Edwardsburg girls win Division 2 regional title
Published 8:12 am Thursday, May 24, 2018
STURGIS — The Edwardsburg girls track team will head to the Division 2 state finals for the first time in 17 years.
Edwardsburg won the regional championship with 106 points to easily outdistance runner-up Three Rivers, which finished with 83 points at Sturgis Friday night.
Niles finished 11th and Dowagiac 12th.
“The regional championship was a thrilling culmination to a terrific track season for the girls and coaches,” said Edwardsburg coach Kevin Bartz. “The girls battled against strong competition all year from Otsego, Three Rivers and Vicksburg. We finished the dual meet season 9-0 in the Wolverine conference, with most meets run in the cold and rain. It was great to see them finish so strong in the regional meet. In the biggest meet of the season these girls were fearless and tenacious.”
Kaitlyn Zarycki had a huge night for the Eddies as she won the 100-meters with a time of 13.30 and the 400-meters with a time of 1:01.77.
Zarycki was also a member of the first-place 800-meter relay team that ran a time of 1:49.83. Also on that team were Alexa Markel, Jocelyn Hack and Alyssah Simmons.
Edwardsburg also won the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.
The squad of Markel, Alayah Calhoun, Hack and Elizabeth Jenkins were timed at 53.35 in winning the 400-meter relay, while Hack, Markel, Sophia Mick and Cameron Cleveland ran a time of 4:18.35.
The Eddies’ team of Chloe Bartz, Kara Shrider, Mick and Cleveland finished second in the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 10:11.18.
“It took some gutsy running and phenomenal performances to dominate the running portion of the meet,” Bartz said. “Cameron Cleveland, Kaitlyn Zaryick and Jocelyn Hack came up big in the open events. Kaitlyn won the 100- and 400-meter races, Joceylyn won the 200-meters and Cameron was first in the 800 and third in the 1,600. The relay teams were also outstanding as we won the 4×100, 4×200, 4×400 and finished second in the 4×800.”
Edwardsburg will compete in the MITCA team state meet hosted by Kenowa Hills Saturday.
“I am so proud of this group of girls,” Bartz said. “They have put in the time and effort it takes to achieve these accomplishments and are well deserving of the awards and recognition. I also want to thank the other coaches that have helped in the development of these young ladies throughout the season; distance coach Joe Piane, hurdles and relay coach Jon Pryor and throwers coach Andy Jordan.”