Whitehall girls treat their first-year coach to a GMAA track title

NORTON SHORES — The Whitehall Viking girls’ track team put a smile on their first-year coach’s face that may take days to disappear.

 

The Vikings rolled to the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association track title with 93 points. That’s what had Coach Crystal Vaughn beaming from ear to ear on Friday night at Mona Shores High School.

 

“I’m blown away,” Vaughn said. “I’m so proud of these girls and our coaching staff is what makes it amazing. Watch out for Whitehall, we are going to be an amazing team.”

 

Whitehall shook off challenges from Mona Shores and Montague to take the trophy home to northern Muskegon County. Mona Shores was second with 83 points, followed by Montague with 66, Fruitport with 53 and Ravenna rounded out the top five with 48 points. The remainder of the team scores included Muskegon (45 points), Reeths-Puffer (43), Oakridge (29), North Muskegon (20), Western Michigan Christian (18), Holton (18), Orchard View (7) and Muskegon Heights (4).

 

“It was in the 400 where I really think we started picking it up,” Vaughn said. “It’s an exciting day. These girls are amazing, we have a young team and I’m super excited to see what the future holds.”

 

There was no doubt who stole the show on Friday night with her four first-place finishes. Maelie Hope from Whitehall captured first place in the shot put at 41-4 1/2, set a GMAA record in the discus at 141-1, won the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. Her record-setting discus effort was more than 45 feet better than the runner-up.

 

“I was surprised that we won,” said Hope. “When I first came in, I was feeling a little lethargic and tired, but as the meet started rolling, I started getting more into it and eventually everything clicked.”

 

Besides Hope’s four first places, the Vikings had two other event winners in Cami Kraai in the 800-meter (2:24.05) and Ariana Treat in the 1,600-meter (5:30.71).

 

Runner-up Mona Shores posted two first-place finishes, both in relay events. The Sailors won the 4 x 400-meter relay in 1:53.94 and the 4 x 800-meter relay in 10:24.26.

 

Montague finished third and was led by pole vaulter Emma Pendell, who cleared 8-6 and finished in first place.

 

Fruitport had one city champion in Julia Smith in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 17.42. Bethany Olthof, from Ravenna, captured first place in the 300-meter hurdles in 51.72. The Muskegon Big Reds finished the evening with a first-place finish in the 4 x 200-meter relay with a time of 1:53.94 and Stephanie McGuffey won the high jump at 5-1.. Reeths-Puffer won the 4 x 100 relay with a time of 52.12.

 

Other event winners included North Muskegon’s Abbie Wiegers in the 400 (59.16), Grace Vanderkooi from Western Michigan Christian in the 3,200-meter run (11:17.15), and Holton’s Ava Crowell won the long jump at 14-5.