×

Bark River-Harris ready for new season to launch

High school track

HARRIS — After several weeks of practicing mostly within the confines of their gym, the Bark River-Harris Broncos are ready for a change of scenery.

The Broncos, with 11 girls and seven boys on their roster, open their track season in Thursday’s Superior Central Invitational which starts at 1 p.m. inside Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome.

“I think it’s a good practice for us,” said coach Katina Demers. “I told the kids not to worry. It’s just a starting point. I told them to just do their best. This is a great way to start the season.”

The BR-H girls return defending Upper Peninsula Division 3 100-meter dash and 300 hurdles champion Hailee Demers, also part of a U.P. championship 800 relay as a freshman two years ago.

“Haliee is pretty versatle,” said coach Demers. “She can also run the 400 and 800, but wants to concentrate on her sprints and 300 hurdles. She and Jaelin (Lockwood) bring so much experience to the table.”

Lockwood, the lone senior in BR-H’s program, is also doing sprints and long jump.

“Jaelin has really taken on the captain’s role,” said coach Demers. “She’s looking good coming out of the blocks.”

Other juniors are sprinter Ashleigh White, Savannah Stein in the distances and cousins Lilian and Destiny Stenberg in middle distance.

“It’s exciting to have Ashleigh back (after suffering head trauma from a car accident last year),” said coach Demers. “Savannah has been working a lot on intervals. All three have been pushing each other. It’s nice to have runners who don’t mind running a mile.”

Underclassmen include sophomores Grace Peterson (weight events), Makenna Lockwood (pole vault and high jump), Sierra Debelak (sprints and relays) and Techya White (middle distance) and freshman Reagan Nummilien (middle distance), a transfer from North Dickinson.

“I’m actually pretty excited looking ahead to the regional (May 18 at North Dickinson),” said coach Demers. “I think we’re pretty solid in the sprints and we have some depth in the middle distances. I also think our field events will help us this year.”

The boys are led by four juniors. They include returners Eric Viau (sprints and long jump), Tim Jarvis (sprints and pole vault) and Colton Brunette (sprint relays and weight events) and newcomer Willy Schmitt (sprints and pole vault).

“I think we’ll do okay in the sprints, mid distance and field events,” said Demers. “We’re trying to get better with every meet and pick pocket as many points as we can.”

Sophomore Kyle Adam and freshmen Riggins Stenberg and Joey Stein are representing the Broncos in the middle distances, with Stenberg also entered in the weight events.

Helping with the coaching duties is assistant Iver Stenberg, U.P. 200-meter champ in 2016.

“It’s nice having his skill set,” said Demers. “Iver is doing a lot of block work with the boys and girls. Being a U.P. champion, he knows what it takes to get there.”

The Broncos, like other area teams, hope spring is right around the corner.

“It has been different,” said Demers. “During Spring Break we were ready to get on the track. Now we have quite a bit of snow on parts of it.”

The schedule:

April 19 — at Marquette (Superior Dome); April 26 — Delta County Invitational at Escanaba; April 30 — at Gwinn.

May 1 — at North Dickinson; May 7 — at Norway; May 10 — at Rapid River; May 11 — BR-H Jayvee Invitational; May 15 — BR-H Varsity Invitational; May 18 — D-3 regional at North Dickinson; May 22 — Skyline Central Conference at Stephenson.

June 2 — U.P. Finals at Kingsford.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today