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2025 Finals Previews and Predictions: Division 1

STATE RECORDS

Lightly Stressed

Boys 800m – 1:47.55

Probably not in the cards this year, but watch for Wendell Childs and Greg Myers to give this a good challenge in the coming years. Childs’ 1:51.7 at Oakland was a second off the sophomore class record.

Boys 4×2 – 1:25.0

One of the older records in the book, a 1:25.0 held by Detroit Cass Tech. At the KLAA Championships, Belleville popped a 1:26.01. You gotta imagine they have more in tank when a Grand Haven comes challenging.

Feeling Pressure

On paper, Holland West Ottawa can have enough to give this some heat. The Wierks twins, Emma Gunnett, and Helen Sachs all have sub-2:15 capability.

Boys 300h – 35.90

In a low-key, mid-April dual, Will Jaiden Smith ripped a 36.87. If he can do that on a sleepy weekday night, what’s he got in store for a hype-filled Saturday?

Boys 4×1 – 41.11

Grand Haven has scary depth in the sprints, three under 10.8. They’ve combined that for a clutch relay performance, narrowly winning their region over Hudsonville, and also roaring to a 41.69 in mid-April.

Under Duress

Boys 110h – 13.48

In early April, we were treated to one of the better hurdle shows Michigan has ever seen. Will Jaiden Smith, Schmar Gamble, and Zacchaeus Brocks all hitting the line in 13.7 and under. Smith’s 13.53 was good for #2 all-time in Michigan history, a mere 0.05 off the long-time record. It appears we’ll have a tailwind and the warmest temperatures in some time…

Girls Shot Put – 52’ 10.75”

Girls Discus – 166’ 11”

Barreling toward these throws is Lorelai Zielinski. The Traverse City Central sophomore is rapidly improving, gaining 5’ in the shot and 21’ in the disc since her freshman year. We could have a wild scenario where both Lorelai and Addyson Stiverson hold the shot put record on the same day.

Boys Long Jump – 25′ 2.5″

Another long-standing record, this one from 1988. Quincy Isaac has tied this. Now he has the chance to break through and make it all his own (*edit is thanks to Jeff Hollobaugh. I guess there were wind gauges in both occasions. This is another reason I’m not super invested in records, I’m not detail oriented enough) Anyhow, given the warmer temps, heightened stakes, and Isaac’s experience, I expect big things.

STATE MEET RECORDS

Lightly Stressed

Girls 200m – 23.51

Girls 800m – 2:06.35

Girls High Jump – 5’ 11”

Boys 800m – 1:48.98

Many of these are a look toward the future, where youngsters such as Caylin Ivy, Janae Coleman, or Wendell Childs will be in giving them a bit more heat. For now, we view the seeds, such as Ivy’s 24.02 or Janae’s 2:09 win at the Brooks PR meet last June. We saw the seeds early for Greta Caprathe, who found 5’ 7” as a sophomore, had a bit of a downturn as a junior, then has been on the comeback trail as a senior, her 5’ 9” ranking #1 in D1.

Feeling Pressure

Girls 100m – 11.54

Girls 4×4 – 3:45.13

Girls 4×8 – 8:48.29

Girls Pole Vault – 13’ 4”

Boys 300h – 35.90

Boys 4×1 – 41.20

The relays look to be challenged on paper, but run into factors of tired legs, conserved energy, and tight precision. Kamryn Tatum has found her way back into the 11’s and we have two years of experience knowing she can handle state meet pressure. The girls vault has four girls that have hit 12’ 6” or higher and it’s easy to envision a scenario where a few get to 13’. From then on, record attempts could be in the cards.

Under Duress

Girls 3200m – 10:08.07

Girls Shot Put – 49’ 11.75”

Girls Discus – 163’ 9”

Boys 100m – 10.53

Boys 200m – 21.01

Boys 110h – 13.65

Boys 4×2 – 1:25.53

Boys Long Jump – 24’ 2.75”

These have all either been hit this year (Natasza Dudek, Lorelai Zielinski, Will Jaiden Smith, Quincy Isaac) or have enough candidates nearby that there are high odds that one will rise to the occasion tomorrow.

