By By AUTUMN GRAYSON / Niles Daily Star
ST. JOSEPH – The Niles girls' and boys' track teams each produced a first place finish in one event Friday at the Big 16 SMAC Championships.
The top eight finishers in each event received a medal and All-Conference honors.
The girls' team placed eighth overall with 39.43 points. Sturgis won the championship with 117 points as the boys finished with 51.50 points and 13th overall out of the 15 competing teams.
Niles continued its dominance in the 3,200-meter relay, winning with a time of 10:09. The team of Autumn Grayson, Liz VandenHeede, Gabie Ezell and Madie Rodts are almost within reach of the 10:04.2 state qualifying time.
"I was so happy and proud of our 3,200-meter relay for capturing first place in the Big 16. This is a huge accomplishment for our team as well as for the relay team," said Niles girls' coach Jami Foster. "They have worked extremely hard the entire season. They continue to improve their splits and should be seeded in the top two if not first for regionals this Friday."
Rodts and Grayson also competed in the 800-meter run. Rodts posted a season-best time of 2:29.31 to earn second place. Grayson finished in fourth place, running a time of 2:32.22.
Another season-best was also achieved by Kaylynn Stephenson in the long jump. She leaped 15-feet-8 to end in fifth place to earn All-Conference honors.
The Lady Vikes were also successful in the shot put and discus events Friday.
"Baysia Cox is right where Coach Jones (throws coach) would like her at this time of the year. Coach Jones has done a tremendous job with preparing Baysia for state. She too will have a great opportunity to make it to the state track meet this year," Foster said.
Cox took third place in both events, posting a 101-foot toss in discus and a 35-4 throw in the shot put.
Field events were the key for the boys' team on Friday.
David Davis dominated the pole vault event for the boys' team, capturing first place as he vaulted 12-6.
Kenyon Ellison took All-Conference honors in the shot put, throwing a distance of 47-0.5.
Justin Potthoff earned a fourth place finish at the meet, long jumping a leap of 20-4.
Both teams return to the track tonight for the final regular-season meet at home against Coloma.
The duel meet is set to begin at 4:30 p.m., with the Senior Night ceremony preceding the meet at 4 p.m.