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STEPHENSON -- The race for the Division 3 regional boys' track championship came right down to the wire as Stephenson edged North Central 65-62 here Friday.
Forest Park placed third with 23 points.
"North Central has an excellent team," said Stephenson coach Logan Carlson. "They're not short of athletes at all. Coming into the final race, you always dream of something like this. I'm glad our guys stepped up and got it done. Their relays were revamped, and they caught us off guard in the 400. I thought we'd take first in that relay, and their guys won it."
Senior D'Artagnon Meintz anchored the winning 1600 relay, which was clocked at three minutes, 46.46 seconds. The Jets were runners-up (3:51.37) on this warm, humid and sometimes rainy afternoon.
"I wasn't supposed to be running in that race, but one of our guys couldn't be here, and I filled in for him," said Meintz. "This is my first year of high school track, and I didn't know how to pace myself. I was super nervous. I work on our family farm, and I'm unable to come to practice most of the time. It was a pretty tough fight to the end."
North Central earned at least a share of the regional crown five straight times prior to last year. The Eagles and Jets shared the title in 2019.
"We had 15 boys and did well considering," said Jets' coach Cherie Granquist. "We tried hard all day, and it came down to the last event. We qualified a lot of kids and have somebody going to Kingsford in 14 events. Stephenson has four very fast kids in the 1600 relay. We did everything we could."
The Stephenson girls won for the first time in four years with 95 points, followed by two-time defending champion North Dickinson 43 and Carney-Nadeau 20.
"North Dickinson has such a strong team," said Stephenson coach Kate Kuntze. "This was a hard day to run, but I never heard any complaints. The girls were in real good spirits and knew what they had to do. We always ask them to stay focused."
Stephenson sophomore Spencer Coldren won the boys' pole vault at 11 feet, six inches and helped the 1600 relay, and Meintz was part of the winning 3200 relay.
Noah Williams added a first in the 100 (12.1) and helped the winning 800 relay.
North Central junior Wyatt Raab swept the weight events, taking shot put (34-7 3/4) and discus (99-10), and classmate Trent Naser took high jump (5-6) and helped the winning 400 relay.
Additional winners for the Jets were sophomores Luke Gorzinski in the 200 (23.84) and Dylan Plunger in the 400 (55.41) and senior Ian Gorzinski in high jump (5-6).
Forest Park senior Mason Rintala recorded victories in the 800 (2:14.76), 1600 (4:49.25) and 3200 (10:53.81).
C-N senior Tim Hodson captured the 110 hurdles (17.71) and 300s (44.21).
"My start in the 110 hurdles wasn't very good, but after the third hurdle, I was able to pick it up," he said. "Then, my foot slipped off the block in the 300 hurdles. I knew it was going to rain at some point and could have been better prepared for it. I also didn't do very well in long jump (but placed third). Although, I think I've done well for this being my first year in long jump. That came right after the 110 hurdles, and my legs were dead."
Stephenson senior Kylee Kuntze copped the girls' 1600 (6:06.84) and 3200 (13:59.4) and helped the winning 1600 and 3200 relays.
"I thought my races went pretty good," she said. "In the 1600, the rain helped cool us off. Then, the sun came out before the 3200. The temperature went up, and it was very humid, which made it harder to breathe. I won all of my events in the last two meets, so I have a nice streak going. This was a good way to finish my last meet on our home track."
Teammate Paige Cappaert won shot put (31-5) and disc (106-5). Jada Kuntze took high jump (4-8) and helped the 1600 relay. Daisy Grinsteiner captured pole vault (8-9) and helped the 800 relay. Ava Hummel copped long jump (14-9) and helped the 400 relay, and Mia Hauser added a first in the 300 hurdles (54.67).
North Dickinson junior Ashton Hord collected three firsts, taking the 100 (13.87), 200 (28.8) and 400 (1:07.17).
"My starts went pretty well," she said. "I enjoy running in the rain as long as there's no wind and the humidity didn't really bother me. My form was good, and I feel confident going into the U.P. Finals. I'm happy with the distance I got in long jump (13-8)."
Vanessa Lindholm provided the Nordics with a first in the 800 (2:51.52).
C-N's Malorie Baumler was runner-up in shot (30-2 1/2) and disc (75-6), and freshman Samantha Kedsch took second in 100 (14.0) and 400 (1:10.92).
North Central freshman Gracie Kleikamp placed second in high jump (4-6).
The top four individual finishers and top two relays qualified for the Upper Peninsula Finals at Kingsford June 5.
Division 3 regional
At Rapid River
Boys
Rapid River 64, Munising 52, Superior Central 22 1/2, Republic-Michigamme 21, Engadine 17, Big Bay de Noc 1 1/2.
3200 relay -- 1, Rapid River (Hernandez, B. Lenaker, McCarty, M. Lenaker), 9:07.12; 2, Munising.
