Wildcat boys take 2nd overall in final O-K Gold track standings

The boys varsity track team finished third Saturday at the O-K Gold Conference meet at Houseman Field in Grand Rapids. With that finish the Wildcats were able to clinch second place overall in the conference standings.

Meanwhile, the Lady Wildcats track squad placed sixth with 17 points. South Christian won it with 154.

“I was extremely proud of all my athletes today and how hard they worked, said boys’ track team coach Marty Howard. “I think almost everyone had significant bests for the season and all that work paid off with a runner up in the O-K Gold.

Seven Wayland athletes were able to earn all-conference honors. They were:

• Carson Nieuwenhuis, who won the open 400-meter run for the third straight year with a time of 51.50 seconds.
• Perry Carter, Owen Glass, Jeremy Pletcher and  Nieuwenhuis in the 3200 Relay 8:21.83

• Macarty Carpenter, shot put, 45’11.25″

Earning all-conference accolades based on points scored were Lee Anderson (fourth in the 110 hurdles 16.93, fourth in 300 hurdles 44.06 and he ran a leg of the 400 and 800 relays which both placed fourth); and Justin Fleser (fourth in the 100 meters 11.62, second in 400 meters 51.69, 2nd in 200 meters 23.36 and he ran a leg of the third place 1600 relay).

Medalist for the girls’ team during the day included:

• Dav-Lynn Buttner: 7’6″, tied for third in the pole vault.
• Sydney Couturier, 4’9″, tied for third in the high jump.
• The 3200 relay team of Riley Shepherd, Haley Bilger, Anna Kidwell, and Sydney Couturier, third in 10:45.82.
Couturier only missed all-conference honors by one point.
Personal best performances on the day were turned in by McKenna Dutkiewicz in the discus (76’8″), Anna Kidwell  in the 300 hurdles Emily Isenhoff ran a 2:50 split on the way to a 5:57.64 in the 1600, Emma Kloosterman  in the 200, Metztli Cruz in the 800, Brooke Mulder in the 800, Makaila Huffman in the 400, Casey Haveman in the 400 and Brittany Ludwig in the long-jump.
Riley Shepherd had a full meet, what is called “Quad-fecta”, by competing in the 4 x 800, 1600, 800 and 3200, which amounts to four miles. Haley Bilger ran in all of the relays.

PHOTOS: Carson Nieuwenhuis

Perry Carter   Owen Glass and Jeremy Pletcher