HILLSDALE COUNTY — Hillsdale County track and field athletes returned with multiple individual state titles from the Division 3 finals at Kent City.
After winning a team regional championship, Hillsdale sent several athletes to the finals, including one junior distance runner who delivered a breakthrough performance.
Logan Youngman had just one win entering the state finals in the 3,200-meter run. That earlier victory in April was nearly a minute slower than the personal-best time he posted to win the state title.
“The biggest thing is that he trusted the process,” Hillsdale track coach Clay Schiman said. “He didn’t race every meet all out, he understood that we were building towards something bigger, and then he executed the plan.”
Youngman ran 9:26.08, pulling away from runner-up Christian Craanen of Monroe St. Mary’s, who also recorded a personal best, by three seconds.
“The day before the meet I asked him about his race strategy and he said that he was going to kick with 1,000 to go, and on Saturday that’s exactly what he did,” Schiman said. “He was in third place with 1,000 to go — and at exactly that point, he poured it on and opened up a gap on the competition. From there it was over.”
The junior claimed his first state title and first all-state honor in track and field. He was joined in the race by his younger brother, Bryce Youngman, who placed 35th in 10:23.59.
“He had a great cross country season in the fall and a great winter of training that led to this moment,” Schiman said. “For him to execute to perfection like that took a lot of maturity and trust. I couldn’t be happier for him — he really earned that state title.”
Youngman capped his junior season with the title after finishing fourth at the Division 3 cross country state finals, a run that ranks No. 2 all-time in Hillsdale program history.
Youngman wasn’t the only county athlete to win a state title.
The Jonesville boys 4×800 relay team of senior Nicholas Fowler, junior Collin Fucile, sophomore Ashton Potwin and junior Caleb Blonde ran 8:01.99 to capture the championship.
The Comets, who led from start to finish, edged Ann Arbor Greenhills by one second. Fowler’s strong opening leg set the tone, and Blonde sealed the victory with an impressive final lap.
Blonde later added an individual all-state finish, placing third in the 800 in 1:58.44, just two seconds behind the champion.
Blonde also ran on the 4×400 relay team with Logan Stanton, Briggs Baker and Harrison Packer, which placed 13th in 3:32.00.
Jonesville’s 4×200 relay team of Packer, senior Donovan Baker, Mason Jordan and Stanton earned 15th in 1:32.80, a personal-best time.
Hillsdale’s 4×100 relay team of seniors Ashton Thornsbury, Marshay Harris and Brayden Taylor, along with Cam Arnold, placed 26th in 57.25. Taylor will continue his track career at Trine University.
Thornsbury qualified in three individual events. He placed 12th in the 110-meter hurdles (15.25) and 13th in the 300 hurdles with a personal-best 40.50. He also qualified in high jump but did not record a height in the finals.
Jonesville junior Reece Rundquist joined Thornsbury in the 110 hurdles, finishing 21st in 15.66. Rundquist also placed 17th in high jump (5-11).
Hillsdale senior Robert Garcia led county high jumpers, placing 14th with a clearance of 6-1.
Garcia’s teammate, Nathaniel Moes, finished 13th in the long jump with a leap of 20-1¾.
Fucile also competed in the 3,200, placing 15th in 9:59.28.
Fowler closed his Jonesville career with a 13th-place finish in the 800 (2:01.39). He graduates with a relay state title and two additional all-state honors, along with all-state recognition in cross country. He will continue his running career at Aquinas College.
Several Hillsdale County athletes are expected to compete in summer running events. Coverage will continue, along with upcoming signing day updates at the conclusion of the spring season.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale and Jonesville earn individual titles at track state finals
Reporting by Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News / Hillsdale Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
