On Saturday, the West Ottawa Track Team’s State Final qualifiers will compete in the 2024 MHSAA LP Division 1 State Finals at East Kentwood High School. For West Ottawa, it has been a storybook season that has been filled with an abundance of success and plenty of excitement. With West Ottawa facing lofty expectations entering the State Finals, the Panthers will hope to end their unforgettable season in a remarkable way.

A large chunk of the excitement surrounding the West Ottawa Track Team has been a result of a new state record. On May 24, at the MITCA Division 1 Team State Meet, West Ottawa’s Charlie Sanders, Andrew Spilotro, Ruben Esparza, and Desmond Chapa set a new boys state record for the 4x100m relay. The boys completed the relay with an exceptional time of 41.11 seconds. In addition, those same boys are this season’s state leaders for the 4x200m relay, where they clocked in with a time of 1:25.99 on May 17. The boys will again be running in the 4x200m relay this Saturday at the State Final with a fair chance to take 1st place.

To no surprise, West Ottawa’s Helen Sachs ran with bullet-like speed every time she stepped on the track this season. In the 2024 season, the West Ottawa Junior ranks 3rd in the state for the 1600m (4:53.12) and 2nd in the state for the 3200m (10:20.08). Sachs was also part of the state-leading 4x800m relay team (Helen Sachs, Ella Wierks, Emma Gunnett, Collette Wierks) that finished the race with a headline-worthy time of 9:07.78. Sachs has been a catalyst for the Panthers all season and the State Finals should be no different. Expect nothing but low times and a spot on the podium from the West Ottawa star.

At the regional track meet, the West Ottawa Boys Track Team had six athletes qualify to compete at the 2024 MHSAA LP Division 1 State Finals. Altogether, the six boys will participate in a combined 5 events which include the 200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, 110m hurdles, and long jump.

At the same meet, the West Ottawa Girls Track Team qualified 10 athletes to take part in the 2024 MHSAA LP Division 1 State Finals. The athletes will perform in a grand total of 9 events that consist of the 400m, 800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, 4×400 meter relay, 4x800m relay, and long jump.

The MHSAA LP Division 1 State Final on Saturday will be the Panthers’ final meet of the season. With a whopping 16 athletes heading to the State Finals, the Panthers will surely put on a show.

West Ottawa Girls MHSAA LP Division 1 State Finals Qualifiers:

• Emma Gunnett (400m, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay)
• Helen Sachs (800m, 1600m, 3200m, 4x800m relay)
• Ella Wierks (800m, 4x200m relay, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay)
• Ava Porras (3200m, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay)
• Alyssa Danek (4x100m relay, 4x200m relay)
• Julia Frampton (4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, 4x400m relay)
• Victoria Tulloch (4x100m relay, 4x200m relay)
• Allinna Teav (4x100m relay, 4x200m relay, long jump)
• Collette Wierks (4x200m relay, 4x400m relay, 4x800m relay)
• Addie Birkholz (4x400m relay)

West Ottawa Boys MHSAA LP Division 1 State Finals Qualifiers:

• Desmond Chapa (200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay)
• Andrew Spilotro (200m, 4x100m relay, 4x200m relay)
• Charlie Sanders (4x100m relay, 4x200m relay)
• Ruben Esparza (200m, 4x10m relay, 4x200m relay)
• C.J. Traylor Jr. (110m hurdles)
• John Beetham (long jump)