MCC track teams compete at West Michigan All-Star Meet

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas.

FRUITPORT — The Mason County Central girls and boys track and field teams competed Tuesday in the West Michigan All-Star Meet at Fruitport, an elite event featuring many of the top athletes from across the lakeshore region ahead of the MHSAA state finals.

For the Lady Spartans, Maylan Sanders led the way with podium finishes in both hurdle events. Sanders placed third in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.81 seconds and finished runner-up in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-record time of 45.31.

Faith Hawke continued her strong season in the throwing events, placing third in the discus with a toss of 116 feet, 7 inches, and fourth in the shot put at 32-4.5.

Nevaeh Battice recorded a personal-best time of 2:29.11 in the 800-meter run, finishing ninth in a competitive field.

MCC’s 4×400 relay team of Madelyn Sterley, Raelyn Wilson, Battice and Sanders earned third place with a season-best time of 4:17.12. The 4×800 relay team of Battice, Sterley, Sophia Quick and Wilson placed sixth in 11:01.92.

“The All-Star meet is a great barometer for where we stand against the best in the region,” MCC girls coach Jacob Boone said. “Athletes like Nevaeh and Maylan hitting personal records against this level of competition is exactly what you want to see with the state finals just days away. We are right where we want to be as we head to Kent City next Saturday.”

The Lady Spartans will conclude their season Saturday, May 30, at the MHSAA Division 3 State Finals at Kent City High School. Sanders will compete in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles, Hawke in discus, along with the 4×400 relay team.

For the MCC boys team, Jackson Poll turned in a strong performance in the hurdles, finishing second in the 110 hurdles in 15.48 and third in the 300 hurdles in 41.44.

Desmond Thomas placed fourth in the discus with a throw of 133-10, while Eli Smith took fifth in the long jump with a leap of 20-5.5.

The 4×200 relay team of Kolby Kessell, Jayden Reams, Caleb Bennetts and Poll placed fifth in 1:36.32.

“We performed very well versus really good competition,” MCC boys coach Patrick Nelson said. “It was good for our state meet athletes Jackson Poll and Eli Smith to get in one more competition before the state meet and a good way for our athletes that didn’t qualify for state to end the season on a good note.”

Full results can be found here