VanderLende, Foster Win 1,600-3,200 Doubles; Oak Park Girls Fend Off Young Detroit Renaissance 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Ericka VanderLende of Rockford MI put her final stamp on the Michigan Lower Peninsula state championships on Saturday, logging an impressive 800/1,600/3,200 triple.

VanderLende won the 1,600 in US#4 4:41.00 and the 3,200 in 10:24.57. Junior Zofia Dudek of Ann Arbor Pioneer finished second in both races, running 4:45.06 and 10:29.71.

VanderLende was also second in the 800 meters, behind Gabby Hentemann of Grand Haven (2:08.70), in 2:11.32.

Grace Stark of White Lake Lakeland returned from injury just in time to get ready for the state meet. She retained her 100-meter hurdles title by running a season’s best and US#6 13.43 seconds. Aasia Laurencin of Oak Park was close behind in 13.57.

The East Kentwood boys, operating on their home track in the state finals, won the 4x200 (1:27.37) and the 4x400 (3:18.54) relays on the way to securing the team title.

Oak Park’s girls withstood a big challenge from Detroit Renaissance on the way to the team title. The 4x400 relay stepped up big in the final event to run US#17 3:45.13 to beat Renaissance (3:48.35) and secure the overall victory, 74-71.

Freshman Kaila Jackson of Renaissance won the 200 (24.02) and freshman teammate Leeah Burr won the 400 (54.17). They teamed up for relay victories in the 4x100 (46.58) and 4x200 (1:37.20).

Nick Foster of Ann Arbor Pioneer swept the 1,600 meters (4:12.32) and the 3,200 meters (9:08.55).

Keshaun Harris of Lansing Waverly swept the boys hurdles finals, winning the 110s in 13.98 seconds and the 300s in 37.75.

Lauren Fulcher of Troy took the girls 300 hurdles in 42.75 seconds.

Jehkota Tierney of Grand Rapids Northview won the boys long jump with 23-11.75.

In Division 2, Dylan Targgart of Coldwater threw 66-7.50 in the shot put competition for US#5. He also won the discus with a state-leading mark of 187-7.

Tricia Pierce of Ortonville Brandon jumped 12-6 to win the pole vault with a state-leading mark.

Marr Day’Anna from Adrian won the girls long jump with 18-10.25.

In the Division 3 finals, Jeremy Kloss of Harbor Springs edged out Ransom Allen from Ithaca, 4:15.59 to 4:15.63, to take the boys 1,600 meters.

The girls’ 1,600 meters final was even closer than the boys’. Amber Gall of Shepherd eked out victory over Adelyn Ackley of Hart, 4:49.40 to 4:49.42.

Freshman Abby VanderKooi of Muskegon Western Michigan Christian, the third-place finisher at Foot Locker last December, won her first state track title in the 3,200 meters with 10:33.39.

Jakobe Derrick of Flint Beecher won the 100 (10.79w) and was second in the 200 meters (22.57) in Division 4.

Team scores -

LP Division 1 - East Kentwood boys 63.5 points, Oak Park girls 74 points RESULTS

LP Division 2 - Zeeland West boys 53 points, Corunna girls 54 points RESULTS

LP Division 3 - Ithaca boys 45 points, Pewamo-Westphalia girls 45 points RESULTS

LP Division 4 - Kalamazoo Hackett boys 64 points, Fowler girls 71 points RESULTS

UP Division 1 - Gladstone boys 127 points, Marquette girls 106 points RESULTS

UP Division 2 - Ishpeming boys 128 points, St. Ignace girls 130 points RESULTS