One of my pet projects during the spring was to put together a list of Livingston County track and field records.
It would’ve been easy to just list the top performance in each event by pooling information from school record boards, but what fun would that be? I tried to go at least five performances deep in each event.
Anything that happened in what we call the Athletic.net era is easy to find. The potential issues come if an older record from, say, the 1990s is no longer on a school record board and isn’t listed on A.net. So, I put together this list realizing I could miss those types of performances. If you can provide proof of a performance I missed, send it to billkhan35@gmail.com and I’ll pass it on to my replacement.
It also gets really tricky with sprints because of hand-timed performances that were converted. For any event under 400 meters, I included only times that were captured electronically. As a result, my list of 100- and 200-meter times is pretty short. I extended the lists in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 because distance running is so strong in this area and I’m confident in the accuracy of those performances.
The list also does not include performances from meets not run in a school uniform. That excludes Hartland senior Elliana Neuer’s incredible triple at Nike Outdoor Nationals in June. She ran times that were faster than the county records in the 1,600 (4:48.80) and 800 (2:12.66) and a 3,200 time (10:38.03) that ranks her third.
As part of a series on Livingston County sports records, here are the top girls track and field performances.
100
11.97, Brooke Gray, Brighton, 2021 South Lyon Sunset Invitational
12.43, Ahna Buffa, Hartland, 2012 Division 1 state finals
12.45, Reese Messenger, Hartland, 2026 Brighton Bulldog Invitational
12.49, Madison Cooke, Pinckney, 2025 vs. Ypsilanti and Adrian
12.56, Sarah Utchel, Pinckney, 2012 KLAA Lakes Conference championship
200
24.56, Brooke Gray, Brighton, 2021 Division 1 regional at Milford
25.24, Emerson Sargeant, Hartland, 2022 New Balance Invitational
25.37, Madison Cooke, Pinckney, 2025 Larry Steeb Memorial Meet of Champions
25.82, CeCe Thorington, Pinckney, 2023 Division 2 regional at Chelsea
25.85, Aliana Pietila, Howell, 2022 Ram Jam Invitational
400
56.76, Emerson Sargeant, Hartland, 2022 Division 1 state finals
57.03, Madison Cooke, Pinckney, 2025 Division 2 state finals
57.52, Cassidy Newburg, Brighton, 2016 Division 1 regional at Milford
57.64, Michelle Moraitis, Hartland, 2017 Division 1 state finals
57.77, Erin Dowd, Brighton, 2016 Larry Steeb Memorial Meet of Champions
57.77, Hannah DePestel, Hartland, 2026 vs. Northville
800
2:12.89, Juliet Lewis, Brighton, state Division 1 meet, May 30, 2026
2:12.96, Jaelyn Ray, Pinckney, Distance Night Under the Lights, May 21, 2026
2:13.90, Elliana Neuer, Hartland, Distance Night Under the Lights, May 21, 2026
2:14.59, Maddie Brown, Brighton, state Division 1 meet, June 1, 2019
2:14.76, Ashlyn Tait, Howell, state Division 1 meet, June 1, 2019
2:14.79, Erika Rapp, Pinckney, state Division 1 meet, June 2, 2018
2:15.6, Avery Evenson, Hartland, KLAA meet, May 22, 2012
