Julia Hughes told her coaches she wanted to be a state champion in the high hurdles.
Their plan was to take the hurdles away her.
“I know it sounds crazy, but we didn’t want to reinforce bad habits,” Ida girls track and field coach Mike Bolster explained. “We didn’t want her running the hurdles until we fixed the bad habits.
“She had some mechanics to clean up, so we took the hurdles away and worked on her running mechanics.”
Hughes didn’t understand the plan at first.
“Honestly, I was almost mad at my coaches,” she said. “I’ve always had the mentality that you can’t get better unless you race other people.”
For three months, Hughes never got near a hurdle.
“She was very trusting,” Bolster said.
The results were amazing once Hughes returned to hurdle races during the 2025 season.
She captured the Division 3 state championship as a junior and continued to get faster this spring.
Hughes capped her career by setting a Monroe County Region record time of 14.42 to repeat as state champ.
She blazed past the previous record of :14.6 set by Michelle Hayden of Dundee way back in 1983.
“That really, really did surprise me,” she said of the record time. “I didn’t think I was capable of doing it.”
Bolster was surprised as well.
“When I saw her start, I knew the race was over. I knew she would be fast … Then, when I saw the time, I almost fell off the bleachers.”
Crossing the finish line in the state finals in first place was an emotional moment for Hughes.
“I felt relief, joy and excitement,” she said. “It was a long-term goal of mine to do it more than once.”
The daughter of Carolyn and Chris Hasley and Matthew Hughes is one of two girls to set a Region record this spring.
Erie Mason’s Giuliana Nastale tied the record of :11.9 in the 100 meters with Debbie Baldridge of Jefferson (1982) and Ariel Hatcher of Monroe (2007).
Ironically, Hughes and Nastale will be roommates next season when they begin their running careers at Wayne State.
“We met my sophomore year,” Hughes said. “We never really ran the same events, but I knew her and her brother were very fast. Those were fun races to watch.”
Hughes plans to study marketing in college.
A list of the Region’s top times for girls this season follows.
100 METERS
Giuliana Nastale Mason 11.9
Adela Illes SMCC 12.45
Reagan Higdon Flat Rock 12.5
Tayah Croley Bedford 12.65
Jada Stines Milan 12.89
Olivia Beaudrie SMCC 13.11
Angie Illes SMCC 13.3
Rachel Burley Bedford 13.32
Alexandra Haddix Dundee 13.34
Paige Konrad Mason 13.35
Elliah Byrd Jefferson 13.37
Brielyn Snyr-Duenas Carlson 13.44
Ava Freelon Monroe 13.44
Holly Clifton Ida 13.45
Sophia Foster Carlson 13.46
Kaidence Weaver Ida 13.47
Reese Foster SMCC 13.52
Maddie Salenbien Dundee 13.54
Lunden Davis Carlson 13.57
Aisley Cousino Dundee 13.59
Kirsten Montgomery Flat Rock 13.6
Kennedy Varner Bedford 13.64
Avery Mitchell Milan 13.64
Molly Fojtik Whiteford 13.66
Koralynn Billau Whiteford 13.71
Region record: Debbie Baldridge, Jefferson, :11.9, 1982; Ariel Hatcher, Monroe, :11.9, 2007; Giuliana Nastale, Erie Mason, :11.9, 2026.
200 METERS
Giuliana Nastale Mason 24.80
Adela Illes SMCC 25.84
Brielle White Whiteford 26.15
Reagan Higdon Flat Rock 26.47
Julia Hughes Ida 26.55
Rachel Burley Bedford 26.58
Tayah Croley Bedford 27.19
Maddie Salenbien Dundee 27.21
Angie Illes SMCC 27.29
Angelina Wilson Milan 27.67
Sophia Foster Carlson 27.71
Paige Konrad Mason 27.73
Katelyn Boberg SMCC 27.75
Victoria Kimberly Milan 27.91
Kaidence Weaver Ida 27.97
McKenna Belcher Carlson 28.20
Kennedy Varner Bedford 28.21
Brielyn Snyr-Duenas Carlson 28.29
KristiAna Curcio Borom Monroe 28.30
Aisley Cousino Dundee 28.48
Savanna Rupnow Huron 28.55
Abby Raymond Summerfield 28.59
Sierra DeBarr Whiteford 28.61
Holly Clifton Ida 28.63
Adrianna Cosby Mason28.68
Region record: Zoe Eby, Airport, :24.26, 2017.
