Braves, Broncos Runners-Up At Soggy U.P. Finals

KINGSFORD---The Marquette Redmen and St. Ignace Saints turned in dominating performances at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Track and Field Finals Saturday afternoon in rainy Kingsford. Marquette won both the boys and girls championships in Division One, while St. Ignace ran away with both titles in Division Two.

Delta County's track teams turned in strong performances on Saturday, with the Gladstone Braves and Bark River-Harris Broncos both finishing in second place in the team results.

Eskymo Andrew Stenberg won 1600.

DIVISION ONE BOYS---Marquette won with 97 points, as Gladstone finished second with 82 and Manistique took third with 6o. The Redmen got wins from Zach Taggart in the 110 hurdles, Andrew Bannitt in the 800, and the 1600 relay team took first place.

Gladstone's Jared Vuksan won the shot put (51'03) for the second straight year, and he was second in the discus. Teammate Zach Sturdy won the pole vault (12'06), and Braves senior Jason Thompson took third in that event.

Escanaba's Andrew Stenberg won a U.P. title in the 1600 meter dash (4:45.14) and Gladstone's Kyle Arvan was second (4:47.90)

Manistique got a big win from Kenner Broullire in the 300 Hurdles. The Emerald junior set a new U.P. Division One record, finishing in 39.74 seconds. Broullire was second in the long jump, and the Manistique 3200 meter relay team took first place.

CLICK HERE to see all of the D-1 boys results from Superior Timing.

Gladstone's Jared Vuksan won the shot put for the second year.

DIVISION ONE GIRLS---Marquette's girls won with 106 points. Negaunee was second with 99 and Calumet was third with 81. Gladstone finished sixth with 43 points, two better than seventh place Escanaba.

Marquette's Shayla Huebner won the 400, Jessica Fluette won the 800, and the Redettes took the 1600 and 3200 relay championships.

Gladstone's Jessica Young won a U.P. title in the discus (106-6.75), and fellow Brave Laura Alexander won the pole vault title (9-0).

Escanaba's Olivia Nash was second in the high jump, just ahead of teammate Meredith Marlett, who finished third.

Escanaba also took second in the 800 meter relay.

CLICK HERE to see all of the D-1 girls results from Superior Timing.

Escanaba's Olivia Nash.

DIVISION TWO BOYS---The Saint Ignace Saints won with 112 points. Stephenson took second with 85 and Ironwood was third with 63.

The Saints had six U.P. champions, including Parker Simmons, who won the 100, the 200, and was part of the winning 400 meter relay team. The Saints also won three Upper Peninsula titles in field events. Stephenson's Jono Newlin won the 800 and 1600.

CLICK HERE to see all of the D-2 boys results from Superior Timing.

DIVISION TWO GIRLS---The Saint Ignace Saints dominated the field with 142 points. Norway was a distant second with 94 and West Iron County was third with 72.

The Saints' Sarah Cullip had a big day. She won the 1600 and the 3200 races, won the pole vault, and was second in the 800. Norway's Dani Gagne was also a frequent winner. She took U.P. titles in the 100, 200, 400, and she won the long jump.

CLICK HERE to see all of the D-2 girls results from Superior Timing.

Mid Peninsula's Brett Branstrom.

DIVISION THREE BOYS---The Pickford Panthers took the title with 89 points.

Bark River-Harris edged Crystal Falls Forest Park, 58-57, for second place. Rapid River was fourth with 52, Superior Central sixth, and Mid Peninsula seventh.

Bark River-Harris was led by Trevor Cochrane, who U.P. titles in both the 110 hurdles (15.9), 300 hurdles (41.28). The 400-meter relay team of Jake Kleiman, Dane Messersmith, Hunter Messersmith and Scott Jorasz won the U.P. title (47.01), while the 800 and 1600 relay teams got second. Kleiman also took second in the long jump.

Rapid River's Robert Metter won the pole valut (12'06) championship, and Mitch Narkooli was second in the discus and third in the shot put.

Mid Peninsula's Brett Branstrom shattered an Upper Peninsula record in the discus by throwing 154 feet, 0.8 inches. The old record was set by Rapid River's Richard Poma in 2003 (149-1). Branstrom also took second in the shot put.

CLICK HERE to see all of the D-3 boys results from Superior Timing.

Rapid River relay team runs hard.

DIVISION THREE GIRLS---The Brimley Bays took the girls title by scoring 78 points, followed closely by Superior Central (66) and Crystal Falls Forest Park (64).

Bark River-Harris finished ninth, Rapid River 14th, and Mid Peninsula 15th.

Rapid River's Neena Brockway won the U.P. title in discus (105'07.50), with BR-H junior Sydni Petrie second.

Mid Peninsula's Kelsey Shope got second in the high jump, and Wolverine teammate Krysta VanDamme was third in the shot put.

Superior Central's Lauren Spranger won the 400 and the 800, and she was the anchor on the Cougars' U.P. Champion 1600 relay team. Spranger set a new U.P. record in the 400 at 58.97 seconds. CLICK HERE to see the D-3 girls results from Superior Timing.