Julia Hughes is distant relation of Kris (Matthes) Ray.
Hughes is turning Ray’s records into distant memories.
The Ida senior wiped a 49-year-old relay record off the board this season after eclipsing a standard in the hurdles last spring.
But there are no hard feelings.
“Julia is amazing,” Ray said. “I haven’t seen her run live but I’ve heard great things. I met her a few years ago at my niece’s daughter’s graduation party. Julia is the daughter of my niece’s husband’s sister.”
Following that family tree is as difficult as trying to catch Hughes on the track.
She will attempt to defend her state title in the high hurdles during the Division 3 state finals at Kent City on Saturday, May 30.
She is the top seed in that event and has the second-fastest time in the low hurdles.
“She reminds me of myself in that I was always determined to be the best I could be and thrived on the competition,” Ray said. “I am proud that these records have lasted as long as they did but it’s great to see the records broken. It means the program is strong.”
Hughes ran the anchor leg as Ida’s 400 relay qualified for state during a regional meet on May 16 with a school-record time of :51.63. Holly Clifton, Kaidence Weaver and Claire May ran the other legs.
That topped the standard set by Ray, Karen (Spotts) Labert, Tonya (DuShane) Sorenson, and Connie (Oberski) DuCharme in 1977.
“We have fond memories of our track seasons together,” Ray said. “Connie and Tonya were a year ahead of Karen and I but our 4×1 relay team was together for a couple years. Most of our meets were on cinder tracks not quite as nice as today’s tracks.”
The current crop of Monroe County Region track and field athletes are poised to make their own memories Saturday.
Hughes isn’t the Region’s only returning champion.
Giuliana Nastale of Erie Mason will be trying to defend her titles in the 100 and 200 meters in the Division 3 meet. She is seeded third in both of those events and second in the 400.
Erie Mason’s Lincoln Murbach is seeded third in the low hurdles.
“Lincoln has a shot at winning it all with a clean race,” Mason coach Alex Russeau said.
St. Mary Catholic Central has a record 19 boys and girls qualified for the Division 3 finals.
“Many of these kids have been here before,” SMCC coach Roman Smith said. “They know the meet, they know the competition, and they know what’s required. That familiarity goes a long way at this level.”
SMCC is seeded first in both the 400 and 800 relays. Christian Craanen could place in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.
“The depth this group has shown all season gives them a real shot at the team standings,” Smith said.
SMCC’s girls are the No. 3 seed in the 400 relay.
Ida’s Jaxon Bolster has battled injuries most of the season, but was the state runner-up in the pole vault last season.
Teammates Braden Bydlowski and Brandon Tross also are qualified in the same event.“It is a testament to not only their dedication and hard work, but also to the knowledge being passed to them by coach Mike Bolster,” Ida coach Jason Childress said. “It would not surprise us at all if all three of them are standing on the podium after their event is completed.”
Brek Ruddy of Whiteford is the No. 3 seed in the pole vault and is part of the fifth-seeded 1,600 relay.
In the Division 4 meet at Baldwin and Hudsonville, Summerfield’s Austin Taylor is seeded fifth in the pole vault.
Bedford’s Maddi Duke (eighth in the 800) is the Region’s top seed in the Division 1 finals at Rockford.
Hamilton will host the Division 2 meet.
A list of Region state qualifiers follows.
MONROE (Division 1)
BOYS
Zamir Austin: High jump.
BEDFORD (Division 1)
BOYS
AJ Varner: High hurdles.
Maddi Duke: 800.
Masyn Moran: Discus.
1,600 relay: Brandon McCloud, Logan Thomas, Bryce McCloud, Maddi Duke.
3,200 relay: Cameron Varner, Logan Thomas, Dane Hieronimus, Maddi Duke.
GIRLS
Tayah Croley: 100.
3,200 relay: Sophia Johnson, Iva Ravindra, Cheyenne Ivey, Maliah McKibben
GIBRALTAR CARLSON (Division 1)
BOYS
Reece Wieckowski III: 100.
Sam Przytula: Discus.
Zachary Peterson: High jump.
800 relay: Rodney Mullins, Noah Latzky, Tristan Joaquin, Reece Wieckowski.
GIRLS
Piper Ashbaucher: Discus.
AIRPORT (Division 2)
BOYS
Anthony Tamahkyarov: 100.
400 relay: Damian Luft, Mason Stoneburner, Jaylen Strong, Anthony Tamahkyarov.
GIRLS
Ella Baker: 800.
MILAN (Division 2)
BOYS
Braeden Lerette: High hurdles.
GIRLS
1,600 relay: Madison Lancaster, Amerie Wilson, Angelina Wilson, Kaily McDaniel.
NEW BOSTON HURON (Division 2)
BOYS
Luke Dulecki: 3,200.