2:15.72, Susie Rivard, Brighton, state Division 1 meet, June 5, 2004
2:16.8, Julie Stowers, Brighton, state Class A meet, May 30, 1998
2:17.70, Taylor Grace, Howell, regional at Milford, May 12, 2012
1,600
4:49.22, Jaelyn Ray, Pinckney, 2026 Romeo Barnyard Invite
4:50.27, Elliana Neuer, Hartland, 2026 Romeo Barnyard Invite
4:54.6, Avery Evenson, Hartland, 2010 D1 regional at Milford
4:59.66, Noelle Adriaens, Pinckney, 2019 Brighton Bulldog Invitational
5:03.19, Carrigan Eberly, Brighton, 2024 state D1 meet
5:03.9, Allison Lunau, Brighton, 2013 regional meet
5:04.28, Ella Lorenz, Brighton, 2025 state D1 meet
5:04.3, Rachel Ward, Brighton, 2002
5:05.47, Nikki Carothers, Brighton, 2024 Distance Night Under the Lights
5:06.2, Rachael Clark, Pinckney, 2011
RELATED: Two Livingston County track records, old Howell mark eclipsed at Barnyard Invite
3,200
10:16.11, Noelle Adriaens, Pinckney, 2019 Saline Golden Triangle
10:32.20, Jaelyn Ray, Pinckney, 2026 Shepherd Blue Jay Invitational
10:38.44, Elliana Neuer, Hartland, 2026 Farmington Invitational
10:42.74, Allison Lunau, Brighton, 2013 Division 1 state finals
10:46.8, Avery Evenson, Hartland, 2011 vs. Pinckney
10:48.25, Jenna Sica, Brighton, 2016 Division 1 state finals
10:53.05, Katie Carothers, Brighton, 2022 Brighton Bulldog Invitational
10:57.22, Nikki Carothers, Brighton, 2024 KLAA championship
10:59.64, Elle Bissett, Brighton, 2024 Saline Golden Triangle
10:59.91, Lydia LaMarra, Brighton, 2026 Saline Golden Triangle
100 hurdles
14.61, Lisa Cowdrey, Pinckney, 1999 Class A state finals
14.63, Erin Dowd, Brighton, 2016 Division 1 regional at Milford
14.80, Megan Clifford, Brighton, 2009 West Bloomfield Invitational
15.61, Davea Crowe, Pinckney, 2026 regional at Chelsea
16.04, Sarah Litz, Fowlerville, 2022 Division 2 regional at Williamston
Note: Brighton’s Geri Isbell has a hand-timed 14.50 from 1985 listed as the school record.
300 hurdles
43.72, Erin Dowd, Brighton, 2016 D1 state finals
44.32, Sara Trumbull, Pinckney, 2004 D1 state finals
44.8h, Geri Isbell, Brighton, 1985
44.90, Davea Crowe, Pinckney, 2026 Division 2 state finals
45.23, Andrea Pawlowski, Pinckney, 2008 Division 1 state finals
Shot put
43-5, Lily Daugard, Howell, 2021 Howell Last Chance meet
42-10, Sophie Daugard, Howell, 2023 KLAA championships
42-3.75, Aubree Meyer, Hartland, 2024 Farmington Invitational
42-1, Emma Kanka, Howell, 2026 Division 1 regional at Grand Ledge
39-2, Jenny Roy, Brighton, 1995
Discus
135-6, Erin Massengale, Pinckney, 1998 Class A regional at Milford
134-1, Andrea Fogle, Brighton, 2008 Division 1 state finals
129-11, Emma Kanka, Howell, 2025 Larry Steeb Memorial Meet of Champions
129-10, Kendra Mueller, Howell, 1994
127-9, Carlee Beeney, Howell, 2022 Howell Last Chance
Pole vault
11-9, Ellie Zimmermann, Hartland, 2018 Division 1 state finals
11-1, Ashley Esparza, Hartland, 2007 Division 1 state finals
10-9, Ashley Stanley, Fowlerville, 2012 Division 2 state finals
10-9, April Fox, Brighton, 2022 Division 1 regional at Milford
10-9, Kijsa Gifford, Brighton, 2021 Larry Steeb Memorial Meet of Champions
10-9, Kaitlyn Ward, Howell, 2023 Division 1 state finals
