WILLIAMSTON — The Harper Creek track team continues to make history.
The Beavers are back-to-back regional champs for only the second time in school history after Harper Creek won a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 2 regional tournament in boys track at Williamston on Friday, May 15.
A Harper Creek team that won a second straight team state championship a year ago continues its dominance as the No. 2-ranked Beavers had 113 points to finish first in the regional. State-ranked Williamston was second on its home track with 106.83 with Marshall third at 81.5.
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“Last time we went back-to-back at regionals was in 2012-13, and we hadn’t won a regional title since then until last year,” said Harper Creek boys track coach Larry Quick. “So, we’re excited to win it.
“It doesn’t get old, just becomes more challenging. Challenging in different ways. We are always trying to improve on what you did the year before, so when you are winning like we have been, it’s hard to improve on that.”
Harper Creek won four events on the way to the regional title, showcasing overall depth to get enough team points to finish first.
“We had three of the top eight places in a couple of events. When you are getting points here and there, and everywhere, that’s how you win this thing,” Quick said. “Our goal was to win regionals, and we did. Now, we have to keep our focus. We have leagues next and then we get ready for team states again.”
Defending state champion DJ Wood once again won was regional champ in both hurdle events for Harper Creek. Wood finished first in the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.42 and took first in the 300 hurdles in 39.40.
Harper Creek took the first two spots in the shot put with Sean Johnson taking first with a throw of 50-feet, 1-inch and the Beavers’ Cohen Deskins taking second at 49-9.5.
The Harper Creek 3,200 relay team also finished first in a time of 8:03.86 with the team of Josh Ilgenfritz, Logyn Katsarsky, Cooper Gardner and Christian Ayres.
Harper Creek also came up with state-qualifying results in several events, including Ayres (1,600), Cameron Converse (shot put), Johnson (discus), Nolan Oaks (long jump), Gavin Chapman (long jump). The Harper Creek 400 relay qualified with the team of Oaks, Carter Brenner, Alex LaFluer, Brody Wallace.
Marshall took first in one event with Abraham McHugh winning the 3,200 (9:52.14). Marshall state qualifiers include Landon Patton (100), Matthew Waito (400), Ty Winchell (800), McHugh (1,600), Zach Hudson (110 hurdles), Jaylen Wharton (shot put). Marshall also qualified in the 800 relay with the team of Hudson, Waiton, Patton, Akin Olapade; and the 400 relay with Patton, Waito, Hudson, Olapade.
In the girls Division 2 regional at Williamston, Marshall’s Emily Dietrich won the 300 hurdles in 47.97. Also getting a state qualifying time for Marshall was Ollie Rozell (100).
Getting a ticket to states for Harper Creek were, Jasmine McBride (400), as well as the Beavers’ 400 relay, with the team of Bristol Latimer, Camille Robinson, Niatalie Hoyt, McBride and the Harper Creek 800 relay with the team of Latimer, Robinson, Hoyt, McBride.
Division 1
Lakeview, Battle Creek Central competed in a Division 1 regional at Grand Ledge.
Lakeview finished with a regional champ in the 110 hurdles with Marcus King taking first in 15.05. Lakeview also won the 3,200 relay (7:53.36) with the team of Carter Hughes, Karson Lewis, Elijah Demlow, Devyn Brown. Lakeview earned state meet qualifying times, including Lewis (1,600), Lakeview’s 1,600 relay qualified with the team of Hughes, Lewis, Hazeion Smith, Brown.
BCC’s Yoshua McDonald qualified for states in the 110 hurdles.
In the girls meet, Lakeview’s Arenn Starks qualified for states in the 300 hurdles. The Spartans also qualified in the 400 relay with Abbigail Kline, Lilamae Frank, Aaliyah Smith, Kelis Howell and the 1,600 relay with Kline, Frank, Starks and Gianna Burgos.
Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter: @billbroderick
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Harper Creek boys win second straight regional championship in track
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
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