Track and field weekend roundup

A majority of the Blue Water Area track and field teams were in action this weekend, posting some big personal bests and region-leading marks.

Let's take a look at 10 noteworthy stories:

Johnston sweeps the sprints

Almont senior Devin Johnston started Friday with a personal best of 12.52 seconds in the 100-meter dash at the Marlette Invitational. She then won the 400-meter dash with another PR, 1 minute, 1.19 seconds, before wrapping up the meet with a 200-meter victory in 26.31. Junior teammate Ava Panduren placed third in the 100 as well with a personal-best time of 13.20. 

Sniesak gains on Ferguson 

Armada senior Andrew Sniesak won the 400-meter dash at Friday’s Lapeer Lightning Invitational with a personal-best time of 52.18 seconds, more than a half second faster than last season. 

Yale senior Michael Ferguson ran a 51.72 at the Warrior Classic on Saturday to win the 400, but he also opened the outdoor season with a state-leading PR in Division 2 of 50.16 on April 14. 

It will be fun to watch these two compete within the league and even the region as the season progresses. 

What a day for Monaghan 

Port Huron Northern senior Maggie Monaghan won three of her four events at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational and earned two PRs along the way. 

In the 200, she placed second with a personal best of 26.89. She also ran a PR in the 100-meter hurdles, winning in 15.26 seconds. In high jump, she cleared 5 feet, and in long jump, she lept 17 feet, 2.25 inches, winning both events. 

Friday’s marks rank Monaghan fifth in the state for Division 1 in both the 100 hurdles and long jump. 

Georgia’s ready for a strong final season

Port Huron Northern senior Reese Georgia made her mark at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational across the distance events. She won the 800 (2:29.92), 1600 (5:39.55), and 3200 (12:17.71). Senior teammate Dylan Pasia was right behind her in the 1600, finishing second in 5:40.06.

Georgia’s 800 time was a personal best, and she’s already run PRs in the 1600 and 3200 this season as well. Coming off of her best cross country season, big things are still in store this spring. 

Don’t count out Clemens

While Johnston might be leading the area in sprints, North Branch junior Grace Clemens just ran a 12.98 in the 100 at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational and earlier in the week, she ran a PR of 12.66 in the event. She also earned a personal best in long jump with a mark of 16-9 on Friday. 

Cros-Lex boys with strong showing in the field, girls in distance

At the Frankenmuth Marco Marcet Invitational, Croswell-Lexington senior Robert Loomis won pole vault with a season’s best 11-9, and fellow senior Trey Kolakovich had a PR in long jump, leaping 19-7 to take fourth. 

Sophomore Eva Thompson and junior Morgan Newton finished second and third, respectively, in the 800 with season’s best times of 22:32.21 and 2:33.33. Thompson was also third in the 1600 with a PR of 5:20.32. Junior Abby Barkley earned a PR as well in the 3200, taking fourth in 13:00.50. 

And while she may not be a distance runner, it’s also worth noting junior Christina Seghi finished third in pole vault with a PR of 8-0, which ranks her second in the region. 

Kohn, Davis dominate distance at Lapeer Lightning Invitational 

Armada senior Camden Khon and Port Huron Northern senior Glen Davis pushed each other to personal-best times in the 800, taking first and third, respectively, in 2:00.03 and 2:04.68. Kohn also won the 1600 in 4:23.32 (PR) and Davis took the 3200 title in 9:44.42. 

Boullard with big drop in 800-meter time

At last year’s regional championship, St. Clair’s Carter Boullard ran a PR of 2:00.14 in the 800. That was in late-May. 

Now, in his senior season, he’s put himself ahead of schedule with a new personal best of 1:57.45 at the Oakland University Elaine Leigh Invitational on Friday. His time ranks him the top three in the state for Division 2. 

Pergitone sees early progress

Like Boullard, St. Clair senior Ava Pergitone ran one of her best times on Friday in the 1600. Last season she finished with a best of 5:34.10, and already this spring she’s run a 5:32.47, inching her closer to her state-qualifying PR of 5:21.99.

Big weekend for the Bulldogs 

The Yale track and field team spread out its races across two meets last weekend, first at Oakland on Friday and then at the Woodhaven Warrior Classic on Saturday. 

Junior Blake Ferguson nearly tied his PR in the 1600 with a time of 4:35.58 to place 17th in a deep field on Friday, and senior Lukas Kriesch was right behind in 19th in 4:36.53.

Kriesch bounced back the next day to run 10:16.03 and win the 3200, and Ferguson did the same, finishing fourth in 10:22.78. The two then joined juniors Acer Campbell, Giovanni Pardo-Keegan to win the 4x800-meter relay with a region-leading time of 8:20.12. 

In the field, senior Kaleb Gardner finished second in high jump with a PR of 5-10, and fellow senior Luke Kesckes placed second in pole vault with a season’s best 13-0, which is a region-leading mark. 

Sophomore Keirra Taube also earned a region-leading mark when she won high jump, clearing 5-2 for a new personal best.

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