Check out this recent interview with Hobbs Kessler: https://trackandfieldnews.com/hobbs-kessler-now-on-track-he-knew-hed-find/

Who Got In?

BYU’s Ben Barton is ranked No. 3 in the heptathlon.

Entry Lists have been released for the NCAA D1 Championships in Virginia Beach, March 14-15. Here are the Michigan HS alumni that got in (not perfectly accurate, because the relay line-ups are always at the discretion of the coaches, and could change at the last moment).

  • 60 - Kaila Jackson (Renaissance-Georgia)

  • 200 - Kaila Jackson (Renaissance-Georgia)

  • 60H - Aasia Laurencin (Oak Park-UM)

  • 60H - Nonah Waldron (Oak Park-USC)

  • DMR - Stanford - Zofia Dudek (Pioneer)

  • Wt - Elle Adrian (Standish Sterling-MSU)

  • Mile - Benne Anderson (Ottawa Hills-Syracuse)

  • 4×4 - Purdue - Zach Mylenek (Notre Dame)

  • SP - Dylan Targgart (Coldwater-South Carolina)

  • Hept - Ben Barton (Seaholm-BYU)

Next Few Weeks - Track Craziness!

With the MITS Finals coming up this weekend, and the next weekend with two major HS national meets plus the NCAA Finals, I would like to produce great coverage fast of everything important. In a perfect world, with enough reader support so I could do this full-time (or at least bigger part-time). However, Between work deadlines and the NCAA workload for my job, I honesty don’t know when I will pump out the newsletter.

Let’s play this by ear. You may get some mini-newsletters in coming weeks, carrying the biggest news. We will post breaking alerts about state records and such on BlueSky.

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