400 relay: Jayden Lundy, Ian Petrick, Jordan Stasak, Jamil Brown.
3,200 relay: Cameron Crane, Brenton Musallam, Cole Druyor, Luke Dulecki.
GIRLS
Avery Turk: low hurdles.
JEFFERSON (Division 2)
BOYS
Zane Knezevich: 200.
Orion Galloway: 800.
400 relay: Grant Hakeos, Alex Brown, Zy’Rell Henley, Zane Knezevich.
800 relay: Maddex Shotwell, Alex Brown, Josh Hargraeves, Zy’Relly Henley.
1,600 relay: Zane Knezevich, Maddex Shotwell, Josh Hargraeves, Orion Galloway.
GIRLS
Claire Miller: 3,200.
FLAT ROCK (Division 2)
BOYS
Jacob Stanislawski: 1,600, 3,200.
GIRLS
Breanna Sexton: Shot put.
SMCC (Division 3)
BOYS
Christian Craanen: 800, 1,600, 3,200.
Gavin Swartout: 100.
400 relay: Brady Reinhardt, Gavin Swartout, Vince Harris, Cole Reinhardt, Lucas Rafko.
800 relay: Easton Kwiatkowski, Carson Welker, Brady Reinhardt, Vince Harris.
3,200 relay: Christian Craanen, Max Foldvary, Phineas Totten, Brennan Menzies, Kenny Knudsen.
GIRLS
Adela Illes: 100, 200.
Olivia Beaudrie: High jump.
Bella LaFountain: 800, 1,600.
400 relay: Adela Illes, Angie Illes, Kate Boberg, Olivia Beaudrie, Reese Foster.
1,600 relay: Adela Illes, Angie Illes, Ava Lucarelli, Bella LaFountain.
DUNDEE (Division 3)
BOYS
Braxton Ellison: Long Jump.
Luke Bishop: Pole vault.
GIRLS
Maddie Salenbien: 400
Lily Ratliff: Long jump.
ERIE MASON (Division 3)
BOYS
Lincoln Murbach: High and low hurdles
Logan Doom: 1,600.
1,600 relay: Jackson Carner, Joseph Colaluca, Amari Harris, Lincoln Murbach.
3,200 relay: Logan Doom, David Mills, Caleb Healey, Joseph Colaluca.
GIRLS
Giuliana Nastale: 100, 200, 400.
Paige Konrad: Long jump.
400 relay: Adrianna Cosby, Tanlei Neff, Paige Konrad, Giuliana Nastale.
800 relay: Adrianna Cosby, Aubrey Iocoangeli, Kaylee Wright, Paige Konrad.
IDA (Division 3)
BOYS
Jaxon Bolster: Pole vault.
Braden Bydlowski: Pole vault.
Brandon Tross: Pole vault.
800 relay: Jacob Young, Mason Reynolds, Braden Bydlowski, Brenner Nelson.
1,600 relay: Jacob Young, Braden Bydlowski, Luke Stanley, Brenner Nelson.
GIRLS
Julia Hughes: High and low hurdles.
Addyson Wilt: Discus.
Madalynn Roderick: Long jump.
Alayna Markey: Shot put.
400 relay: Julia Hughes, Holly Clifton, Kaidence Weaver, Claire May.
1,600 relay: Julia Hughes, Kaidence Weaver, Gabi Garner, Camilla Mommerency.
WHITEFORD (Division 3)
BOYS
Jess Saylor: 400.
Brek Ruddy: Pole vault.
400 relay: Drew Ruddy, Antonio Nachtrab, Brody Hillard, Nate Andrews.
800 relay: Drew Ruddy, Antonio Nachtrab, Brody Hillard, Nate Andrews.
1,600 relay: Nate Andrews, Brek Ruddy, Brody Hillard, Jess Saylor
GIRLS
Brielle White: 200, 400.
Nina Bauman: Discus.
1,600 relay: Brielle White, Braelynn Chiotti, Sierra DeBarr, Briar Wing.
3,200 relay: Braelynn Chiotti, Sierra DeBarr, Breslin Wing, Briar Wing.
SUMMERFIELD (Division 4)
BOYS
JT Lemert: Shot-put, discus.
Colin Brown: 800.
Austin Taylor: Pole vault.
GIRLS
Grace Raymond: 800.
Allison Ost: 1,600.
Makenzie Wolfe: 3,200.
Abby Raymond: Low hurdles.
Abby Zilka: High jump.
Gabi Myshock: Discus.
400 relay: Abby Raymond, Grace Raymond, Sophie Stanger, Emma Jacob.
1,600 relay: Abby Raymond, Allison Ost, Grace Raymond, Alice VanCamp.
3,200 relay: Makenzie Wolfe, Abby Raymond, Grace Raymond, Allison Ost.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: The Monroe County Region to be well represented in state track finals
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