400 METERS
Giuliana Nastale Mason 58.88
Brielle White Whiteford 1:00.01
Maddie Salenbien Dundee 1:00.37
Angelina Wilson Milan 1:01.66
Nina Gauvin Monroe 1:02.68
Camilla Mommerency Ida 1:03.31
Sophia Johnson Bedford 1:04.00
Madison Lancaster Milan 1:04.00
Mckenzie Heath Dundee 1:04.07
Lunden Davis Carlson 1:04.17
Mckenna Kozicki Carlson 1:04.21
Victoria Kimberly Milan 1:04.41
Mattie Fortner Monroe 1:04.63
Braelynn Austin Carlson 1:04.82
Ella Curry Ida 1:04.90
Grace Raymond Summerfield 1:04.99
Ava Lucarelli SMCC 1:05.10
Maliah McKibben Bedford 1:05.57
Reagan Higdon Flat Rock 1:05.57
Grace Pacheco Huron 1:05.63
Avarie Trythall Airport 1:06.07
Molly Fojtik Whiteford 1:06.39
Sierra DeBarr Whiteford 1:06.5
Sophia York Bedford 1:06.69
Iva Ravindra Bedford 1:06.70
Region record: Elizabeth Anderson, New Boston Huron, :55.38, 2023
800 METERS
Ella Baker Airport 2:21.08
Bella LaFountain SMCC 2:22.61
Grace Raymond Summerfield 2:28.82
Sophia Johnson Bedford 2:31.78
Maliah McKibben Bedford 2:32.66
Amerie Wilson Milan 2:32.87
Ada Cain Carlson 2:33.24
Giada Fioritto Carlson 2:33.26
Briar Wing Whiteford 2:33.81
Zoey Cheney Huron 2:33.84
Allison Ost Summerfield 2:34.17
Makenzie Wolfe Summerfield 2:34.89
Camilla Mommerency Ida 2:34.99
Tanylei Neff Mason 2:35.52
Alexis White Huron 2:36.79
Madison Slade Carlson 2:37.23
Braelynn Chiotti Whiteford 2:37.8
Alivia Cowdrey Mason 2:37.84
Falyn Doss Huron 2:37.87
Livia Boucher Carlson 2:38.49
Giuliana Nastale Mason 2:39.49
Randee Mulherin Jefferson 2:40.82
Alexis Lynn Ida 2:40.92
Isa Vargo Huron 2:41.33
Avarie Trythall Airport 2:42.03
Region record: Lindsey Gakenheimer, Monroe, 2:15.4, 2007.
1,600 METERS
Bella LaFountain SMCC 5:20.07
Ella Baker Airport 5:23.38
Giada Fioritto Carlson 5:25.18
Falyn Doss Huron 5:29.66
Iva Ravindra Bedford 5:33.04
Zoey Cheney Huron 5:34.39
Ada Cain Carlson 5:36.14
Madison Slade Carlson 5:44.36
Claire Miller Jefferson 5:45.42
Allison Ost Summerfield 5:47.88
Amerie Wilson Milan 5:48.43
Makenzie Wolfe Summerfield 5:49.20
Alexis White Huron 5:54.8h
Harper Jackson Carlson 5:54.87
Ryleigh Rowe Ida 5:54.89
Braelynn Chiotti Whiteford 5:55.97
Tanylei Neff Mason 5:58.24
Jaelynn Horton Mason 5:58.36
Briar Wing Whiteford 5:59.1h
Olivia Shupe Carlson 6:00.68
McKenzie Mantei Dundee 6:01.50
Grace Fredericks Bedford 6:01.70
Grace Raymond Summerfield 6:05.10
Juleigh Husby SMCC 6:07.53
Kendal Kleman Airport 6:09.28
Region record: Lindsey Gakenheimer, Monroe, 4:56.16, 2008.
