West Ottawa’s track teams competed at regionals in Grand Haven on Friday. WO had 4 relays and 7 individual athletes qualify for the MHSAA finals June 4 at Rockford. Athletes can qualify for the state track finals at regionals by either placing in the top two or hitting the additional qualifier standard. 

Sr. Natalie Blake won the pole vault with a school-record jump of 13-00. Sr. Kayla Hintz placed third, and hit the additional qualifying standard with a jump of 10-09. Blake has the second highest vault in the state. Hintz is part of a six way tie for the 5th best jump in the state.

Sr. Isaac Easter qualified by placing second in the 300m hurdles with a time of 40.06. He also placed third in long jump, but hit the additional qualifying standard with his mark of 22-02. Easter’s best marks put him at 9th and 10th in the 300m hurdles and long jump, respectively. 

Sr. Sophie Bonnema placed third in the 800 and ran 2:16.89 to run under the additional qualifier mark. Sr. Carston Cole placed second in the 3200m run with a time of 9:34.25. Jr. Arianne Olson and Fr. Helen Sachs went 1-2 in both the 1600m and 3200m. Olson’s and Sachs’ best 3200m times are first and third in Division 1, respectively. Sachs and Olson have the 2nd and 5th 1600m times in Division 1, respectively.

Soph. Bryce Buckner, Jr. Allen Payne Jr, Fr. Ruben Esparza, and Sr. Tyler Postma placed 2nd in the 4x200m. 

Sr. Isaac Easter, Soph. Aaro Tikkanen, Fr. Ruben Esparza, and Sr. Tyler Postma placed 3rd in the 4x400m relay, and hit the additional qualifying standard. The 4×400 relay has the 9th best time in Division 1. 

Blake, Olson, Sr. Sophie Bonnema, and Jr.. Megan Postma placed 2nd in the 4x400m relay. Sr. Kaia Denhof, Postma, Sachs, and Olson won the 4x800m relay. WO’s best 4x800m performance ranks 2nd in Division 1.

  Many of these qualifiers could earn all-state standing by placing in the top eight of their event in two weeks.