Onaway's Mix, Santiago pace Daily Tribune's 2024 all-area boys track and field team

CHEBOYGAN – The Cheboygan area track and field season went by fast.

At the same time, we saw some excellent performances and plenty of state qualifiers from around the area.

To honor those who were impressive in 2024, here’s a look at the Daily Tribune’s all-area track and field squad, led by Onaway seniors Xavier Santiago and Jadin Mix, the Tribune’s co-athletes of the year.

LUCAS SIDLAUSKAS: Sidlauskas making his mark as elite thrower on Cheboygan boys track and field team

BELLA ECKER: ‘I’d be very happy’: Cheboygan high jumper Ecker still has shot at breaking school record

2024 Daily Tribune All-Area Boys Track and Field Team

Jadin Mix, Onaway, Senior (Co-athlete of the year) – Having a sensational senior year was Mix, who broke a 45-year-old Onaway school record in the 300 hurdles. In the same event, he finished fourth at the state finals and captured Ski Valley Conference and regional crowns. In addition, he was a key leg in some of Onaway’s successful sprint relay teams.

Xavier Santiago, Onaway, Senior (Co-athlete of the year) – After breaking Onaway’s school record in the high jump as a junior, Santiago jumped an incredible 6-10 during a meet this season. Santiago wrapped up his amazing high-jumping career in style, earning all-state honors with a fourth-place finish, and winning Ski Valley and regional titles.

Lucas Sidlauskas, Cheboygan, Junior – Earning numerous first places at meets this past spring was Sidlauskas, an outstanding thrower who captured a Straits Area Conference championship in the discus. Sidlauskas also qualified for the state finals in the discus after earning eighth at regionals.

Gabe Sabolsky, Cheboygan, Junior – One of the breakout seasons in the Cheboygan area came from Sabolsky, who took a huge step in the 400, winning the Straits Area crown. He was also a key performer in relays and the pole vault.

Sam Schoonmaker, Inland Lakes, Senior – Despite not competing in his normal high jump for much of the spring, the Inland Lakes senior thrived in the throwing events, qualifying for states in the discus. Thankfully for Schoonmaker, he returned to the high jump late in the campaign and qualified for the state finals.

VOTE FOR GIRLS AOTY: Vote for the Cheboygan Daily Tribune’s 2023-24 girls high school athlete of the year

MAYBANK QUALIFIES FOR US AM: Clutch birdie on 18 helps Cheboygan's PJ Maybank qualify for U.S. Amateur for first time

Jack Wilson, Inland Lakes, Junior – Another successful area athlete was Wilson, who won the regional title in the shot put and represented the Bulldogs at the state finals. Wilson used consistency in both throwing events to record an excellent campaign.

Laith Griffith, Pellston, Senior – The future Davenport University athlete finished off a solid Pellston career by winning Ski Valley titles in the 100 and 200, while also qualifying for states in the 200. Griffith also did his part as a member of some solid Pellston sprint relay teams.

Honorable Mention: Leland Steffen (Cheboygan), Evan Benson (Cheboygan), Leland Brendle (Cheboygan), Dylan Zinke (Inland Lakes), Tanner Howard (Inland Lakes), Jake Feagan (Inland Lakes), Brendon Brewbaker (Onaway), Levi Rigot (Onaway), Trenton Soik (Onaway), Brach Taylor (Pellston), Joshua Grondin (Pellston)

Contact sports editor Jared Greenleaf at jgreenleaf@gannett.com . Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @sportsCDT

This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Onaway's Mix, Santiago pace Daily Tribune's 2024 all-area boys track and field team