KINGSFORD - A trip to the Upper Peninsula Division 3 Track Finals was a successful venture for the Bark River-Harris boys Saturday as they squeezed past Forest Park 58-57 for the runner-up trophy.
Pickford was crowned U.P. champion for the first time in eight years with 89 points.
"This is a beautiful finish to the year," said BR-H coach Al Bellefeuille. "Everybody probably ran his best time all year. Pickford is tough. What an unbelievable team."
Article Photos
Trevor Cochrane of Bark River-Harris faces the challenge of 10 hurdles Saturday at the U.P. Track Finals in Kingsford. (Daily Press photo by Dennis Grall)
BR-H senior Trevor Cochrane won the 300-meter hurdles in a school-record 41.28 seconds and the 110 hurdles (15.9) to finish undefeated in both events this season. He also anchored the 1600 relay, which placed second in a school-best 3:37.66.
"I really couldn't have asked for a better season," Cochrane said after the 300 hurdles. "Knowing this was my last hurdle race was a huge motivator. I had been chasing the school record in the 110s all year, but just didn't pull it off. I really enjoyed racing against the guys from our area this year. All of us are friends and we're always encouraging each other, which is the best part."
Cochrane captured the D-2 110 hurdles title a year ago.
"Last year, I got a chance to run against the St. Ignace guy (Caleb Litzner), which pushed my race to a new level," he added. "It's really cool having U.P. titles in Division 2 and 3."
The Broncos won the 400 relay (47.01) and set a school record while taking second in the 800 relay (1:37.1).
"Our handoffs were amazing this year," said senior Scott Jorasz, who anchored both relays. "We didn't have the injuries as in other years, and our times were real good. This is the third time we broke the school record in the 800 relay and had a real good time in the 400. We got first in the 400, which is important."
Mid Peninsula junior Brett Branstrom set a U.P. and school record in discus (154-8), topping the previous D-3 record (149-1) set by Richard Poma of Rapid River in 2003.
"I had a decent week of practice and felt confident coming in," said Branstrom, who was runner-up in shot put (46-1.5) on Saturday. "I really wanted to get into the 150s. Once everybody else was done, I was able to relax. I got a chance to work with Jordan Gobert (former Mid Pen and St. Norbert College track athlete) and got some encouragement. He told me to stay low and get some more height on my throws, which helped me a lot."
Junior Robert Metter provided Rapid River with its lone first with a leap of 12-6 in pole vault and Superior Central junior Tyler Kienitz copped the 800 (2:06.56).
In D-2, St. Ignace won for the third straight year with 112 points, followed by Stephenson 85 and Ironwood 63.
Newberry junior James Sutton set the high jump record at 6-3.5, a half-inch better than the previous mark by Rick St. Amour of Munising in 2001.