Charlevoix track and field embodies a true team in an individual sport

[ASFN Admin]

CHARLEVOIX — There is no real team aspect to track and field. It’s about as individual as it gets from event to event.

But, don’t tell the Charlevoix boys track and field team that.

While each event may be a singular performance by an athlete, they’ve embodied what makes team sports great in every regard.

And now, it’s a togetherness that’ll carry the Rayders from a hosted Division 3 regional championship on Thursday, May 14, to the Division 3 state championships.

A total of 16 different Rayder boys will head to the finals, qualifying across 12 different events.

The regional championship comes as the first for the Charlevoix boys program since 2017.

“Going into the season, we knew we had a special team and talked about the possibility of winning the region,” Charlevoix coach Nick Barnum said. “The kids had that as their expectation all season.”

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Around his group daily, Barnum sees the team aspect of the Rayders shine more than anyone.

“That includes the girls, who train with the guys and put in a ton of work, pushing our guys to set up their game,” he said. “We have a great coaching staff consisting of coaches Peterson, Selph, Patrick, and Rohrer who care about and get the most out of our athletes. Our team also includes all the parents who trust us as coaches and offer incredible support for their student-athletes. It feels like we are truly one big family.”

Thursday at Charlevoix of course came highlighted by the distance group, led by Hunter Eaton’s three first place finishes between the 800, 1,600 and 3,200. Eaton also qualified within the 1,600 meter relay team.

Then there was Collin Jess, just a sophomore, who qualified in all four events he entered, claiming individual titles in the pole vault and 300 meter hurdles.

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Andrew Grogan earned a regional win in the shot put as the lone 50-foot thrower. Jason McNamara reached a new personal best in the high jump and was the lone to clear over 6-feet on the day.

“What caught a lot of teams off guard was our depth everywhere else, especially in the field events,” Barnum said. “We had state qualifiers in every field event except long jump, but even there, Brooks (Plackemeier) finished third and Paul (Kelly), fourth.”

Charlevoix earned the win in comfortable fashion with 170 points over Elk Rapids’ 146.33. On the girls side, Roscommon claimed a 139.5 to 88 finish over Harbor Springs.

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While it’s a team victory for Charlevoix, the complete group won’t head to Kent City on Saturday, May 30. Only the top two finishers in each event, or those meeting state qualifying marks.

Because of that, many Rayders closed their careers Thursday, though they’ll be there to cheer on the team come the state finals.

Charlevoix’s senior class, which will send five to the finals, included Jack VanGuilder, Brody Horrigan, Garrison Sterrett, Matthew Solomon, Jake Veurink, Andrew Glass, Andrew Grogan, Brooks Plackemeier and Faustino Recalde Landa.

“Their contributions may not always show up in the top results, but they don't go unnoticed, and we are extremely grateful for each and every one of them,” Barnum said. “They will all be greatly missed.”

Outside of the Division 3 regional in Charlevoix, standouts came from the Division 4 hosted meet at Inland Lakes and a Cadillac hosted Division 2 event.

Petoskey’s Alex Petok claimed regional titles across two events and qualified for states in four in Cadillac, while Petoskey St. Michael standout Veronica Paga was part of three regional wins and heads to states in four events.

A complete look state qualifying athletes and times from Emmet and Charlevoix county can be found below.

East Jordan’s Division 4 regional in Frankfort was taking place Saturday. Red Devil qualifiers will be updated online, though could not make the print deadline.

*Indicates a personal best mark.

