By John Vrancic
For the Newberry News
The Newberry girls were in the title hunt but came up a little short in the Web Morrison Invitational track and field meet in Pickford Saturday.
Pickford girls were crowned champion with 138 points with the Lady Indians edging St. Ignace 119-114 for runner-up honors. They were followed by Brimley 100, Rudyard 25, Cedarville-DeTour 23 and Mackinac Island five.
“We were right there,” Newberry coach Cori Canfield said. “The field events didn’t go the way we planned, but we had PRs (personal records) in some of the other events. Overall, we did real well. We have a strong senior class and lot of good freshmen, which gives us hope for the future.”
The Pickford boys also won at 203, followed by Newberry 83, Brimley 75, Rudyard 68, Cedarville-DeTour 52, St. Ignace 44 and Mackinac Island zero.
“We’ve only been on the track 5-6 times,” Indians’ coach Rob Schultz said. “We were missing some guys today. We have a couple injuries and few other guys weren’t here due to other obligations. Hopefully, we’ll be at full strength soon and get things going for (Division 3) regionals.”
Newberry senior Adanne Nwose won the girls’ 100-meter dash in 13.24 seconds and 200m (28.92) and placed second in the 100m hurdles (18.69) and sixth in long jump at 12 feet, 5 1/2 inches on this sunny and seasonably cool day.
Classmate Makennah Russell took third in the 100m (13.91) and 200m (30.24) and helped the Indians place third in the 400m (1:01.47) and 800m relays (2:06.72).
Newberry sophomore Abby Taylor placed second in the 400m (1:09.6), 800 (2:41.01) and helped the winning 1600m (4:47.52) and 3200 relays (11:16.25).
Junior Samantha Taylor was also part of the winning relays and runner-up in the open 1600 (5:31.77) and 3200 (11:52.25).
Joining the Taylor girls in the 1600 relay were freshmen Meah Derusha and Sydney Duflo.
Duflo also ran in the 3200 relay as did senior Ivana Kopková.
Freshman Gracie Johnson, also part of the 800m relay, took fourth in the 100m hurdles (20.51) and fifth in the 300m (1:01.18).
Also part of the sprint relays were sophomore Ari Cornell and freshmen Blair Maki and Saejyn Russom in the 400 and Cornell and Kopková in the 800.
Sophomore Natalie Whalen took fourth in shot put (27-4 1/4) and senior Alazayah Depew was sixth (26-3). Duflo added a sixth in the 400 (1:16.7).
Senior Matthew Rahilly won boys’ long jump (18-11 1/2) and was runner-up in the 100m (12.13) and 200m (25.48) and fifth in high jump (5-4).
“Matt heads up our jumping crew,” Schultz said. “We anticipate him carrying us as we head toward the regional (May 14 at St. Ignace).”
Senior Ethan Pavey provided the Indians with a victory in shot put (40-10) and took sixth in discus (93-3).
Junior Garrett Lewicki finished runner-up in the 800m (2:17.03) and helped the Indians take the 1600m relay (4:00.08).
Senior Sam Rahilly also helped the winning relay and placed third in the 1600m (5:17.89) and fourth in the 800 (2:21.82).
Also part of the 1600m relay were sophomore Logan Thiele and freshman Colter Kitzman.
Junior Kellen Bruno placed fourth in the 3200m (12:06.54) and freshman Grant Lewicki took fifth in the 1600m (5:30.77).
Kitzman added a fourth in the 300m hurdles (51.28) and Thiele was sixth in high jump (5-4).
The Indians resume in Thursday’s Rapid River Invitational before visiting Engadine for the Frank Formolo Invite May 6.
