Sault Boys Win Eskymos Invitational; Litzner Sets New Records

In an exciting battle with the Houghton Gremlins, the Sault High Blue Devils Varsity Boys Track and Field team managed to secure their spot at the top of the leaderboard, winning their second invitational in a row. In a field of fourteen teams, the Sault earned 131 points over Houghton with 110.5 and Gladstone with 48. The top six placers in each event earned points for their team, and the Sault boys had 15/17 events where they scored. Despite the disrespectful weather, a number of athletes earned both personal (PR) and seasonal (SR) records in their events. 

Sprinter Javonte Bellamy won both the 100m (11.82) and 200m (24.30-PR) dashes, and Dean Roe placed fourth in the 200 (25.63). Ian Southwell won the 400m dash (54.25-PR) and Caleb Klier placed third (54.96-PR). Eli Hills (2:09.70) and Evan Huyck (2:10.44-PR) placed third and fourth in the 800m run. Shea Armstrong won the 3200m run (10:41.03).

In the 110m high hurdles, Isaac Niebuhr placed second (18.18), Wyatt Peabody placed fourth (19.17) and Owen Rice placed sixth (19.82). Niebuhr and Rice placed second (44.53) and third (44.59-SR) in the 300m low hurdles. 

Roe, Landon Ryckeghem, Max VanDoren, and Bellamy placed third in the 4×100 relay (46.70). Roe, VanDoren, Peabody and Klier finished fourth in the 4×200 relay (1:40.53). VanDoren, Southwell, Rice and Klier were the 4×400 relay champions (3:42.43). Chase Aldridge, Armstrong, Huyck and Hills were runners up in the 4×800 (9:05.85).

Brady Ditmyer was runner up in shot put (45’3.25”-PR) and placed sixth in discus (116’8”-PR). Peabody pole vaulted into sixth place (9’6”) and Tristan Walcher had a third place finish in the long jump (19’0.5”). 

In the adaptive events, Johnny Osborn competed in the 100m (25.77), 200m (43.59) and 400m (1:23.20-PR) races. He also competed in shot put (18’9”).

The boys head coach Jim Martin was thrilled with the outcome. “Congratulations to all who competed in this meet on a job well done!”

The Sault High girls team also had a good showing on the day, with athletes scoring in 14/17 events. Gladstone won the girls competition with 115 points, the Sault was second with 71.75, and Houghton came in third with 68.75 points. 

Sprinter Bella Smith placed fifth in the 100m dash (14.49) and fourth in the 200m (28.98). Grace Mayer finished third in the 400m dash (1:06.75) and Stephanie Jones placed fourth in the 800m run (2:46.57). Regan Sporte placed fifth in the 1600m run (6:13.80) and fourth in the 3200m run (13:47.66). Annabelle Fazzari won the 100m high hurdles (17.82). 

The 4×100 relay team of Abrianna Spencer, Mayer, Alex Balyeat and Smith finished second (55.09). Spencer, Jones, Mayer and Smith also placed second in the 4×200 (1:55.25). Jones, Addyson Labadie, Ava Mayer and Mayer had a fourth place finish in the 4×400 (4:47.91) and Sporte, Asia Jones, Nicole Perez and Jones placed fourth in the 4×800 (11:35.45).

Fazzari threw third (32’3”) in the shot put and Thelma Osumili placed sixth (28’2”). Fazzari was runner up in the discus (89’6”-PR) and Jordyn Giffen had a fifth place finish in high jump (4’3”). 

Head Coach of the girls team, Scott Menard praised the teams’ efforts. “I thought both teams performed well in the poor weather. The girls were missing a few athletes, but still did an admirable job placing second to a strong Gladstone team in a very competitive field. The boys continue to get stronger as the season progresses.”

Distance runner Gabe Litzner competed in the elite division of the 3200 meter run at the Shepard Invite this past weekend. He finished in seventh place, and set a new school record of 9:14.18. The weekend before, Gabe ran in the Barnyard Elite Mile and ran it in a time of 4:18.04, setting a new record in that event as well. Both school records are ones previously held by Litzner. With a month left in the season, both Martin and Menard anticipate continued success from this young man. 

Members from both teams will head to Northern Lower Michigan this week to compete in the rescheduled Boyne City Invitational on Tuesday.