By Local Sports Journal

FRUITPORT — Nine first places  finishes, including three by Zack Gilson, helped carry the host Fruitport Trojans to the Lakes Eight Conference track meet championship Friday.

Gilson won the 200- and 400-meter dashes and added a first place in the long jump in helping Fruitport pile up 169 points.

The Ludington Orioles, the defending team champion, had 139 points while Grant had 95, Howard City Tri-County 56, Orchard View 32, Fremont 25 and Spring Lake seven.

Fruitport’s other first places came from Chris Hendricks in the shot put, Nic Kramer in the discus, Collin Butler in the pole vault, and the 400-, 800- and 1,600-meter relay teams.

Ludington’s Matthew Ritter won two events in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs while Chase Rohrer won the 110-meter high hurdles for the Orioles. Ludington also won the 3,200-meter relay.

Grant had two individual winners in Jamie Steffes in the high jump and Ryan Kennedy in the 100-meter dash.

The other individual league titles went to Orchard View’s Matias Keyes in the 300-meter hurdles and Matt Zerfas, of Fremont, in the 3,200-meter run.