200 METERS ​

Girls Division 2

1. Alex Petok, Petoskey, 26.82

400 METERS ​

Boys Division 3

3. Brody Horrigan, Charlevoix, 50.99*

Boys Division 4

2. Atticus Cadarette, St. Michael, 52.77*

Girls Division 2

2. Alex Petok, Petoskey, 1:00.51

Girls Division 4

1. Veronica Paga, St. Michael, 1:01.85*

800 METERS ​

Boys Division 3

1. Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix, 1:59.94

Girls Division 4

1. Veronica Paga, St. Michael, 2:31.10

2. Mea Wesley, St. Michael, 2:31.38*

1,600 METERS ​

Boys Division 3

1. Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix, 4:25.43

3. Ryder Hopkins, Charlevoix, 4:30.45*

4. Isaac Dionne, Boyne City, 4:32.05*

5. Grant Corlew, Harbor Springs, 4:34.08

Girls Division 4

1. Mea Wesley, St. Michael, 5:51.45

3,200 METERS ​

Boys Division 3

1. Hunter Eaton, Charlevoix, 9:33.24

2. Grant Corlew, Harbor Springs, 9:53.98

3. Ryder Hopkins, Charlevoix, 9:56.75

4. Isaac Dionne, Boyne City, 9:57.09*

5. Matthew Solomon, Charlevoix, 10:01.03

Boys Division 4

2. Cody Bradley, St. Michael, 10:27.23

Girls Division 3

2. Hailee Bertels, Boyne City, 12:33.86*

Girls Division 4

2. Veronica Paga, St. Michael, 13:11.75

100 HURDLES ​

Girls Division 2

1. Alex Petok, Petoskey, 16.29

110 HURDLES ​

Boys Division 3

2. Collin Jess, Charlevoix, 17.18

300 HURDLES ​

Boys Division 3

1. Collin Jess, Charlevoix, 42.23*

2. Peyton Richards, Boyne City, 42.24

Boys Division 4

2. Joshua Grondin, Pellston, 43.60*

4x100 RELAY ​

Girls Division 3

2. Harbor Springs: Paytyn Page, Drew Bowman, Reagan Kelso, Alexis Groves, 52.27*

Boys Division 4

2. Pellston: Hunter Brandt, Brady Bonter, Joshua Grondin, John Sonneberg, 47.88

4x200 RELAY ​

Boys Division 3

2. Charlevoix: Noah Umulis, Brody Horrigan, Garrison Sterrett, Raigan Swadling, 1:33.28*

Girls Division 3

1. Harbor Springs: Paytyn Page, Drew Bowman, Reagan Kelso, Alexis Groves, 1:49.76*

4x400 RELAY​

Boys Division 3

3. Harbor Springs: Adam Ferguson, Anthony Atkinson, Landon Baas, Henry Kruzel, 3:30.62*

4. Charlevoix: Brody Horrigan, Noah Umulis, Collin Jess, Hunter Eaton, 3:31.83*

Boys Division 4

2. St. Michael: Cody Bradley, Cooper Feagan, Caleb Chamberlin, Cole Wesley, 3:51.40

Girls Division 3

1. Harbor Springs: Sophia Balistreri, Paytyn Page, Parker Ford, Reagan Kelso, 4:22.53

4x800 RELAY ​

Boys Division 3

1. Harbor Springs: Grant Corlew, Landon Baas, Henry Kruzel, Anthony Atkinson, 8:22.93*

Boys Division 4

1. St. Michael: Cody Bradley, Caleb Chamberlin, Atticus Cadarette, Cole Wesley, 8:32.05

Girls Division 3

2. Harbor Springs: Parker Ford, Lila Wedge, Gabi Rempe, Sophia Balistreri, 10:39.21

Girls Division 4

1. St. Michael: Veronica Paga, Helena Ramsey, Sofia Cadarette, Mea Wesley, 10:51.45

SHOT PUT​

Boys Division 2

5. Connor Berg, Petoskey, 51-11.75*

Boys Division 3

1. Andrew Grogan, Charlevoix, 50-3.25

Boys Division 4

1. John Sagan, St. Michael, 41-1.5*

Girls Division 2

4. Leah Sulitis, Petoskey, 35-0

DISCUS​

Boys Division 2

5. Connor Berg, Petoskey, 148-5*

Boys Division 3

2. Greyson Warchol, Charlevoix, 130-4*

Boys Division 4

2. John Sagan, St. Michael, 119-2

Girls Division 2

1. Leah Sulitis, Petoskey, 109-11

HIGH JUMP ​

Boys Division 3

1. Jason McNamara, Charlevoix, 6-2*

2. Carter Greenacre, Charlevoix, 5-11

Girls Division 3

4. Makayla Beach, Harbor Springs, 4-10.25

5. Cambrynne Giem, Boyne City, 4-10

POLE VAULT​

Boys Division 2

4. Isaac Stebelton, Petoskey, 12-8*

5. Noah Corey, Petoskey, 12-8*

Boys Division 3

1. Collin Jess, Charlevoix, 13-0

2. Jason McNamara, Charlevoix, 10-6

Girls Division 2

1. Sarah Bailey, Petoskey, 11-9*

5. Tara Brantly, Petoskey, 9-9

LONG JUMP ​

Girls Division 2

2. Alex Petok, Petoskey, 16-11

3. Lyla Janes, Petoskey, 16-6

4. Marlee Grieves, Petoskey, 16-4

Girls Division 4

2. Adalynn Handershott, Pellston, 14-6*

Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at [email protected] and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: See the track and field state qualifiers from the Petoskey-area

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