GAYLORD ― The Otsego County Sports scene is becoming more well-known around Michigan thanks to teams like Gaylord football, Gaylord softball, JoBurg softball and so on. But still, many people know the Gaylord-area as one filled with distance-running talent.
Over the past few years, runners from Gaylord, St. Mary and Johannesburg-Lewiston have only cemented that reputation even further.
The 2024 track and field season was (fittingly) dominated by distance runners yet again, including the final runs for GSM's top female distance runner in school history, another all-state performance from one of Gaylord's rising stars and an individual state championship from JoBurg's junior leader.
Take a look back at the all-area performers from track and field in 2024:
Athlete of the Year
Allie Nowak, Junior, JoBurg
Events: 400m, 800m (D4 state champion), 1600m, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay
When JoBurg cross country won the school's first-ever team state championship back in 2022, then sophomore Allie Nowak played a critical role in the team's success. She placed third overall at the D4 state finals at Michigan International Speedway, helping her team achieve the ultimate goal of winning a state title.
This year, she did a little something for herself.
After winning a regional title in the 800-meter run on May 17, Nowak outdid herself at the D4 finals on June 1, setting a new personal best time of 2 minutes, 15 seconds while capturing the first individual female state championship in JoBurg history.
"When I ran (in 2022) at states, I was doing it for the team, I had the motivation of the team behind my back pushing me to my greatest performance. But today, I was doing it for myself, to prove to myself that I can run for myself too," said Nowak. "I got to celebrate both championships with my team too, which is what makes the sport of running so fun for me."
All-area first team
Katie Berkshire, sophomore, Gaylord
Gaylord's star distance runner was the Division 2 state runner-up in the 3200-meter race with a time of 10 minutes, 47 seconds while placing fifth in the 1600-meter with a personal best time of 5:00.76.
Ivy Roberts, sophomore, Gaylord
Sophomore Ivy Roberts was one of the best high jumpers in Division 2 this season, placing fourth at the D2 finals in Hamilton, Mich. after clearing a height of 5 feet, 3 inches.
Miriam Murrell, senior, St. Mary
An Oakland University signee, Murrell owns school records in the 800-meter (2 minutes, 30 seconds), the 1600-meter (5:29.11) and the 3200-meter (11.51.89) while making nine appearances at the MHSAA D4 state finals in her career (five in cross country, four in track and field).
Rylan Matelski, senior, St. Mary
A naturally gifted athlete, the future North Central Michigan College basketball player made himself known as a long jumper in a short period of time, making back-to-back state finals appearances while placing 12th at this year's D4 finals with a leap of 19 feet, 5 inches.
Blake Fox, senior, JoBurg
Fox wrapped a historic career at JoBurg by finishing in second place in the 800-meter run at the D4 finals in June, nearly giving JoBurg state champions in the male and female 800m.
Jeremiah Witt, junior, JoBurg
Witt made his second-straight appearance at the Division 4 finals in June, finishing 19th in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 47 seconds. He also ran the 3200-meter, 4x400-meter relay and 4x800-meter relay.
Madalyn Agren, senior, JoBurg
Another Oakland University signee, Agren wrapped her career at JoBurg with a seventh-place finish in the 3200-meter state finals race, clocking in a time of 11:30.54. She was also part of the 4x400-meter and 4x800-meter relay teams to make the state finals.
Nate Hummel, junior, JoBurg
Hummel was JoBurg's final state finals qualifier, placing 17th in the pole vault after clearing a height of 10 feet, 3 inches.
Second team
Malaki Gascho, JoBurg
Harlie Fox, JoBurg
Yolanda Gascho, JoBurg
Ella Moylan, Gaylord
Cirio Espositos, Gaylord
Connor Byram, Gaylord
Elijah Major, Gaylord St. Mary
Contact GHT Sports Editor Dylan Jespersen at Djespersen@gaylordheraldtimes.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @dylanjespersen, and Instagram, @dylanjespersen
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Allie Nowak is the Gaylord Herald Times Track Athlete of the Year; full all-area team
Most Popular
Comments / 0