Both the Hopkins High School boys’ and girls’ track teams emerged as conference champions Friday in the O-K Silver meet at Fruitport.
It was somewhat of a surprise for the guys, who suffered one dual meet defeat earlier this season against Belding. The Vikings scored 139.5 points to Belding’s 133.
The Lady Vikings had a safer sailing route ro the title, outpointing host Fruitport in the eight-team field, 185 to 142.
Junior Kellen Ford took first place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.27 seconds. He also crossed the finish line first in the 200 with a time of 22.75 seconds.
Then came freshman Kash Moored, who placed fourth in the 800 and fifth in the 1600. He was right behind Jack Estelle in the latter race. Estelle went 10:03.06 in the 3200, finishing third.
Junior Clayton Kerber claimed first in the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.6 seconds. He doubled his fun on the day by winning the 300-meter hurdles in 40.92 seconds.
The Vikings’ best effort in the boys’ relays was in the 3200 with the quartet of Kash Moored, Grady Johnston, Noah Gibson and Estelle, who captured second place.
Senior Joshua Maule was fifth in the discs and seventh in the shot put.
Freshman sensation Luke Klinge was ahad of all the rest in the pole vault by clearing 12-0.
Sophomore Parker Warners took second in then long jump with a leap of 20-7.
As stated earlier, the Lady Vikings had less difficulty in taking all the marbles.
Riley Homrich dominated the springs as usual, Taking first in the 100 in 12.71 seconds. Teammate Ellarie Baugh was fourth. She was first in the 200 in 26:97 and Navaya Ingle was fifth. Ingle then was second in the 400 and Ava VanderVeen took fifth.
Sophomore Lillian Dewey finished third in the 800 and she was third in the 1600.
Kambria Moored was runner-up in the 100-meter high hurdles in 15.92 seconds. She and Andrea Brower went 1-2 in the 300-meter hurdles with times of 47.67 and 49.83 seconds, respectively.
Moored joined the foursome of Annika Ford, Ellarie Baugh and Riley Homrich, which won then 400-meter relay in 50.85 seconds. The 800 quartet was edged by Godwin as they turned in a time of 1:49.16 with VanderVeen, Ford, Ingle and Homrich. Brower, Moored, Ingle and VanderVeen hooked up to win the 1600 relay in 4:22.4. The 3200 relay turned in their best time this year and finished third with a time of Myah Duimstra, Tuesday Stevens, Peyton Harshberger and Lillian Dewey.
Sophomore Keilah Bonga surprised no one by winning the shot put at 30-0. She also won the discus at 117.75. Leah Schumaker was third.
Peyton Harshberger was second in the high jump. Ellarie Baugh squeaked into second in the pole vault at 8-0 and she won the long jump at 16-4.
COVER PHOTO: Freshman Luke Klinge soars over the bar at 12-0 in the pole vault.
