The Scoop: Marion Humphrey Triples In Alabama At State

Michigan Has Big Weekend In Distance Events

Lansing Catholic's (MI) Olivia Theis had a huge 3200m win this weekend at the Shepherd Blue Jay Invitational. You may remember her third-place finish at Foot Locker Nationals last fall.

With the weather finally looking better, Michigan finally started to see some fast times roll in.

One big meet this weekend was the Golden Triangle Invitational. But the distance events, in particular, saw some of the top times in the nation on the boys side.

Ann Arbor Pioneer's (MI) Nick Foster had a big day, hitting sub-nine in the 3200m with a time of 8:54.80. His effort ranks him US No. 12, just behind Lehi's (UT) Ryan Raff. That time also places him fourth nationally in the junior class.

It's a huge PR for the junior as his previous best time was 9:17.76 from this same meet last year. And Foster now holds some of the top times in the state of Michigan in both the 1600m (4:08.16) and the 3200m.

In that same race, junior Alex Comerford, from Otsego (MI), ran 9:00.00 to place second.

Mike Smith Elite Boys 3200 Meters Finals
==============================================================================
     Athlete                   Yr Team                           Mark
==============================================================================
  1  Nick Foster                  Ann Arbor Track             8:54.80        
  2  Alex Comerford            11 Otsego                      9:00.00        
  3  Tom Oates                 12 Chelsea                     9:06.77        
  4  Shuaib Aljabaly           12 Coldwater                   9:12.58

Rockford's Cole Johnson also had a big day, going a US No. 17 effort and a Michigan No. 1 of 4:13.12 for the full mile, while Foster's Ann Arbor Pioneer teammate, Netunji Paige, won the 800m in 1:53.02 for US No. 25 and Michigan No. 1. In that same race, freshman Patrick Byrnes, of Plymouth, ran the second-fastest freshman time in the nation with a 1:56.62 to take fifth.

The Golden Triangle Invitational also produced a quick time in the girls mile, as Ann Arbor Pioneer's Anne Forsyth ran a new Michigan No. 1 time of 4:59.01.

Shepherd Blue Jay Invitational, the other big meet in the state meet, also had some stellar distance races that rocked the national girls 3200m rankings.

Taking the win in the 3200m in a new US No. 2 time of 10:03.95 was Lansing Catholic's (MI) Olivia Theis. You may remember Theis, a future Michigan Wolverine, from this past fall where she finished third at Foot Locker Nationals.

Taking second in the 3200m with a new US No. 3 time was Rockford's Ericka Vanderlende . The junior ran 10:05.01, which puts her at the top of the junior class.

Fellow junior Adelyn Ackley of Hart finished just behind Vanderlende in a US No. 7 time of 10:13.37.

Rounding out the top five was Theis' sister, Jaden, who ran 10:16.04 for US No. 11, and Waterford Mott junior Rylee Robinson, who ran 10:27.22 for US No. 31. All five times are some of the best 3200m performances in Michigan history.

Click the links below to see more from the Golden Triangle Invitational and other big Michigan meets this weekend.

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SHEPHERD BLUE JAY INVITE VARSITY GIRLS 3200 METER RUN FINALS

PLACE	ATHLETE		TEAM	RESULT	H#
1	Olivia Theis	12	Lansing Catholic	10:03.95	1
2	Ericka Vanderlende	11	Rockford	10:05.01	1
3	Adelyn Ackley	11	Hart	10:13.37	1
4	Jaden Theis	10	Lansing Catholic	10:16.04	1
5	Rylee Robinson	11	Waterford Mott	10:27.22	1