3,200 METERS
Giada Fioritto Carlson 11:53.14
Claire Miller Jefferson 12:02.81
Iva Ravindra Bedford 12:03.61
Falyn Doss Huron 12:05.32
Madison Slade Carlson 12:07.32
Makenzie Wolfe Summerfield 12:23.81
Zoey Cheney Huron 12:25.0h
Bella LaFountain SMCC 12:37.36
Harper Jackson Carlson 12:39.15
Ada Cain Carlson 12:51.68
Ella Baker Airport 13:10.82
Jennalynn Bronstein Huron 13:13.44
Jaelynn Horton Mason13:16.95
Addison Ringbloom Dundee 13:20.55
Ryleigh Rowe Ida 13:22.75
Tanylei Neff Mason13:25.09
Allison Ost Summerfield 13:26.02
Braelynn Chiotti Whiteford 13:27.88
Grace Fredericks Bedford 13:28.84
Reagan Reaume Carlson 13:37.72
Olivia Shupe Carlson 13:37.90
Zoey Smalling Monroe 13:41.06
Breslin Wing Whiteford 13:49.68
Amerie Wilson Milan 13:51.43
Region record: Bekah Smeltzer, Jefferson, 10:40.66, 2004,
HIGH HURDLES
Julia Hughes Ida 14.42
Sophia Nolff Dundee 16.60
Lana Benware Ida 16.64
Delilah Sucharski Flat Rock 17.1
Kaily McDaniel Milan 17.19
Grace May Ida 17.74
Madeline Dukeshire Dundee 17.76
Abby Raymond Summerfield 18.24
Emma Davis Bedford 18.34
Julia Stasak Huron 18.47
Savannah Manning Milan 18.77
Cheyenne Ivey Bedford 18.82
Abby Zilka Summerfield 18.90
Amaya Anthony Dundee 18.99
Kalleigh Scott Summerfield 19.07
Emma Swartout SMCC 19.28
Brookelyn Hill Milan 19.32
Isabella Tannous Huron 19.38
Brinley Carney Flat Rock 19.6
Lexie Carner Mason19.81
Amirah Kolawole Dundee 19.83
Haley Wernet Bedford 19.90
Avery Gramlich SMCC 20.33
Brooklyn Bray SMCC 20.52
Zoey Spada Carlson 20.64
Old record: Michelle Hayden, Dundee, :14.6, 1983.
LOW HURDLES
Julia Hughes Ida 44.90
Kaily McDaniel Milan 48.39
Avery Turk Huron 49.01
Abby Raymond Summerfield 50.25
Cheyenne Ivey Bedford 51.19
Savannah Manning Milan 51.59
Lana Benware Ida 51.78
Sophia Nolff Dundee 51.86
Delilah Sucharski Flat Rock 52.53
Avery Gramlich SMCC 52.80
Isabella Tannous Huron 52.97
Kaidence Weaver Ida 53.49
Braelynn Austin Carlson 53.68
Emma Davis Bedford 53.90
Abby Zilka Summerfield 54.29
Kalleigh Scott Summerfield 54.36
Brooklyn Bray SMCC 54.71
Brookelyn Hill Milan 55.25
Karlee Frank Mason55.81
Amaya Anthony Dundee 56.10
Ava Lucarelli SMCC 56.61
Mattie Fortner Monroe 56.96
Ila Brown Carlson 57.13
Caitlyn Collum Dundee 57.79
Grace May Ida 58.20
Region record: Meredith Soule, Monroe, :43.89, 2022.
SHOT-PUT
Olivia Kemp Airport 35-7
Alayna Markey Ida 34-1.5
Breanna Sexton Flat Rock 33-6.75
Elena Miller Summerfield 33-2
Helen Brady Bedford 32-3
Madeline Loughner Bedford 31-4.75
Kayla Luse Whiteford 31-1.5
Mary-Kate Wayne Milan 31-1
Addyson Wilt Ida 30-11
Brooke Postma Carlson 30-10
Sophia Guisgand Huron 30-9
Audrey Przybylski Dundee 30-5
Madelyn Grube Huron 30-4
Coryssa McCray Monroe 29-8
Gabi Myshock Summerfield 29-4.25
Kendall Mason Airport 29-0.5
Hailey Sexton Flat Rock 29-0
Rileigh Grady Dundee 28-10
Trista Gwess Huron 28-10
Delani Willey Monroe 28-6
Piper Ashbaucher Carlson 28-6
Maddi Scharf SMCC 28-3.5
Ella Sieb Monroe 28-1
Gena Craanen SMCC 28-1
Lily Lee Mason 28-0.75
Region record: Karen Sapp, Bedford, 45-7, 1983.
DISCUS
Addyson Wilt Ida 121-6
Nina Bauman Whiteford 114-1
Gabi Myshock Summerfield 108-10
Coryssa McCray Monroe 106-7
Breanna Sexton Flat Rock 105-9
MaKenna Shipe Summerfield 105-0
Olivia Kemp Airport 102-0
Helen Brady Bedford 99-2
Piper Ashbaucher Carlson 97-7
Addison Ostrom Milan 95-7
Morgan Swearingen Bedford 93-11
Brooke Postma Carlson 93-2
Evelyn McMaster Carlson 92-5
Hailey Elkins Dundee 91-9
Delani Willey Monroe 90-10
Cora Slovik Huron 90-4
Gena Craanen SMCC 88-8
Lily Adkins Airport 88-8
Ana Owsiany Ordonez Jefferson 88-3
Madalyn Lutz Ida 88-0
Raegan Szczepaniak Carlson 88-0
Audrey Przybylski Dundee 87-5
Alivia Cowdrey Mason87-5
Mary-Kate Wayne Milan 86-9
Alayna Markey Ida 86-3
Region record: Yvonne Laderach, Erie Mason, 134-6, 1985.
