At this year’s WIAA state track and field championships, Kent-Meridian’s Marcella Jones spent a lot of time on top of the Class 3A podium on May 29-30 at Mount Tahoma High School.
Jones, with the help of Candice Le, put the Royals inside the top three in the team standings.
“It feels good. I am really grateful to have made it this far and executed what we had to do,” Jones said.
As many track fans know, the 100 meters is an eye popping race. It’s the fastest event at any track event, and Jones was prepared for the pressure.
“There was a lot of pressure and nerves. But you know at track, we are here to compete, so you just have to get the time and do what you gotta do,” Jones said.
The Royals senior qualified in four different finals: 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash, 300-meter hurdles and the long jump.
Jones won the 100-meter and 300-hurdles to kick off her tournament with a quick pair of first place finishes. She later went on to take second in the long jump and second in the 200, missing out by just .15 tenths of a second.
She takes immense pride in representing Kent-Meridian at the state level, especially for a school where success is a bit hard to find.
“It feels good. At my school we have our own talents and we are very gifted. We are talented in our own ways, so it feels good to bring a gold medal home,” Jones said.
Kentwood also was represented very well in the inaugural Inclusive Division. Kentwood placed second, one point behind Stanwood.
Of the four events, Kentwood did win the Mixed 800 Sprint Medley Relay and set a new meet record. Kallel Davis tossed a shot put 30 feet 4 inches to place sixth, while the 4×100 relay team took fourth.
On the boys side, Kentridge’s Berry Crosby looked to make a run at the 100 and 200 in Class 4A, but after his first jump in the long jump event, an injury prevented him from running in those two races.
“It’s a blessing to be on this stage. I am just happy to be here and do what I do. It’s fun and a good experience,” Crosby said.
Crosby ran a blazing 10.59 second 100-meter dash and his seed time in the 200 was third fastest. But due to the injury suffered in the long jump, he never ran the 200.
On the fateful jump, Crosby leaped his second longest jump 22 feet, 7.75 inches.
The Charger boys relay teams performed well in the 4×100 especially with the absence of Crosby. In the 4×100, the Chargers took third, and the 4×400 team also took third place. Crosby went from a competitor to the team’s biggest supporter.
“It’s going to be amazing. I think my boys are still going to try and secure the ‘W.’ I feel like I have some knowledge I could tell them,” Crosby said.
Jordan Miller finished right behind Crosby in qualifying and ended up taking second place behind Nicholas Altheimer from Curtis.
“We have another guy who runs a similar time as me, so I am happy to see him succeed in the 100,” Crosby said.
Kentridge’s Ayla Johnson took fifth in the 100 hurdles on May 30 to score the Chargers’ only points on the girls’ side of the championships.
Jasmin Johnson of Kentlake recorded the Falcons’ only point in the entire meet in the 3A 100-meter hurdles.
Kent-Meridian had just one boy placer, Sam Doma, who placed fifth in the pole vault, reaching 14 feet.
From Kentwood, Jaevion Jamerson was the lone Conk to run in a final — he took fifth place with a 49.55. Jamerson did set a personal record in the qualifying race the day before.
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Marcella Jones competes in the 200-meter dash. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Jaevion Jamerson was the lone Kentwood Conk to place in the boys division. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Candice Le celebrates making it over the bar in the Pole Vault for Kent-Meridian. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Photo provided by Chris Kunzelman.
