Lakes girls finish as runner-up at U.P. Finals track

Kwynn Voskuhl of L’Anse runs the opening leg of the Division 3 girls 800-meter relay at the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in track and field held Saturday in Kingsford. The Purple Hornets’ quartet, which also included Sylvia Allen, Princess Pierre and Breyelle Bowers, finished runner-up. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)
KINGSFORD — Lake Linden-Hubbell senior Emily Jokela bid farewell to her high school track and field career here Saturday as the Lakes earned runner-up honors in the Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals.
Newberry won for the first time in a decade with 84 points, followed by LL-H 76 and Stephenson 62.
The Grand Valley State University recruit collected three firsts and a second on this sunny and mild day at Flivver Field.
Jokela won the 400-meter dash in 59.84 seconds, 100 hurdles (15.98) and 300s (46.46) and edged Big Bay de Noc freshman Destiny Bleau on a lean for the runner-up spot in the open 100 (12.95).
Newberry senior Adanne Nwose won the 100 at 12.91.
“I think the competition draws the best out of me,” Jokela said. “They’re a bigger school. We’re happy with where we finished. My starts were pretty good. I think this will give me more motivation to work hard for next year.”
Bleau later took the 200 in a U.P. and school-record 26.02, topping the U.P’s previous best time (26.36) by Jamie Dompier of Chassell in 2012.
Jokela still holds the U.P. records in the 300 hurdles (44.8) and 400 (58.61) from a year ago.
Dollar Bay junior Kiera Isaacson set a school record in high jump at 5-4 and sophomore teammate Laila Bell won long jump (15-7).
Isaacson and Bell also helped the Blue Bolts place fourth in the 800 relay in a school-best 1:55.47.
LL-H won the 1600 relay (4:27.04) and placed third in the 800 (1:55.46) and 400 (53.78) and junior Maddy Dudenas took third in shot put (31-4¼)
Chassell senior Lily Etelamaki took third in the 3200 (12:59.83) and freshman teammate Jordan Holombo was third in 300 hurdles (49.65) and fourth in the 100s (17.41).
L’Anse freshman Breyell Bowers was runner-up in long jump (14-9¼) and Ewen-Trout Creek held off Newberry for second in the 3200 relay (10:37.85).
Negaunee took top honors in D-1 for the first time in three years with 155 points, followed by Marquette 109 and Gladstone 78.
Junior Tessa Rautiola led Houghton by taking fourth in the 1600 (5:35.85) and 3200 (12:14.35) and helping the Gremlins place third in the 3200 relay (10:48.4).
Gremlins’ senior Chloe Serafin added a third in the 100 hurdles (16.33) and fourth in the 300s (49.93).
Senior Allison Bjorn provided Calumet with its highest finish with a fourth discus (91-5) and Houghton senior Emilyn Fay took fourth in shot put (29-10).
Pickford earned its first U.P. title in 18 years by edging West Iron County 74-71 in D-2. Munising placed third with 66 points.
Jeffers’ junior Brielle Anderson won long jump at 15-7¼.
Hancock senior Ella Keranen was runner-up in the 1600 (5:41.92) and 3200 (12:43.31) and third in the 800 (2:34.5) and helped the Bulldogs take second in the 3200 relay (11:06.58).
Next up for Jokela is a trip to Ironwood for Thursday’s Border Bash All-Star basketball game at 6 p.m., followed by a visit to Ishpeming for Saturday’s D-4 regional softball tournament.
The Lakes open against Superior Central at 11 a.m. with the winner facing Norway or Gogebic in the title game at 3 p.m.