St. Mary Catholic Central Boys Capture State Track Championship

KENT CITY – The journey home was a memorable one for St. Mary Catholic Central coach Roman Smith, who rode alongside the championship trophy secured with a seatbelt. “I had to,” he remarked, acknowledging its significance. “It’s very valuable.”

The Falcons secured the title with a total of 39 points, outpacing Elk Rapids by seven points. Smith described the event as “an incredible day,” reflecting on the success of numerous athletes from the Monroe County Region during the Division 3 state track and field finals.

Highlighting the achievements, Erie Mason’s Giuliana Nastale successfully defended her state titles in both the 100 and 200 meters, while Julia Hughes from Ida also repeated her victory in the high hurdles. Additionally, Olivia Beaudrie from SMCC's girls team triumphed in the high jump.

This victory marks SMCC’s first state title since Whiteford’s win in 2007, making them the eighth team from the Monroe County Region to earn such a distinction in track and field. Smith had noted a month prior that the potential for success seemed promising based on the team’s top-seeded relays, although not all points were secured as hoped.

Despite a few setbacks, the Falcons excelled in several events. The 400-meter relay team, comprising Cole Reinhardt, Gavin Swartout, Vince Harris, and Brady Reinhardt, defended their seed and set a new Division 3 state record with a time of 42.2 seconds. Swartout, who was initially seeded 23rd, delivered a remarkable performance, finishing third with a personal best of 10.82 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

Christian Craanen contributed significantly to the team’s score, securing second place in the 3,200 meters and third in the 1,600 meters, both of which were personal bests. His impressive performances were aided by a strategic decision to hold him back from competing in the 3,200 relay to ensure he was fresh for his individual events.

Overall, this day was a celebration for the athletes, their families, and the community, a sentiment echoed by Smith, who praised the efforts of everyone involved.