Intriguing Events and Happenings

Here’s what I’m looking forward to the most:

The Northville coaches always love when I light the match and fuel the fire, but I think this may be the year they’re challenged. The Clarkston team consists of a few of the kids that won the DMR indoors and they add in Wendell Childs. Gonna be a battle of a team that’s been there before vs. one that has the pieces, but has yet to prove it on the outdoor state stage.

The strategies at play during the Boys 3200m. Kyle O’Rourke has seemingly run each race with intention. That has worked out in terms of time (#1 seed) and at various instances during XC (Jackson, Oakland County). At MIS, Seth Conner imposed his will during the finishing stretch, he’ll look to come in clutch in the final laps again tomorrow.

Getting to the field area early and watching Quincy Isaac long jump. He’s a familiar face at this stage and hopes to firmly etch his name in history.

Seeing a repeat of the race in the graphic. Just watch the video here.

Viewing another version of the Barnyard Mile. D3’s Emmry Ross sped ahead for the win, but she was followed by a host of D1 girls. Valerie Beeck and Lucy Cook have superb closing speed, Natasza Dudek holds the quickest 3200m on the year, Helen Sachs and Victoria Garces are XC state champions.

While not watching Isaac jump, heading over to see Lorelai Zielinski throw. She adds considerable feet to her throws on a weekly basis. The latest version was a 4’ jump in the disc, placing her within 3’ of all-time state supremacy.

Sleeping soundly for more than 6 hours tonight.

Catching up with you all tomorrow. I’ll be in East Kentwood all day. Come say hi.

Potential Girls Team Champions

Generally, I tend to think this is pretty simple. One needs elite athletes, the advantage being more of them. Those elite athletes need to score what they’re capable of, buoyed by those who would be stepping up when less expected.

Oak Park – since Brandon Jiles took over the Knight program and got it humming, there have been two teams and one pandemic that have prevented them from winning a title. They’ve stuck to their tried and true formula, hoping to dominate the hurdles by a significant margin, be on top in the sprints, and find points elsewhere. The hurdle gap likely won’t be as enormous, but they’ve mitigated that by throwing down one of the better 4×8 squads this year.

Beyond Oak Park, it’ll probably be Detroit Renaissance and Detroit Cass Tech coming in for second place. The teams have similar characteristics, with one major difference, the Phoenix having one of the better long jumpers in the state. An early 10-spot may vault Renni toward trophy land.

Potential Boys Team Champions

Belleville – taking what Candace Price learned from her days at Pioneer. Turn your kids into hurdlers and watch them blossom in an event that some ignore. Will Jaiden Smith, Schmar Gamble, Timothy Pinard all can be point getters for the Tigers. Those guys don’t just have excellent technique, they can roar through the short sprints too, being in contention for the 4×2 and individual glory in that same distance.

Grand Haven – takes incredible depth in the short sprints (4 under 10.8 and 22.3) and hopes to turn that into points. Differing from Belleville, rapidly improving sophomore Luka Hammond can gain points in distance races and perhaps anchor a podium worthy 4×8 in the morning.

With the 4×8, hurdle & short sprint prelims, high hurdle, and 100m finals early, we’ll know before 1pm how the day might turn.

GIRLS TEAM PREDICTIONS

BOYS TEAM PREDICTIONS

Girls Event Predictions

PlaceTeamEvent
1stDetroit Renaissance4×1
2ndOak Park4×1
3rdWest Bloomfield4×1
4thEast Kentwood4×1
5thBelleville4×1
6thTroy Athens4×1
7thRockford4×1
8thGrand Rapids Ottawa Hills4×1
PlaceTeamEvent
1stSaginaw Heritage4×2
2ndOak Park4×2
3rdDetroit Cass Tech4×2
4thDetroit Renaissance4×2
5thEast Kentwood4×2
6thRomeo4×2
7thWest Bloomfield4×2
8thForest Hills Central4×2
PlaceTeamEvent
1stOak Park4×4
2ndDetroit Cass Tech4×4
3rdDetroit Renaissance4×4
4thHolland West Ottawa4×4
5thAnn Arbor Huron4×4
6thRomeo4×4
7thGrand Haven4×4
8thBelleville4×4
PlaceTeamEvent
1stHolland West Ottawa4×8
2ndRomeo4×8
3rdOak Park4×8
4thGrand Haven4×8
5thRochester4×8
6thZeeland East4×8
7thAnn Arbor Huron4×8
8thAnn Arbor Pioneer4×8

