COMSTOCK PARK – For the first time since 1999, Dowagiac has a multiple state champion.

Junior Kaisha Martin duplicated the effort of April Saxton as she won a pair of Division 3 state track championships Saturday afternoon in Comstock Park.

Martin captured the long jump with a leap of 16-11, while she also won the 100-meters with a time of 12.24.

Martin helped Dowagiac finish seventh in the 400-meter relay with a time of 51.79. Also on that squad were Jacoya Brookins, Cierra Mattix and Andrea Bradshaw.

“We’ve seen Kaisha Mature over the past two years, and it really came together for her all season long,” Dowagiac coach Ken Jordan said. “Her focus and determination is second to no one. The 100-meter field was loaded and we knew it would take a great race to win. She was up to the challenge and her winning time was the second fastest girl time in the state, including all classes.

“Overall, it was a very successful meet for all. Nine of the 10 kids that we took earned All-State honors. Dontel Highsmith in the long jump and both relays, especially the boys, really stepped up,” he added.

Martin noted that neither medal meant more than the other, because “I put as much work into both of them,” she said on Sunday.

She also said that even though she had already locked up the long jump title, the pressure was still on for the 100-meters.

“I had to keep staying focused,” she said. “I am already thinking about what I can do next year. I want to do better next year because I am going to be in four events.”

The Chieftains finished sixth as a team with 22 points.

Frankenmuth was the team champion with 89 points, while Benzie Central was a distant second with 39 points. Allendale was third (38), Schoolcraft fourth (29.75) and St. Charles fifth (23).

The Dowagiac boys team finished with 10 points.

Vassar won the meet with 40 points. Frankenmuth was second (33), Allendale third (31), Albion fourth (25), Michigan Center and Kent City tied for fifth with 22 points. Berrien Springs finished seventh with 21 points.

Dowagiac placed third in the 400-meter relay with a time of 43.68 and Highsmith was fifth in the long jump with a leap of 21-3.75.

The relay team consisted of Troy Butcher, Jon Myers, Damone Huff and Austin Adams.

Division 3 State Track Finals
At Comstock Park
Girls’ results
Team Scoring
Frankenmuth 89; Benzie Central 39; Allendale 38; Schoolcraft 29.75; St. Charles 23; Dowagiac 22; Hanover-Horton 22; Berrien Springs 21; Kent City 20; Reed City 20; Michigan Center 18; Watervliet 18; Carrollton 17; Lansing Catholic 16; Saginaw Valley Lutheran 14; Shelby 14; Freeland 13; New Haven 12; Union City 11; Leroy Pine River 11; Lakeview 10.75; St. Louis 10; Bridgeport 10; Durand 10; Reese 10; Olivet 9; Hemlock 9; Portland 8; Gobles 8; Montague 7; Wyoming Kelloggsville 7; Bangor 6; Laingsburg 6; Jonesville 6; Erie-Mason 6; Grandville Calvin Christian 5; Hudson 5; Ithaca 5; Cass City 4.75; Suttons Bay 4; Grayling Vikings 4; Tawas 4; Delton Kellogg 4; Clinton 4; Manchester 4; Flint Hamady 4; Sanford-Meridian 3; Elk Rapids 3; Leslie 3; Onsted 3; Napoleon 3; Harrison 2; Jackson Lumen Christi 2; Clare 1; Gladwin 1; Harper Woods 1; Marlette 1
Long Jump – 1. Kaisha Martin, Dowagiac, 16-11; 2. Shawntoreah Turk, Carrollton, 16-9.75; 3. Andrea Finkbeiner, Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 16-5.75; 4. Rachel Hoffman, Shelby, 16-5.25; 5. Taylor Penzien, New Haven, 16-4.75; 6. Kelly Vandeusen, Elk Rapids, 16-4.25; 7. Alex King, Lakeview, 16-0.50; 8. Kelsey Bramer, Grandville Calvin Christian, 15-11.
100-Meter Dash – 1. Kaisha Martin, Dowagiac, 12.24; 2. Kelsey Ritter, Frankenmuth, 12.28; 3. Kelsie Williams, St. Charles, 12.29; 4. Carly Scott, Schoolcraft, 12.49; 5. Kimberly Balls, Bridgeport, 12.81; 6. Kayla Bender, Frankenmuth, 13.03; 7. Jazzmin Mcdonald, Wyoming Kelloggsville, 13.14; 8. Angel Williams, Harper Woods, 13.31.
400-Meter Relay – 1. Kent City, 50.58 (Dena Bliss, Hannah Miller, Katie Murphy, Suzy Stocking); 2. Schoolcraft, 50.63; 3. Frankenmuth, 51.12; 4. Saginaw Valley Lutheran, 51.52; 5. Grayling, 51.73; 6. Berrien Springs, 51.77; 7. Dowagiac, 51.79; 8. Marlette, 51.84.

Boys’ results
Team Scoring
Vassar 40; Frankenmuth 33; Allendale 31; Albion 25; Michigan Center 22; Kent City 22; Grandville Calvin Christian 20; Brooklyn Columbia Central 20; Durand 18; Union City 16; Reese 16; Jackson Lumen Christi 15; Whitmore Lake 15; Mason County Central 14.50; Bronson 14; Livonia Clarenceville 14; Freeland 13; Montrose 13; Benzie Central 13; Newaygo 12; Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central 11.50; Charlevoix 11; Erie-Mason 11; Suttons Bay 11; Saginaw Buena Vista 10; Madison Heights Bishop Foley 10; Napoleon 10; Leroy Pine River 10; Dowagiac 10; Bloomingdale 9.50; Lansing Catholic 9; Harrison 9; Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard 9; Clare 9; New Haven 8; Shepherd 8; Berrien Springs 8; Portland 7; Hillsdale 7; Reed City 6; Millington 6; Wyoming Kelloggsville 6; Lake Fenton 5; Harper Woods Chandler Park Academy 5; Flat Rock 5; Chesaning 5; Ovid-Elsie 5; Bridgeport 4; Saginaw Valley Lutheran 4; Hopkins 4; Ida 4; Schoolcraft 4; Buchanan 4; Stockbridge 3.50; Clawson 3; Detroit Communication Media Arts 3; Vandercook Lake 3; Elk Rapids 3; Parchment 3; Muskegon Oakridge 2; Flint Beecher 2; Lakeview 2; Marlette 2; Saginaw Nouvel 1; Allen Park Cabrini 1; Hanover-Horton 1; Perry 1
Long Jump – 1. Keif Vickers, Vassar, 21-10.25; 2. Anthony Myers, Bronson, 21-8; 3. Dion Mitchell, Albion, 21-7.75; 4. Joe Conner, Flat Rock, 21-5; 5. Dontel Highsmith, Dowagiac, 21-3.75; 6. Jawaun Thompson, Clawson, 20-10.50; 7. Dillon Wood, Lakeview, 20-9.50; 8. Maurice Nash, Benzie Central, 20-2.
400-Meter Relay – 1. Vassar, 43.25 (Madison Harper, Troy Hecht, Justin Locklear, Keif Vickers) (New L.P. Division 3 Finals Meet Record – Old Record – 43.28, Albion, 2008); 2. Jackson Lumen Christi, 43.35; 3. Dowagiac, 43.68; 4. Lansing Catholic, 44.08; 5. Albion, 44.18; 6. Reese, 44.25; 7. Muskegon Oakridge, 44.26; 8. Livonia Clarenceville, 44.48.