Grand Ledge's Katie Blue Claims Double Victory at State Track Finals

Katie Blue emerged as a standout athlete at the Division 1 state finals held at Rockford High School, securing two championships and playing a pivotal role in the Grand Ledge girls track team's impressive fifth-place finish. The Comets amassed a total of 25 points, narrowly edging out East Lansing, which finished seventh with 23 points.

Blue excelled by setting personal records in both the pole vault and the 300-meter hurdles. She cleared a height of 14 feet in the pole vault and clocked in at 43.14 seconds in the hurdles. The team's performance was further bolstered by Hailey Ellis, who achieved a fourth-place finish in the discus with a throw of 132-11.

East Lansing's Cayla Hawkins also shone brightly, clinching victory in the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 52.89 seconds. She contributed to her team's success as part of the 1,600-meter relay squad that secured third place, finishing in 3:55.84.

In Division 2, several local athletes made their mark at Hamilton High School. Christina Dixon from Haslett, Brady Rowe from Portland, and Logan Herrick from Corunna concluded their high school careers as state champions. Dixon won the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 55.69 seconds and placed seventh in the 200. Rowe also triumphed in the 400 meters, achieving a personal best of 47.9 seconds, while Herrick dominated the 300 hurdles with a time of 38.02 seconds.

Other notable performances included Gabriella Hufnagel from Owosso, who finished as the runner-up in the 300 hurdles, and Eaton Rapids sophomore Remie Ellis, who placed eighth in the 1,600 meters. On the boys' side, Eli Worthington from Owosso ranked fourth in both shot put and discus, while Duncan Palmer from Williamston took third in the 800 meters.

In Division 4, Fowler's girls team secured a fourth-place finish with 37 points, highlighted by Nadia Schafer's runner-up position in the pole vault. Maia Wieber and Leah Thelen also earned all-state finishes in the hurdles for Fowler. Morrice's Oliver Long captured the state title in shot put with a throw of 61 feet, marking his second consecutive championship in the event.

As the track season concludes, these performances showcase the exceptional talent and dedication of local athletes across various events.