The official season ended with the boys placing 5^th , with 26 points, at the MHSAA Finals meet.  It was hot and windy.  Upper 80s, 90s on the track.  12-17 mph head wind on the homestretch.

It was a bittersweet ending to the season as the program bids goodbye to Nathan Walker.  He ended his career in style with a double state championship winning both the 1600 and 3200 runs.  Conor Somers placed 3^rd in the 3200 to add to the team score.

This was a great display of championship racing.  In the 1600 Nathan controlled the pace from the front as the pack differed to his lead.  He was able to run a controlled pace towing the pack along  through the first 1400 when Jack Pennewell of St. Clair made an aggressive move around the final turn to take the lead.  Nathan responded to the move following in Pennewell’s wake before slingshoting past in the final 100 to win in 4:16.12.  Then it was a quick trip to the van with max AC going to try to cool off.  In the 3200 Nathan controlled the pace from the middle of the pack.  Everyone was expecting to Nathan to take the pace but he held back forcing others to lead.  Conor ran right on Nathan’s shoulder just off the front of the lead pack of 9 athletes.  The top 8 are All-State.  As the athletes moved through the middle phase of the race there were a couple of lead changes, with Conor and Nathan staying in contact with the lead.  With 800 to go the pace began to quicken, but the pack stayed together.  At 600 to go Nathan moved into the lead, gapping the field with Collin Mulder of Otsego and Ben Clason of Forest Hills Eastern.  Conor was at the front of the second pack and fought his way back to the front 3 by 400 to go.  At 200 to go Mulder made a huge move to take the lead and pull Nathan away from Conor and Clason.  Again, with 100 to go, Nathan moved into the lead to pull away to win his second State Title of the day in 9:34.30.  Conor finished strong passing Clason around the curve to finish 3^rd in 9:40.07. 

It was a great day, and I am very proud of the way the guys handled the heat and their race plans.

State Champion – Nathan Walker – 1600 and 3200

All-State – Conor Somers – 3200

Academic All-State – Nathan Walker and Conor Somers

Full results can be found here - https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=387455&show=all

Coach