BATTLE CREEK – The spring track season is here, and even though it’s early, we will take a look at the city and area boys track squads for 2026.
Fans of high school boys track will want to mark their calendar with key dates coming up, including the All-City Track Meet on April 24 and regionals starting May 15. The MHSAA state meet is set for May 30 at various locations.
MORE: 2026 Enquirer Girls High School Track Season Preview
Here’s a closer look at the key city and area boys track teams for 2026:
Battle Creek Central
Coach: Jerry Miller (13th season)
Top returners: Charles Sims, jr..; Yoshua McDonald, sr.; DeAngelo Richey, jr.; Koran Gupton, jr.; Camari Williams, sr.; Mehki Burton, sr.
Outlook: Battle Creek Central features a team with a small group of seniors. Included in that group is Yoshua McDonald, who was a state qualifier in the 110 hurdles, as well as senior thrower Camari Williams. Other returners who bring needed experience include senior Mekhi Burton in the sprints, as well as juniors Koran Gupton (sprints), Charles Sims (middle distance) and DeAngelo Richey (sprints).
“The Bearcats are looking for some success from a group of returners. We have a solid group of veterans mixed in with some newcomers and should be able to put up some solid numbers this season,” Miller said.
Harper Creek
Coach: Larry Quick (32nd season)
Top returners: Carter Brenner, sr.; Cameron Converse, sr.; Cohen Deskins, sr.; Dylan Eversole, sr.; Cooper Gardner, sr.; Camari Hampton, sr.; Brock Hibbs, sr.; Alex LaFluer, sr.; Lamontez Porter, sr.; Avan Katz, sr.; Antoine Westry, sr.; DJ Wood, sr.; Kowen Slucter, sr.; Aiden Main, sr.; Steven Maske, sr.
Outlook: Harper Creek’s boys track team has won back-to-back state titles as the Beavers finished as state champs at the Michigan Interscholastic Track Coaches Association state meet. There are 70 athletes on the roster for track at Harper Creek, including 21 seniors back from that team looking to build on that momentum. Key returners for the Beavers include DJ Wood, who was a state champ in both hurdles events last spring. Other important contributors returning are Cooper Gardner in the distance events, Antoine Westry in the hurdles and Alex LaFleur in the sprints.
“We graduated 17 seniors last year’s team. We also have a lot of experienced juniors and sophomores on this team, plus, we have a handful of freshmen that will be in the varsity lineup. We understand the target on our back is big, therefore we practice and compete with that chip on our shoulder every day. We stress the importance of team and practicing at a high level everyday and our kids have bought in. As coaches, we continue working hard on getting our athletes into the right events and get this team prepared to compete and stay at an extremely high level,” Quick said.
Lakeview
Coach: Matt Miller (26th season)
Top returners: Marcus King, sr.; Jaymere Boykins, sr.; Frank Bouffard, sr.; Devyn Brown, sr.; Da’Shawn Page, sr.; Timothy Aung Soe, sr.; Austin Kowalski, sr.; Brayden Mentzer, sr.; Henry Greene, sr.
Outlook: Lakeview won another Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference East Division crown. However, the Spartans have suffered heavy graduation losses from that team. Lakeview does have a lot to work with this year with over 70 athletes on the boys team. Leading the returners is senior Austin Kowalski, who has been a state qualifier in the sprints. Other seniors the Spartans will lean on for experience include Marcus King (hurdles, long jump), Jaymere Boykins (throws), Frank Bouffard (throws), Devyn Brown (sprints), Da’Shawn Page (sprints), Henry Greene (distance), Timothy Aung Soe (middle distance), Brayden Mentzer (distance). The Spartans also have a nice core of underclassmen, including juniors Sean O’Donnell, Zack Aker, Carter Hughes, James Casara and Dwayne White as well as sophomores Karson Lewis and Elijah Demlow.
“Numbers are good. The attitude and commitment to work have been outstanding so far. Competing against some of the top programs in Michigan has inspired many of our athletes to develop this offseason. We are still figuring things out with the loss of some key fixtures from last season. I think our team will develop over the season, and hopefully by the end we will have the younger athletes competing at the varsity level,” Miller said.
Pennfield
Coach: Chris Lok (5th season)
Top returners: Dre’Shaun Bailey, sr.; Deondre Manalac, sr.; Terrence Grigsby, sr.; Hunter Jones, sr.; Treven Straham, sr.
Outlook: Pennfield only has five seniors on the roster, but there is good potential in the underclassmen. Senior Deondre Manalac is looking for a big senior year as he has already committed to run track at the next level at Adrian College. The Panthers have a strength in the sprints, led by seniors Dre’Shaun Bailey, Terrence Grigsby and Treven Straham. Senior Hunter Jones gives Pennfield some depth at the middle distance events.
“The numbers we have aren’t great, but we’ve got the most boys on the team since I’ve been here. We have a couple of freshmen that have really surprised us early on and could really do something this season,” Lok said.
St. Philip
Coach: Brett Weiss (2nd season)
Returners: N/A
Outlook: The St. Philip/Calhoun Christian co-op boys track team is short on numbers. Currently there are only six boys on the roster under first-year head coach Brett Weiss.
“We lost a large portion of our team from last year and there is only one senior (on the girls roster). The team is very young, but they all love being there and are very hard workers. I am expecting a lot of improvement from the younger classmen from last year and I am excited to watch them over the next couple of years,” Weiss said.
Area Teams To Watch
Marshall
Coach: Jason Stealy (1st season)
Returners: Abraham McHugh, jr.; Zach Hudson, jr.; Liam Scott, sr.; Brison Brewer, sr.; Akin Olapade, sr.
Outlook: Marshall is in a transition year with the loss of many key seniors from last season and bringing on two new head coaches for the girls and boys program. The Redhawks do have some elite athletes, however, with the return of Abraham McHugh, who was a regional champ in the 1,600 run and was a two-time all-state finisher in the 3,200 run and 3,200 relay. Zach Hudson also comes back after qualifying in the hurdles for states. Seniors Liam Scott (throws), Brison Brewer (field events), Akin Olapade (sprints) bring back needed experience.
“The team is young with only a handful of returning seniors and the head coaches are ‘new’, but both the team and coaches are looking forward to a fun and competitive season,” Marshall girls coach Jessica McHugh said.
Athens
Coach: Sebastian Hamilton (2nd season)
Top returners: Ethan O’Connor, sr.; Blake Anthony, so.; Gavin Thomas, jr.
Outlook: The Athens boys team is led by second-year head coach Sebastian Hamilton, who is trying to rebuild the program as the Indians are still short on numbers. However, The Indians bring back senior Ethan O’Connor, who was league champ in the pole vault, as well as junior Gavin Thomas, who led the squad in the middle distance events, and sophomore sprinter Blake Anthony.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: 45 boys track athletes to watch, what to know about Battle Creek area
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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