AdvisorSource.com: Mergaert repeats as all-stater in 800 06/07/09
Mergaert repeats as all-stater in 800

By DON CHAMBERLAIN
Source Associate Editor

It didn’t go as she’d planned, but the result was another all-state track performance for Utica senior Amanda Mergaert in the May 30 Division 1 finals at East Kentwood High School.

A third-year state qualifier in the 800-meter run, Mergaert finished fifth in a time of two minutes, 15.27 seconds. Though she was two spots below last year’s third-place state finish, her time was actually better than last year’s at state, where she set a then-school record time of 2:16.0.

AdvisorSource.com: Final jump gives Hollingsworth state runner-up finish in his only track season 06/07/09
Final jump gives Hollingsworth state runner-up finish in his only track season

By DON CHAMBERLAIN
Source Associate Editor

At every big track-and-field meet this season, Utica senior Mike Hollingsworth came through when the pressure was on most.

That was never more apparent than at the May 30 Division 1 state finals in East Kentwood, where he achieved a state runner-up finish in the long jump under what seemed like the unlikeliest of circumstance.

For starters, it wasn’t until his third and final jump of the open-pit preliminary round that he went far enough to advance to the event’s finals. Then after appearing to fall short of a top-eight performance with his first two jumps in the final round, he had a leap of 22 feet, 11 3/4 inches on his third and final attempt.