Austin Hemmingson | Daily Press Gladstone’s Jarret St. John (right) runs in front of Iron Mountain’s Adrian Dove during the 800-meter relay at Tuesday’s triangular meet in Gladstone. Gladstone took first and Iron Mountain was second.

GLADSTONE — Adam Bruce enjoyed a triumphant return to high school track here Tuesday, helping the Gladstone boys win a triangular meet with 99 points, followed by Iron Mountain 43 and Escanaba 33.

The senior harrier won the 1600-meter run in four minutes, 53.14 seconds and 3200 (10:41.79) in his season-debut.

“It was kind of surreal,” said Bruce, who underwent hip surgery in late January. “I was real nervous coming in here. Coming back three months earlier than planned, I didn’t know what to expect. Although, I think I did a lot of maturing through it all. I couldn’t have done this without everybody. I’m very thankful to be back.”

The Escanaba girls won with 82 1/2 points, followed by Gladstone 67 1/2 and Iron Mountain 25.

“The girls made a lot of strides today,” said Esky coach Dan DeLong. “We wanted to get under 11 minutes in the 3200 relay and we ran a 10:52. We also have to give a lot of credit to our B relay teams for beating Iron Mountain and Gladstone.”

Gladstone sophomore Calvin Thibault won the boys’ 100 (12.12), 200 (24.02), 110 hurdles (16.0) and 300s (42.49). Classmate Blake Servant added a first in discus with a personal-best throw of 119-11 and junior Luke Van Brocklin took the 400 (53.42).

“Calvin wasn’t feeling good today, but he still won all of his races,” said Braves’ coach Gary Whitmer. “Reece Castor’s best long jump was 16-5, but he went 18-4 today. Reece has a lot of natural ability and Adam slowed up in the last lap of the 1600, which was a good thing. Blake had a nice throw in disc and we’re excited for Nick Dawson for clearing 9-6 in pole vault for the first time. We haven’t had our full 1600 relay yet, but our two guys in the 400 are coming on.”

Esky senior Kyle Gendron took high jump (5-10), long jump (18-11) and shot put (39-6 1/2). Junior Dayton Miron copped pole vault (12-6) and sophomore Derek Douglas won the 800 (2:15.38).

“We’re starting to see some good things from our guys,” said Esky coach Scott Dykema. “They’re doing well in the field events. Dayton is doing real well in pole vault. Scott Hiller is doing well in the sprints for a freshman and we threw Brodey Bevins in the 1600 relay and he did a nice job. We have some guys dropping time, only it’s not showing on the scoreboard yet.”

The Esky girls swept the relays. Freshman Ciara Ostrenga won the 400 (1:07.05) and helped the 1600 and 3200 relays and classmate Anna Smith took high jump (4-6) and helped the 1600 unit.

“Ciara had a real strong showing, running a 2:38 split in the 3200 relay and a 66 in the 800 relay,” said DeLong.

“Lilia Hughes did well in the 800 and 1600 and Courtney Boyle led halfway through the 100 hurdles, but Ahna (Larson) caught her. Ahna is a very strong runner.”

Beside winning the 100 hurdles (17.54), Larson captured the 300s (49.61), 100 dash (13.38) and long jump (14-8).

Gladstone junior Mackenzie Parish became a double-winner, taking shot put (27-9 1/2) and discus (77-3) and freshman Emily Siebert ruled pole vault (7-6) on this sunny and seasonably cool day.

“Four victories in the field events — that’s a nice job by the girls,” said Braves’ coach Jim Murtha. “Ahna definitely gave us some big points. Our distance runners did very well and Sam Strasler does a good job in the 400 and 800. Our relays had a nice showing today. They ran their best times of the year. This was a tremendous all-around effort by the whole team. I’m proud of the hard work they’re putting in. It’s rewarding.”

Iron Mountain senior Sarah Kulas copped the 1600 (5:59.45) and 3200 (13:47.28) and senior Tiana Brooks took first in the 200 (28.87).

“We’re trying to get Tiana down into the 27s before the end of her senior year,” said IM coach Kevin Sullivan. “Sarah did a nice job in the distances and Brandon (Malburg) ran well behind Adam in the boys’ distances. Everybody is building toward the (Division 1) regional and conference meets.”

Boys

3200 relay — Gladstone (Madden, Mathews, Strasler, Hughes), 9:24.95; 110 hurdles — Thibault, G, 16.0; 100 — Thibault, G, 12.12; 800 relay — Gladstone (L. Van Brocklin, K. Van Brocklin, St. John, Hughes), 1:38.77; 1600 — Bruce, G, 4:53.14; 400 relay — Iron Mountain (Dumais, Basanese, Dove, Carey), 48.0; 400 — L. Van Brocklin, G, 53.52; 300 hurdles — Thibault, G, 42.49; 800 — Douglas, E, 2:15.38; 200 — Thibault, G, 24.02; 3200 — Bruce, G, 10:41.79; 1600 relay — Iron Mountain (Vicenzi, Kleiman, Dumais, Gerhard), 3:50.56; High jump — Gendron, E, 5-10; Long jump — Gendron, E, 18-11; Pole vault — Miron, E, 12-6; Shot put — Gendron, E, 39-6 1/2; Discus — Servant, G, 119-11.

Girls

3200 relay — Escanaba (Hughes, Korpi, Stalboerger, Ostrenga), 10:52.37; 100 hurdles — Larson, G, 17.54; 100 — Larson, G, 13.85; 800 relay — Escanaba (Farrell, Lord, Brown, Davenport), 2:00.27; 1600 — Kulas, IM, 5:59.45; 400 relay — Escanaba (Farrell, Lord, Brown, Davenport), 55.48; 400 — Ostrenga, E, 1:07.05; 300 hurdles — Larson, G, 49.61; 800 — Ostrenga, E, 2:40.95; 200 — Brooks, IM, 28.87; 3200 — Kulas, IM, 13:47.28; 1600 relay — Escanaba (Smith, Barron, Ostrenga, Anderson), 4:33.47; High jump — Smith, E, 4-6; Long jump — Larson, G, 14-8; Pole vault — Siebert, G, 7-6; Shot put — Parish, G, 27-9 1/2; Discus — Parrish, G, 77-3.