East Jordan Invite

The Sault High Blue Devils track and field teams sent athletes to compete in the East Jordan Invitational on Thursday afternoon. Drawing 13 teams from all over northern lower Michigan, the Blue Devils had some strong performances, and both the girls and boys teams ended up with second place finishes among the bigger schools that were there competing. The top eight athletes in each event scored points for their teams. For some of the Blue Devils, it was their third meet in less than a week, yet they still managed to improve their times and distances, earning personal (PR) and seasonal (SR) records. Coach Becky Arbic noted the athletes’ determination. “I think we had solid performances all around, we had competed less than 48 hours earlier & were running on tired legs, I’m excited to see what our runners can do when they are rested & we get some warm weather.”

In the girls shot put, Annabelle Fazzari (33’10”) placed third and Thelma Osumili (29’8”) placed sixth. Calvin Aldrich (36’5”-PR) had an eighth place finish for the boys. Fazzari (92’2”) threw fourth in girls discus. Jordyn Giffin (4’5”-SR) and Gracie Akridge (4’2”) jumped seventh and eighth for the girls high jump. Isaac Niebuhr (5’6”) and Deacon Clement (5’6”) placed fourth and sixth respectively for the boys. Ayla Menard (7’6”-PR) vaulted third for the girls and Wyatt Peabody (10’-PR) earned sixth place for the boys. Tristan Walcher (19’2”-PR) jumped into fourth place in the boys long jump.

The Blue Devils had top four finishes in each of the four relays. In the girls 4×100, Abrianna Spencer, Grace Mayer, Giffin, and Bella Smith were runners up, with a time of 54.75. Peabody, Max VanDoren, Walcher and Javonte Bellamy finished second in the boys event, with a time of 46.14. Spencer, Steph Jones, Mayer and Smith were third in the girls 4×200 relay, with a time of 1:56.98. Ben James, Ian Southwell, VanDoren and Niebuhr finished third for the boys, with a time of 1:40.05. In the girls 4×400, Jones, Smith, Ava Mayer and Grace Mayer won the event with a time of 4:31.50. VanDoren, Evan Huyck, Owen Rice and Eli Hills won the boys 4×400 with a time of 3:40.88. Regan Sporte, Leighton Nyboer, Asia Jones and Steph Jones finished fourth in the girls 4×800 in 11:30.56. For the boys, Huyck, Adam Brandt, Chase Aldridge, and Hills were runners up with a time of 9:08.07.

Bellamy (11.41) keeps his streak alive, winning the boys 100m dash, with VanDoren (12.21-PR) coming in third. Smith (28.26) placed fourth in the girls 200m dash. G. Mayer (1:03.96) was fourth in the girls 400m dash, and Southwell (53.37-PR) won it for the boys. S. Jones (2:38-PR) placed sixth in the girls 800m run and Hills (2:05.67) and Huyck (2:06.27) placed third and fourth for the boys. Sporte (6:06.08-SR) finished fifth in the girls 1600m run. Gabe Litzner (4:31.23) won the boys race, and Aldridge (5:09.69-PR) placed sixth. Sporte (13:17-PR) and Nyboer (16:08.50) placed third and seventh in the girls 3200m run and Litzner (9:42.03) was the boys champion, with Hayden Preston (12:18.23) finishing eighth.

Fazzari (17.20) was runner up in the girls 100m high hurdles, and A. Mayer (19.38) placed sixth. Niebuhr (17.79) came in eighth place in a competitive boys 110m high hurdles race. Fazzari (53.73), A. Mayer (54.40) and Raelene Corbiere (57.13-PR) placed second, third and sixth in the girls 300m low hurdles. Isaac Peabody (1:03.08) placed eighth for the boys.

Boys Coach Jim Martin noted the team’s performance. “Even though it was our 3rd meet in 6 days we still had nearly 20 Personal bests. Really proud of the kids for pushing through what was a very difficult stretch. We hope it will pay dividends at Regionals next Friday in Escanaba. But they just keep working hard and they get better every week. And let’s face it, not one kid has to be out there in all kinds of weather and discomfort. All volunteers who want to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

After a weekend to recover, the teams will head to Inland Lakes on Monday to compete in the Varsity Bulldog Invite.