HIGH JUMP
Olivia Beaudrie SMCC 5-4
Cassandra Gensler Ida 5-2
Lana Benware Ida 5-0
Abby Zilka Summerfield 4-11
Aubrey Iocoangeli Mason4-10
Madelynn Roderick Ida 4-10
Corinna Aulph Monroe 4-10
Rose Tillman Huron 4-10
Gianna Hill Bedford 4-10
Paige Konrad Mason4-10
Grace Raymond Summerfield 4-9
Jada Stines Milan 4-9
Elliah Byrd Jefferson 4-9
Jaela Watson Airport 4-8
Mckenzie Heath Dundee 4-8
Claire Scheerhorn Ida 4-8
Kayle Babowicz Flat Rock 4-6
Ava Miller Bedford 4-6
Blair Russow Bedford 4-6
Hannah Lewis Ida 4-6
Lily Ratliff Dundee 4-6
Lily Flint SMCC 4-6
Oriah McGhee Carlson 4-6
Nina Bauman Whiteford 4-5
Lexie Carner Mason4-5
Region record: Linda Stuck, Milan, 5-9, 1991.
POLE VAULT
Grace May Ida 9-6
Arianna Ali Bedford 9-0
Merry Schwab Dundee 8-6
Kate Masters Whiteford 8-6
Carolyn Mohler Whiteford 8-3
Karlee Frank Mason 8-0
Giuliana Nastale Mason 8-0
Hayden Iott Summerfield 8-0
Oriah McGhee Carlson 7-11
Victoria Kimberly Milan 7-6
Sophia Stanger Summerfield 7-6
Kallie Wielinski Ida 7-6
Chani Vincent Dundee 7-6
Mckenzie Howell Summerfield 7-0
Hailey Rowe Ida 7-0
Addyson Etue Ida 7-0
Jennifer Romanski Carlson 7-0
Mariana Calkins Ida 7-0
Hailey Ringbloom Milan 7-0
Isabelle Beard Bedford 7-0
Keira Pinnow Milan 6-6
Isabella Dixon Milan 6-6
Mia Pittman Carlson 6-0
Lily Osinski Dundee 6-0
Malana Stec Carlson 5-10
Raianna Jones Carlson 5-10
Region record: Shari Harmon, Bedford, 12-0, 2007.
LONG JUMP
Paige Konrad Mason 17-1.5
Madelynn Roderick Ida 16-5
Angie Illes SMCC 16-0
Cassandra Gensler Ida 15-11
Corinna Aulph Monroe 15-11
Allie Root Dundee 15-10
Tayah Croley Bedford 15-9.25
Lily Ratliff Dundee 15-8
Koralynn Billau Whiteford 15-8
Rose Tillman Huron 15-3
Madison Lancaster Milan 15-2
Joanna Cai Mason 14-11
Rachel Burley Bedford 14-8.5
Alice Van Camp Summerfield 14-8
Lana Benware Ida 14-6
Elise Lovett Flat Rock 14-5.5
Marley Cousino Bedford 14-4.5
Emma Swartout SMCC 14-3.5
Sophia Kahn Whiteford 14-3
Zoey Grames Mason 14-1.5
Madi Nichols Bedford 14-1
Anamarie Grilletta Carlson 14-1
Oriah McGhee Carlson 14-0.5
Kinsley Wilburn Jefferson 13-11.75
Alayna Martin Bedford 13-10
Region record: Miranda Johnson, Whiteford, 18-9, 2014.
400 RELAY
SMCC 50.09
Mason51.23
Ida 51.63
Bedford 52.07
Carlson 52.39
Region record: Monroe, :49.61, 2013.
800 RELAY
Bedford 1:48.05
Milan 1:48.67
Dundee 1:49.48
Mason1:50.03
Ida 1:50.27
Region record: Monroe, 1:44.69, 2013.
1,600 RELAY
Milan 4:09.76
Whiteford 4:13.48
Carlson 4:15.74
SMCC 4:15.89
Ida 4:17.56
Region record: Monroe, 4:01.06, 2007.
3,200 RELAY
Bedford 10:02.40
Summerfield 10:10.66
Carlson 10:10.90
Huron 10:38.04
Ida 10:38.11
Region record: Jefferson, 9:32.76, 2023.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Monroe County Region girls track and field honor roll for 2026 season
Reporting by Niles Kruger, The Monroe News / The Monroe News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Niles Kruger, The Monroe News | USA TODAY Network
