ESCANABA - Weather conditions for Thursday's Delta County Invitational track meet were challenging to say the least, but Escanaba senior Meredith Marlett found a way to make the best of it.
Marlett won three events while helping the Esky girls retain their title with 228 points, followed by Gladstone 121 and Bark River-Harris 59.
She captured high jump at five feet, one inch, long jump (15-2) and 100 hurdles in 18.07 seconds and placed third in the 300s (55.5), which finished into a stiff wind.
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Dennis Grall | Daily Press
Olivia Nash of Escanaba shouts for joy as she hugs Aubree Peterson at the end of the Delta County Track Meet Thursday. Peterson just completed the anchor leg for the winning 1600 relay that wrapped up the team title for the Eskymos.
"Coming into the finish (in the 300s) was like hitting a wall," she said. "You just had to put your head down, pump your arms and go. Having the wind on our back in the 100 helped so much. It also helps having that long straightaway. We really didn't notice the wind while jumping, although it knocked the bar down (in high jump) sometimes. It's a distraction, but you just have to work with it."
Sophomore teammate Lynsey Collins won the 300s (53.31), with Rapid River senior Heather Sanderson runner-up (54.72).
"I was so close in the 300s," said Marlett. "With this being my last year, I wanted to win it so bad. But if I couldn't win it, I'm glad Lynsey won it. We did awesome as a team. We get along so well together, and it's great to see something like that. What would track be without your teammates."
Fact Box
GIRLS
Escanaba 228, Gladstone 121, Bark River-Harris 59, Rapid River 54, Big Bay de Noc 40, Mid Peninsula 19, Hannahville 0.
3200 relay: 1, Escanaba (Oswald, VanPortfliet, Wellman, Peterson) 11:20.71; 2, Bark River-Harris; 3, Rapid River; 4, Gladstone; 5, Mid Peninsula.
100 hurdles: 1, Marlett, E, 18.07; 2, Starr, G; 3, Barteld, G; 4, Barra, BRH; 5, Heliin, E; 6, Tebo, E.
100 dash: 1, Leisner, G, 13.34; 2, Nash, E; 3, Martineau, E; 4, Beversluis, E; 5, Johnson, G; 6, Jenshak, BRH.
800 relay: 1, Gladstone (Johnson, Coyne, Wickman, Leisner) 1:57.4; 2, Escanaba; 3, Bark River-Harris; 4, Rapid River; 5, Mid Peninsula.
1600 run: 1, Richard, BB, 5:59.56; 2, Stacey, E; 3, Bougie, E; 4, VanPortfliet, E; 5, Gardner, G; 6, Barron, E.
400 relay: 1, Gladstone (Johnson, Coyne, Wickman, Alexander) 55.75; 2, Escanaba; 3, Bark River-Harris; 4, Rapid River; 5, Big Bay de Noc; 6, Mid Peninsula.
400 dash: 1, Peterson, E, 1:04.97; 2, Robare, G; 3, Wulf, G; 4, Beversluis, E; 5, Ostrenga, E; 6, S. Madalinski, BRH.
300 hurdles: 1, Collins, E, 53.31; 2, Sanderson, RR; 3, Marlett, E; 4, Leisner, G; 5, Starr, G; 6, Heliin, E.
800 run: 1, Richard, BB, 2:40.19; 2, Peterson, E; 3, Larson, E; 4, Giese, E; 5, J. Madalinski, BRH.
200 dash: 1, Nash, E, 29.97; 2, Leisner, G; 3, Martineau, E; 4, Ettenhofer, E; 5, Alexander, G; 6, Harris, E.
3200 run: 1, Richard, BB, 13:07.45; 2, Bougie, E; 3, Giese, E; 4, Gardner, G; 5, Barron, E.
1600 relay: 1, Escanaba (Larson, Wellman, Collins, Peterson) 4:37.62; 2, Gladstone; 3, Rapid River; 4, Bark River-Harris; 5, Mid Peninsula.
Discus: 1, Brockway, RR, 111-2; 2, Mathieson, E; 3, Young, G; 4, VanDamme, MP; 5, Petrie, BRH; 6, Ettenhofer, E.
Shot put: 1, Petrie, BRH, 30-11; 2, Brockway, RR; 3, VanDamme, MP; 4, Ettenhoer, E; 5, Young, G; 6, Meyers, BRH.
High jump: 1, Marlett, E, 5-1; 2, Nash, E; 3, Leckson, BB; 4, Parrotta, BRH; 5, Gould, RR; 6, Fritz, E.
Pole vault: 1, Ettenhofer, E, 8-6; 2, Alexander, G; 3, Palo, BRH; 4, tie between Gillis, E, and Snowaert, G.
Long jump: 1, Marlett, E, 15-2; 2, Sanderson, RR; 3, Coyne, G; 4, tie between Spencer, E, and Johnson, G; 6, Robare, G.
Esky senior Olivia Nash won the 200 (29.97) and placed second in high jump (5-0).
"Olivia and I always give each other competition," said Marlett. "It's a lot of fun. We're like a team within a team."
The Eskymos collected nine firsts, which pleased coach Dan DeLong.
"Meredith had such a good day," he said. "She scored 36 points for the team, which is huge. Olivia, Aubree Peterson, Haley Martineau and Holly Ettenhofer also had good days. Morgan (Mathieson) surprised me by throwing the disc 106 feet. Only, the girl from Rapid River (Neena Brockway) then won it at 111.
"We were kind of disappointed in some of the things that happened on Tuesday (in a triangular meet with Marquette and Menominee). I think this gives the girls some confidence, knowing they can pile up points."
Gladstone had three firsts, including sophomore Marissa Leisner's victory in the 100 (13.34).
Big Bay de Noc senior Brittany Richard was a triple-winner, taking the 800 (2:40.19), 1600 (5:59.56) and 3200 (13:07.45).
"Aubree really pushed me in the 800, which is actually my favorite race in track," said Richard. "That's the race I get the most nervous for. This is the first time I've run on this track, and I really like it. I also like the location, except for the wind. I felt it most in the 3200 because of the larger number of laps. I'm pleased with my times considering how windy it was."