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stLorelai ZielinskiTraverse City CentralDiscus
2ndJada EwellRoyal OakDiscus
3rdLeigha StoepkerJenisonDiscus
4thOlivia HosfordRockfordDiscus
5thEllie MendozaRochesterDiscus
6thEdimari KingFarmingtonDiscus
7thCharlotte MinorLivonia ChurchillDiscus
8thMelody KauffmanAlpenaDiscus
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stLorelai ZielinskiTraverse City CentralShot Put
2ndLeigha StoepkerJenisonShot Put
3rdIzzy KrausePlymouthShot Put
4thAbigail ShealyMidlandShot Put
5thEmma KankaHowellShot Put
6thElizabeth WatkinHolland West OttawaShot Put
7thOlivia HosfordRockfordShot Put
8thCharlotte MartinWarren CousinoShot Put
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stKatie BlueGrand LedgePole Vault
2ndIzzy RobbinsGrand HavenPole Vault
3rdIsabel GermanLowellPole Vault
4thRaiden KipfmillerDexterPole Vault
5thOlivia BagdasarianLake OrionPole Vault
6thAubree BowersForest Hills CentralPole Vault
7thMaiya CorriganRockfordPole Vault
8thDebbie McCoyDexterPole Vault
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stGreta CapratheRockfordHigh Jump
2ndNatalie FormsmaByron CenterHigh Jump
3rdNadia HillMuskegonHigh Jump
4thRocsi FergusonWoodhaven BrownstownHigh Jump
5thTori LatorMasonHigh Jump
6thAbak LualEast KentwoodHigh Jump
7thTessa WhiteLivonia FranklinHigh Jump
8thLayla VisserRockfordHigh Jump
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stCeleste DavisDetroit RenaissanceLong Jump
2ndMaya JusticeWoodhaven BrownstownLong Jump
3rdFiona KaneDearborn Edsel FordLong Jump
4thGreta CapratheRockfordLong Jump
5thRaquel WalkerMuskegon Reeths-PufferLong Jump
6thNatalie FormsmaByron CenterLong Jump
7thMirra FenlonZeeland EastLong Jump
8thKyleigh PeacockTroyLong Jump

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stKamryn TatumWest Bloomfield100m
2ndJayla DaceDetroit Renaissance100m
3rdJordynn YoungSaginaw Heritage100m
4thTaryn HendersonFarmington Hills Mercy100m
5thWillow MasonSaginaw Heritage100m
6thMadelyn PiotrowskiTroy Athens100m
7thAsia ElderOak Park100m
8thNahya DazaForest Hills Northern100m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stKamryn TatumWest Bloomfield200m
2ndNevaeh BurnsOak Park200m
3rdMalise BrownDetroit Cass Tech200m
4thCaylin IvyDetroit Cass Tech200m
5thTaryn HendersonFarmington Hills Mercy200m
6thWillow MasonSaginaw Heritage200m
7thJayla DaceDetroit Renaissance200m
8thEmma NicholsonUtica Ford200m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stNevaeh BurnsOak Park400m
2ndMalise BrownDetroit Cass Tech400m
3rdCaylin IvyDetroit Cass Tech400m
4thMauriel SeeburgerPortage Northern400m
5thJanae ColemanOak Park400m
6thMaya JusticeWoodhaven Brownstown400m
7thDayshana KelloggOak Park400m
8thSydney RobertsMidland Dow400m