10-9, Kendel Simmons, Hartland, 2026 state Division 1 finals
High jump
5-7, Ellen Dempsey, Howell, 1975
5-6, Lindsey Strutz, Hartland, 2019 Division 1 regional at Milford
5-5, Lisa Crowdey, Pinckney, 1998
5-5, Emily Lindquist, Brighton, 2002
5-5, Kate Winiarski, Brighton, 2008 Division 1 regional
Long jump
19-0.25, Sydney Caddell, Hartland, 2021 Division 1 state finals (wind-aided)
18-8, Sara Trumbull, Pinckney, 2004 vs. Hartland (wind-aided)
18-2, Ellen Dempsey, Howell, 1977
18-2, Angela Moore, Fowlerville, 1988
17-10.75, Shelly Harrah, Brighton, 1985
17-10.75, Jenny Picucci, Brighton, 2003
Girls 400 relay
49.21, Brighton (Olivia Neuenschander, Brooke Gray, Amanda Simon, Morgan Waggoner), 2021 Division 1 state finals
49.50, Howell (Sophie Daugard, Tianna Bennett, Aliana Pietila, Taylor Moyer), 2022 regional at Milford
49.63, Pinckney (Krystle Braun, Jenny Trumbull, Allison Pawlowski, Sara Topp), 2002
49.73, Brighton (Brooke Gray, Kennedy Smith, Felesity Norris, Maddie Vernon), 2018 regional at Milford
49.77, Howell (Sophie Daugard, Jaylee Tidwell, Aliana Pietila, Taylor Moyer), 2021 state Division 1 finals
800 relay
1:42.61, Brighton (Hannah Tsiang, Morgan Waggoner, Amanda Simon, Brooke Gray), 2021 regional at Milford
1:43.45, Brighton (Felesity Norris, Bryce Calka, Morgan Waggoner, Kennedy Smith), 2019 regional at Milford
1:43.75, Howell (Sophia Daugard, Tianna Bennett, Taylor Moyer, Aliana Pietila), 2022 Division 1 state finals
1:44.22, Pinckney (Madison Cooke, Davea Crowe, Brielle Reason, CeCe Thorington), 2024 Division 2 state finals
1:44.58, Brighton (Shannon McGrath, Kennedy Smith, Brielle Mayday, Erin Dowd), 2016 regional at Milford
1,600 relay
3:54.12, Pinckney (Natalie Nelson, Julia Vandekerkhove, Eliza Vandekerkhove, Rachel Clark), 2010 Division 1 state finals
3:54.21, Brighton (Cassidy Newburg, Maddie Brown, Maggie Samanich, Erin Dowd), 2016 regional at Milford
3:59.01, Hartland (Layla Foguth, Sophia Nunnery, Elliana Neuer, Hannah DePestel), 2026 Larry Steeb Memorial
4:00.4h, Brighton (Katrina Lamansky, Amanda Curtis, Quinn Foley, Samantha Etter), 2008 regional at Milford
4:01.37, Brighton (Juliet Lewis, Selena White, Ella Lorenz, Addison Payne), 2025 Saline Golden Triangle
3,200 relay
9:15.20, Brighton (Lydia LaMarra, Maizie Cavanaugh, Ella Lorenz, Juliet Lewis), 2026 Division 1 regional at Grand Ledge
9:15.28, Pinckney (Erika Rapp, Allie Hartstang, Isabella Garcia, Mia Garcia), 2017 Division 1 state finals
9:17.30, Hartland (Hannah DePestel, Sophia Nunnery, Layla Foguth, Elliana Neuer), 2026 Division 1 regional at Grand Ledge
9:19.30, Brighton (Juliet Lewis, Gabrielle Bolitho, Nikki Carothers, Carrigan Eberly), 2024 Division 1 regional at Grand Ledge
9:19.38, Pinckney (Erika Rapp, Mia Garcia, Molly Bolang, Noelle Adriaens), 2019 Division 1 state finals
Contact Bill Khan at billkhan35@gmail.com. Follow him on X @BillKhan
This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Record book: Top Livingston County girls track and field performances
Reporting by Bill Khan, Livingston Daily / Livingston Daily
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bill Khan, Livingston Daily | USA TODAY Network
