Onekama Track & Field

Portagers Girls place 2nd in regional

Onekama to be well represented in state finals

Posted by Dave Yarnell, Manistee News Advocate

BRETHREN — Though a few points shy of what they would have liked, the Portagers were far from timid in attaining what they ultimately came to do on Saturday.

The Onekama girls fell short of a second straight regional crown as a team, but certainly won’t be short on representatives at the Division 4 state finals on June 2 in Jenison.

During the weekend’s regional, the Portagers produced three regional crowns and will take a total of 11 athletes to compete in 12 events at the next level.

“We wanted to win the regional, but our goal was to take as many girls to the state finals as we could,” Onekama girls coach Bonnie Brown said. “We’re taking all four relays and a lot of individuals. I couldn’t ask for more out of my girls.

“They’ve been such a great group to work with, and to be going to state now with them, I’m happy.”

Onekama placed second overall Saturday with 110 points as Traverse City St. Francis won the regional with 125. The hosting Bobcats placed 12th of 15 teams with 15 total points.

“We worked as hard as we could, and knew the biggest competition would be St. Francis,” said Onekama senior Jaylee Brown, who won her second straight regional title in pole vault, and also qualified to state in both hurdle events and as part of the 1,600-meter relay. “We did all we could. We competed with them in every event, but obviously it’s not going to go our way all the time.

“I’m feeling great,” she added, citing a back injury that has nagged her through a decorated prep career with the Portagers. “Just with everything that has happened (with the injury), I didn’t know at the beginning of the year whether I’d be getting back into hurdles or what. So, I’m just really happy with what we did today. We’ve got a lot of girls going to state.”

Brown vaulted 9-6 Saturday to earn her fourth straight trip to the finals in that event, and will look to be a four-time All-State vaulter when she competes next. Brown took fourth in the 100-meter hurdles to qualify with a time of 17.16, second in the 300-meter hurdles in 50.43 and fourth with teammates Taylor Anderson, Alycia Peterson and Danielle Ward in the 1,600-meter relay in the qualifying time of 4:24.88.

Joining Brown as a regional champion was freshman Keena Gilbert who won the 3,200 in impression fashion on such a sweltering day.

“It was really hot. The water being splashed on me really helped,” Gilbert said of winning the event in the time of 12:20.48, which is just a second off from a school record. “I’m excited … I’m shooting for a 12:16 in the two mile (at the state finals).”

The 400-meter relay team of Alyson Fink, Breanna Fink, Meredith Hengy and Nisha Collins won the regional title in the time of 51.56, which set a new Onekama school record.

Including Brown’s runner-up spot in the intermediate hurdles, the Portagers qualified in four events by placing second. Runners up also included Collins in the long jump (16-foot-3), Faith Moerdyk in the high jump (4-9), and Hengy, Collins, Breanna Fink and Peterson in the 800-meter relay (1:51.00).

The 3,200-meter relay team of Anderson, Kelly Babcock, Moerdyk and Gilbert placed fourth in the state qualifying time of 10:37.69.

Qualifying to state required a first- or second-place finish Saturday, or a time that met Michigan High School Athletic Association’s additional qualifying standards. With the formula used to convert FAT times to hand times, Brown’s 100-meter hurdle time will qualify, as will Breanna Fink’s 100-meter dash (fourth, 13.56) and Peterson’s 200-meter dash (fifth, 28.02). Official state qualifiers are scheduled to be announced early this week.

The Portagers will have a nice mix of newcomers at state level as well as returning veterans.

Jaylee Brown, the most tenured state athlete for Onekama, has plenty of advice to offer to her younger teammates. “You really have to focus on your races, your events,” she said. You don’t want to be intimidated by everything around you, the coaches have prepared you to do your best, so you’re just out to give your best.”

Though they had improved nearly every meet this season, the Bobcats had an off day Saturday. But, coach Melissa Baker said it doesn’t take away from what her overwhelmingly young team has accomplished.

“Overall, the girls worked hard all year. It was a nice season,” Baker said. “I think the heat may have got to some of the earlier in the day. We’re looking forward to seeing a lot of them next year. And some of them have three more years.

Brethren placed fourth in the 800-meter relay in the time of 2:01.14, while freshman Emily Krause paced the Bobcats individually on the day.

Krause medaled in three events, including the 300-meter hurdles (51.56), the high jump (4-7) and the 100-meter hurdles (20.33).