By By AUTUMN GRAYSON / Niles Daily Star
STURGIS – Six Niles athletes ran, threw and vaulted their way past the state qualifying marks Friday night to earn their spots at the MHSAA Division 2 state finals.
The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the state meet along with any other competitors who meet the qualifying standards.
The Vikings' 3,200-meter relay team will be making its second straight appearance at the finals as they became back-to-back regional champions.
Liz VandenHeede, Gabie Ezell, Madie Rodts and Autumn Grayson combined for a 9:58.4 finish, which was well below the 10:04 qualifying time. The closest team to Niles was Sturgis, which finished one second under the state standard. Rodts and Grayson are the only two returning runners from last year's relay team, which went on to place 11th at the state meet.
Rodts will have double duty at the state finals as she also qualified in the 800-meter run. Her 2:24.5 time was not only a personal best, but one second below the qualifying time. Rodts finished in second place at the regional meet.
Also competing in the state meet for the Lady Vikes will be Baysia Cox. Cox finished third in the shot put event, meeting the state criteria on her last attempt. She passed the standards by throwing a distance of 35-feet-3, which is three inches farther than needed to qualify.
David Davis is the lone Viking to qualify for state on Niles' boys' team. Davis, last season's pole vault regional champion, cleared 12-8 to close in on a second place finish this year.
The Division II MHSAA state track and field finals will be held in Zeeland on May 31st.