Local athletes shine at state meet
ZEELAND — Rain and thunderstorms made it a long day for track and field competitors at various state final sites.
The events were running an average of four hours behind due to numerous delays.
At the Division 2 meet in Zeeland, Edwardsburg’s Luke Stowasser turned in the best effort among the six schools Leader Publications covers with a runner-up finish in the Division 2 high jump.
Stowasser cleared 6-5 to finish one in behind Parma Western’s Matt Veneziano, who cleared 6-6.
Niles’ Jordan Brown finished third in the 400 and fifth in the 200 meters with times of 49.57 and 22.70 respectively.
Stowasser and Brown both earned Division 2 All-State honors with their top eight finishes.
Niles’ Morgan Warren finished 11th in the shot put with a toss of 36-5. Marika Ruppart was 10th in the high jump with a leap of 4-11. Austin Brookins finished 15th in the long jump with a mark of 19-8.
Niles’ Kaylee Thompson was 17th in the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:20.57.
Dowagiac’s Shawn Little placed 12th in the 1,600 meters and 13th in the 3,200 meters.
Division 3
At Jenison, Brandywine’s Jaden Croom earned All-State with his eighth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 20-6.5.
Brycen Duffield placed 16th in the discus with a toss of 138-4.
Buchanan’s Claire Lietz, a freshman, earned All-State with a fifth-place finish in the pole vault after clearing 9-6.
The Bucks’ Walker Barz finished 14th in the 3,200 meters with a time of 10:33.58.