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stValerie BeeckGrand Haven800m
2ndCollette WierksHolland West Ottawa800m
3rdJanae ColemanOak Park800m
4thMeredith CookZeeland East800m
5thAddy SmithGrand Haven800m
6thElla WierksHolland West Ottawa800m
7thReese SmithTraverse City West800m
8thEmma GunnettHolland West Ottawa800m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stVictoria GarcesMidland Dow1600m
2ndNatasza DudekAnn Arbor Pioneer1600m
3rdValerie BeeckGrand Haven1600m
4thLucy CookRochester1600m
5thElla GoodsellRomeo1600m
6thHelen SachsHolland West Ottawa1600m
7thNatalia GuaresimoRomeo1600m
8thKaelin HughesLivonia Stevenson1600m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stNatasza DudekAnn Arbor Pioneer3200m
2ndVictoria GarcesMidland Dow3200m
3rdHelen SachsHolland West Ottawa3200m
4thLucy CookRochester3200m
5thKaelin HughesLivonia Stevenson3200m
6thElla GoodsellRomeo3200m
7thAva PorrasHolland West Ottawa3200m
8thAnnie HrabovskyRomeo3200m

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stCarrie VanNoyOak Park100h
2ndLaila HawkinsDetroit Cass Tech100h
3rdJada WilsonBelleville100h
4thJayda WatsonOak Park100h
5thMia BarnettChippewa Valley100h
6thCeleste DavisDetroit Renaissance100h
7thPayton GeeOak Park100h
8thBrooklyn CottonRoyal Oak100h
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stJada WilsonBelleville300h
2ndCarrie VanNoyOak Park300h
3rdRylie BaconDetroit Renaissance300h
4thLaila HawkinsDetroit Cass Tech300h
5thAliyah FergusonAnn Arbor Huron300h
6thBrooklyn HarmonMiddleville Thornapple-Kellogg300h
7thNatalia BohnSalem300h
8thLauren BickerdtDetroit Renaissance300h

Boys Event Predictions

PlaceTeamEvent
1stGrand Haven4×1
2ndDetroit Catholic Central4×1
3rdWalled Lake Western4×1
4thSterling Heights Stevenson4×1
5thWarren DeLaSalle4×1
6thHudsonville4×1
7thPortage Northern4×1
8thSaline4×1
PlaceTeamEvent
1stBelleville4×2
2ndGrand Haven4×2
3rdKalamazoo Central4×2
4thWalled Lake Western4×2
5thCanton4×2
6thOak Park4×2
7thEast Kentwood4×2
8thSaginaw Heritage4×2
PlaceTeamEvent
1stOak Park4×4
2ndDetroit Cass Tech4×4
3rdAnn Arbor Huron4×4
4thClarkston4×4
5thTroy Athens4×4
6thGrand Haven4×4
7thNorthville4×4
8thDetroit Catholic Central4×4
PlaceTeamEvent
1stClarkston4×8
2ndNorthville4×8
3rdGrand Haven4×8
4thAnn Arbor Pioneer4×8
5thPlymouth4×8
6thAnn Arbor Skyline4×8
7thSaline4×8
8thUtica4×8

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stRay Glory EjoyokahBeverly Hills GrovesDiscus
2ndCarl FlintonHoltDiscus
3rdMaxwell StoeckerMidlandDiscus
4thAndre NeumannWhite Lake LakelandDiscus
5thTy EllisGrand LedgeDiscus
6thJa’Mari TaylorMuskegon Mona ShoresDiscus
7thConrad SquitieriGrosse Pointe SouthDiscus
8thCameron GramzowAnchor BayDiscus
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stMaxwell StoeckerMidlandShot Put
2ndGarrod AlexanderWalled Lake CentralShot Put
3rdDominic WeatherlyL’Anse CreuseShot Put
4thAndre NeumannWhite Lake LakelandShot Put
5thSpencer BeckemanRochester Hills Stoney CreekShot Put
6thGrayson ByamSaginaw HeritageShot Put
7thHudson PantCedar SpringsShot Put
8thEvan WoodruffMidlandShot Put
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stReece EmeottEast KentwoodPole Vault
2ndAsher PaulTraverse City CentralPole Vault
3rdGrady MyersForest Hills NorthernPole Vault
4thSean CinzoriPlymouthPole Vault
5thOdin GulledgeNoviPole Vault
6thBrady LewisGrand Rapids Kenowa HillsPole Vault
7thBrezlyn PostJenisonPole Vault
8thAdam CohoonOkemosPole Vault
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stGiovanni CharlesWalled Lake CentralHigh Jump
2ndLiam ReynoldsSalemHigh Jump
3rdBilly DrakeLapeerHigh Jump
4thDeon RobertsonWoodhaven BrownstownHigh Jump
5thJayden KulhanekGrandvilleHigh Jump
6thZechariah JonesGrand LedgeHigh Jump
7thBrandon BerryHolland West OttawaHigh Jump
8thSam AbdallaForest Hills NorthernHigh Jump
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stQuincy IsaacCantonLong Jump
2ndDavarion PhillipsKalamazoo Loy NorrixLong Jump
3rdZay McGinnisMount PleasantLong Jump
4thLorenzo ReynoldsEast KentwoodLong Jump
5thJordan PaigeNoviLong Jump
6thJhavon AlexanderEast KentwoodLong Jump
7thPaul HubbardBeverly Hills GrovesLong Jump
8thKeaton HendricksZeeland WestLong Jump

