GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – With more than 175 scholar-athletes representing 17 schools across the district, the middle school track and field program is having a standout year. After strong performances throughout the regular season, both teams are heading into postseason competition with momentum.
The girls’ team earned an impressive 5-1 record in dual meets, while the boys’ team closed out the regular season at 4-2. In field events and on the track, nearly every athlete earned at least one personal record (PR) this season.
“Under the direction of our GRPS coaching staff, we have seen numerous personal bests at every meet so far,” said Brodie Larson, Middle School Athletics Coordinator. “We look forward to many more in the meets ahead.”
Postseason Competition
With the regular season behind them, the coaches turn their focus to a series of postseason competitions, which require athletes to earn qualifying times or scores to participate. Both the girls’ and boys’ teams are scheduled to compete in the following postseason events:
- MHSAA Regionals – Saturday, May 10 at Houseman Field (hosted by GRPS)
- Middle School Conference Meet – Wednesday, May 14 at Hudsonville Eagles Stadium
- West Michigan Middle School Track and Field Championships – Thursday, May 22 at Grand Rapids Christian High School (hosted by GRPS)
- MEGASTAR Invitational – Wednesday, May 28 at Lowell High School
These qualifying meets will offer GRPS track and field athletes an opportunity to build on their progress and earn recognition against the top talent in the area. In total, more than 40 GRPS athletes have qualified for postseason competition.
Boys’ Team Qualifiers:
- William Alfonso – 4x800m relay
- Jamal Butler – shotput, high jump, long jump
- River Devries – 70m, 100m, 4x100m relay
- Takari Dukes – 55m hurdles
- Joshua Escot-Montes – 400m, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay (alternate)
- Chance Hammingh – 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay
- Nasir Harbin – 400m, 4x200m relay, 4x400m relay
- Caden Harris – 70m, 55m hurdles, 200m hurdles
- Cormac Jacques – 1600m, 4x800m relay
- Judah McCarthy – 3200m
- Lucas Mueller – 800m, 1600m, 4x400m relay (alternate), 4x800m relay
- Demetrius Munn – 100m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay (alternate)
- Bryzon Reeder – 200m hurdles
- Abel Rogers – long jump
- Kingsley Saltsman – 800m, 4x800m relay
- Rashod Shropshire – 70m, 4x100m relay (alternate)
- Calvin Sumners – 3200m
- Jasiah Wallace – 4x400m relay
- Theo Weston – 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay
- Kamari Witherspoon – 70m, 4x200m relay
- Peter Wu – 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay (alternate)
Girls’ Team Qualifiers:
- Faith Autry – long jump
- A’lia Diamond – 70m, 200m, 4x200m relay
- Qua’Nya Dillard – shotput
- Emmerson Gregory – 1600m, 4x800m relay
- Saraiya Gross – shotput
- Lenora Hinchee – 400m, 4x400m relay
- Mari’onna Hines – 200m hurdles, 4x100m (alternate), 4x200m relay (alternate), 4x400m relay (alternate)
- Avery Irwin – 800m, 3200m, 4x800m relay
- Ja’Kyla Kelley-Brown – 70m, 100m, 4x100m relay
- Ki’Mylah Mayfield-Collins – 4x400m relay
- Shashamane McGregor – 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay
- Gabriella Minter – 100m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay (alternate)
- Jazelle Moore – 4x100m relay (alternate)
- Zona Morris – 4x800m relay
- Savannah Nicholson – 4x200m relay (alternate)
- Saraya Pearson – 55m hurdles, 200m hurdles, 4x200m relay
- Namiah Peters – 55m hurdles
- Stefanie Merida Robles – 800m, 1600m, 4x800m relay (alternate)
- Anika Sherman – 55m hurdles, 200m hurdles, 4x400m relay
- Jakyya Stanley – long jump
- Jasmyne Trevino – 4x800m relay
- DeAndra Waddell – 4x100m relay (alternate)
- Dakota Williams – 400m, 4x400m relay
- Jayde Williams – 4x200m relay, 4x400m relay
- Eris Young – 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay
State and National Rankings
In addition to earning bids to West Michigan qualifying events, a handful of runners have earned state and national recognition. Following the completion of the regular season schedule, five GRPS girls are currently ranked in the state and nation for their events.
State Top 10 Rankings:
- 1st, 55m Hurdles – Saraya Pearson
- 1st, 70m Dash – A’lia Diamond
- 1st, 200m Hurdles – Zymiah Green
- 1st, 4x100m Relay – Ja’Kyla Kelley-Brown, Eris Young, A’lia Diamond, and Saraya Pearson
- 1st, 4x200m Relay – Ja’Kyla Kelley-Brown, Eris Young, A’lia Diamond, and Saraya Pearson
- 2nd, 100m Dash – Saraya Pearson
- 2nd, 200m Dash – Saraya Pearson
- 2nd, 200m Hurdles – Saraya Pearson
- 7th, 100m Dash - Eris Young
- 10th, 70m Dash – Eris Young
National Top 10 Rankings:
- 5th, 4x100m Relay – Ja’Kyla Kelley-Brown, Eris Young, A’lia Diamond, and Saraya Pearson
- 7th, 200m Hurdles – Zymiah Green
- 9th, 200m Hurdles – Saraya Pearson
- 9th, 4x200m Relay – Ja’Kyla Kelley-Brown, Eris Young, A’lia Diamond, and Saraya Pearson
Finishing Strong
With so many strong performances already, the expectations are high for postseason competition.
“We have a few runners ranked in the state and in the nation, and we have even more athletes who are top performers in the Grand Rapids area,” Larson said. “With so many talented athletes on the girls’ and boys’ sides, I anticipate success during the post season.”
GRPS has a history of producing strong track and field teams. This year’s middle school program is carrying on that tradition.