110 hurdles -- 1, Duran, Mun, 21.16; 2, Bowerman, Mun; 3, McNally, Mun; 4, L. Frusti, SC.
100 -- 1, Peramaki, Mun, 12.04; 2, Lawrence, R-M; 3, Z. Frusti, SC; 4, Anderson, Mun.
800 relay -- 1, Superior Central (McLaury, Swetich, Maki, Collier), 1:41.85; 2, Rapid River; 3, Munising.
1600 -- 1, Hernandez, RR, 5:22.01; 2, DuPont, R-M; 3, McCarty, RR; 4, Mulye, Mun.
400 relay -- 1, Superior Central (Z. Frusti, McLaury, Maki, Johnson), 47.48; 2, Munising; 3, Rapid River.
400 -- 1, B. Lenaker, RR, 52.8; 2, Dyer, R-M; 3, VanZandt, Mun; 4, Horwitz, RR.
300 hurdles -- 1, Spieles, E, 48.27; 2, Durant, Mun; 3, McNally, Mun; 4, Hardwick, RR.
800 -- 1, Hernandez, RR, 2:20.4; 2, Skogman, R-M; 3, Kulik, SC; 4, Horwitz, RR.
200 -- 1, Peramaki, Mun, 24.05; 2, Lawrence, R-M; 3, Taylor, RR; 4, Swetich, SC.
3200 -- 1, Spieles, E, 11:50.64; 2, McCarty, RR; 3, Mulye, Mun; 4, Moore, RR.
1600 relay -- 1, Rapid River (Hernandez, B. Lenaker, M. Lenaker, Lundquist), 3:48.23; 2, Republic-Michigamme; 3, Munising.
High jump -- 1, M. Lenaker, RR, 6-0; 2, Durant, Mun; 3, Gillespie, BB and Z. Frusti, SC (tie).
Pole vault -- 1, Lancour, RR, 11-0; 2, Bowerman, Mun.
Long jump -- 1, B. Lenaker, RR, 20-9; 2, Lawrence, R-M; 3, Z. Frusti, SC; 4, Sundling, RR.
Shot put -- 1, French, E, 40-8 1/2; 2, Wymer, Mun; 3, Dausey, RR; 4, Nance, E.
Discus -- 1, Dausey, RR, 130-6; 2, K. Frusti, SC; 3, Peramaki, Mun; 4, Nance, E.
Girls
Rapid River 64, Mid Peninsula 39, Munising 27, Engadine 22, Superior Central 12 1/2, Republic-Michigamme 6 1/2, Big Bay de Noc 4.
3200 relay -- 1, Rapid River (Dausey, Porter, Goodacre, VanOss), 11:59.89; 2, Engadine.
100 hurdles -- 1, M. Thibault, RR, 19.35; 2, Johnson, SC; 3, Jones, BB; 4, White, E.
100 -- 1, Englund, MP, 14.07; 2, Moss, RR; 3, Smith, Mun; 4, Nummilien, MP.
800 relay -- 1, Rapid River (Christoff, M. Thibault, McCarty, Moss), 1:56.78; 2, Mid Peninsula; 3, Superior Central.
1600 -- 1, Koski, MP, 6:07.98; 2, Brisson, Mun; 3, Matson, Mun; 4, VanOss, RR.
400 relay -- 1, Rapid River (Christoff, M. Thibault, McCarty, Moss), 56.15; 2, Superior Central.
400 -- 1, Koski, MP, 1:07.32; 2, Smith, Mun; 3, Nummilien, MP; 4, Goodacre, RR.
300 hurdles -- 1, M. Thibault, RR, 54.49; 2, Paquin, E; 3, White, E.
800 -- 1, Englund, MP, 2:34.5; 2, Matson, Mun; 3, Brisson, Mun; 4, Loebach, E.
200 -- 1, Smith, Mun, 30.08; 2, Nummilien, MP; 3, McCarty, RR; 4, Christoff, RR.
3200 -- 1, Koski, MP, 13:39.99; 2, VanOss, RR; 3, Brisson, Mun; 4, French, E.
1600 relay -- 1, Munising (Johnson, Matson, Brisson, Smith), 4:51.79; 2, Rapid River; 3, Engadine.
High jump -- 1, French, E, 4-6; 2, Johnson, SC and Jones, BB (tie); 4, Paquin, E.
Pole vault -- 1, Christoff, RR, 7-6; 2, Hickman, RR.
Long jump -- 1, Moss, RR, 14-11; 2, Englund, MP; 3, Crandall, E; 4, Rutter, SC.
Shot put -- 1, Anderson, RR, 32-7 1/2; 2, McCracken, R-M; 3, Pearson, RR; 4, Rutter, SC.
Discus -- 1, Anderson, RR, 99-5; 2, McCracken, R-M; 3, Salmi, MP; 4, Zdebski, E.