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stJeremy DixonKalamazoo Central100m
2ndDevin JamesWest Bloomfield100m
3rdSamson GashDetroit Catholic Central100m
4thKamren FlowersWest Bloomfield100m
5thQuincy IsaacCanton100m
6thChance McNeillNovi100m
7thNoah SandersBeverly Hills Groves100m
8thKane MorrisPortage Northern100m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stChance McNeillNovi200m
2ndWill Jaiden SmithBelleville200m
3rdDevin JamesWest Bloomfield200m
4thRodney EndsleyWalled Lake Western200m
5thRondre AustionOak Park200m
6thSamson GashDetroit Catholic Central200m
7thAndrew WillemsenGrand Haven200m
8thJeremy DixonKalamazoo Central200m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stJaelyn MartinDetroit Cass Tech400m
2ndKinley PooleAnn Arbor Huron400m
3rdDemari CaldwellOak Park400m
4thRodney EndsleyWalled Lake Western400m
5thAhmad AmeenJackson400m
6thRondre AustionOak Park400m
7thBrody LeyendeckerByron Center400m
8thAydan MyersDetroit Cass Tech400m

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stWendell ChildsClarkston800m
2ndGreg MyersYpsilanti Lincoln800m
3rdRyan StojovNorthville800m
4thCollin McLaughlinRochester800m
5thAdam DickenCanton800m
6thCameron CochranMidland800m
7thMaddi DukeTemperance Bedford800m
8thRece GrezakNorthville800m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stLuka HammondGrand Haven1600m
2ndSamuel BakerKalamazoo Central1600m
3rdCaden LivermoreGrandville1600m
4thJackson LamKalamazoo Loy Norrix1600m
5thBen HartiganNorthville1600m
6thRyan StojovNorthville1600m
7thJack ChadwickPlymouth1600m
8thBen MussenPlymouth1600m
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stSeth ConnerJenison3200m
2ndKyle O’RourkeMilford3200m
3rdTaye LevensonBloomfield Hills3200m
4thBeckett CrooksAnn Arbor Pioneer3200m
5thKamari RonfeldtAnn Arbor Pioneer3200m
6thJack MacGregorHowell3200m
7thLuka HammondGrand Haven3200m
8thCaden LivermoreGrandville3200m

PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stWill Jaiden SmithBelleville110h
2ndSchmar GambleBelleville110h
3rdMichael WilkersonRochester Adams110h
4thTimothy PinardBelleville110h
5thKeaton HendricksZeeland West110h
6thMichael Piggee Jr.Muskegon110h
7thKayson LeggWalled Lake Western110h
8thMason DarkeMuskegon Reeths-Puffer110h
PlaceNameTeamEvent
1stWill Jaiden SmithBelleville300h
2ndAngelo Finnie Jr.West Bloomfield300h
3rdMason DarkeMuskegon Reeths-Puffer300h
4thCaleb WashingtonDetroit Catholic Central300h
5thAshton BrannAnn Arbor Huron300h
6thKeaton HendricksZeeland West300h
7thTimothy PinardBelleville300h
8thMichael WilkersonRochester Adams300h