The past few years have seen some of the greatest performance in the history of Livingston County boys track and field.
Hartland’s Riley Hough, Pinckney’s Caleb Jarema and Pinckney’s Paul Moore all broke the nine-minute barrier in the 3,200-meter run in the past four years, something that had never been accomplished by a county runner. All four also went on to win individual state championships.
Brighton’s Liam Kinney became only the second pole vaulter in county history to clear 16 feet two years ago.
Hartland’s Cameron Cheetam established himself as the greatest sprinter in county history by setting local records in the 100, 200 and 400 last year. Two of the records he broke were set only three years earlier by Pinckney’s Dylan Reason.
So, what’s next for boys track and field in Livingston County?
Here’s a preview of the area’s six teams:
Brighton
► Last season: 4th place KLAA, 1st place regionals
► Top returners: Tyler Brock (distance), Sr.; Elijah Forbord (distance), Sr.; Mason Hine (throws), Sr.; Xavier James (sprints), Sr.; Blake Kulesza (distance), Soph.; Sam Meriweather (sprints, jumps), Sr.; Brady Millington (distance), Sr.; Tyler Outlaw (distance), Sr.; Brayden Platt (sprints), Jr.; Lawrence Wells (sprints), Sr.
► Outlook: Winning regional championships is now an expectation at Brighton, which never won one until capturing three in the last five years. The Bulldogs will go for a third straight regional crown with a lineup that, as usual, is led by a distance crew that was third in the state in cross country. Brighton brings back Platt, Wells and Meriweather from an 800-meter relay team that was 10th in the state meet. Brock also ran at the state meet and made huge gains during cross country. Brighton hopes to fill holes in hurdles and field events.
► Coach Amanda Bell: “The captains made that a goal to have a third regional championship this year. We lost some heavy hitters in distance, but also have some kids based on cross season we’re looking at to pick up those points. In sprints, we lost only one big person. The kids rounded up some people to fill in gaps. In terms of overall spread in events, we’re deep in areas where it’ll make a difference in ideally repeating at regionals.”
Charyl Stockwell
► Last season: 6th place MIAC, 4th place regionals
► Top returners: Beckett Fitch (distance), Jr.; Teddy Gottbreht (throws), Sr.; Elijah Killinger (middle distance), Soph.; Alex Pick (middle distance), Sr.; Brody Urbaniak (distance), Jr.; Jason Zarate (pole vault, sprints), Sr.
► Outlook: Stockwell has one of the top pole vaulters in the county in Zarate, who cleared 11 feet, 6 inches indoors. The Sentinels return Killinger, Fitch and Pick from a state-qualifying 3,200 relay team. Gottbreht set the school shot put record of 40-9 at regionals to qualify for the state meet. Freshmen Jack Hammond (sprints), Landon Shimkus (distance) and Jeffrey ...
