GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – Grand Rapids Public Schools athletes capped off successful seasons by competing against the state's best at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 1 Track and Field State Finals on May 30 in Rockford.
The Ottawa Hills girls team was led by senior standout Saraya Pearson, who earned two All-State honors. Pearson placed third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.68 seconds, earning her first All-State recognition. She also helped the Bengals' 4x100-meter relay team secure All-State honors with a seventh-place finish. Joining Pearson on the relay team were Ja'Kayla Kelly-Brown, Myla Varnado and Adeleine DeRoo. The quartet finished in 48.84 seconds.
Ottawa Hills also qualified a 4x200-meter relay team for the state finals. Kelly-Brown, DeRoo, Talia Pearson and Saraya Pearson finished 15th in the event.
The Ottawa Hills boys team also sent several athletes to the state meet. Christopher Cole placed 17th in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.00 seconds and 20th in the 200-meter dash in 22.31 seconds. Abdi Abdalla finished 13th in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.04 seconds, while Zayvion Pigee placed 21st in the 400-meter dash in 51.26 seconds.
In relay competition, the 4x200-meter team of Pigee, Abdalla, Timothy McDole and Fred McClendon finished 28th. The 4x400-meter relay team of Pigee, Dominik Ladomato-Fisher, McDole and McClendon placed 21st.
Union High School was represented by junior Lily Salacina, who qualified for the state finals in the long jump. Salacina finished 25th in the event.
