Dexter Track Teams Finish Among State's Top 10

Dexter track and field performed well at the June 4 Division 1 state meet in Rockford. Both the Dreadnaught boys’ and girls’ squads finished in the state’s top 10.

In the boys’ meet, Dexter tied for eighth with Jackson, with 20 points.

Winning the Division 1 state title was defending champion East Kentwood with 72 points.

Rounding out the top 10 were Ypsilanti in second place with 28 points, West Bloomfield third with 24 points, Rockford fourth with 23 points, Portage Northern fifth with 22 points, Hudsonville sixth with 21 points, Detroit Catholic Central seventh with 21 points and Walled Lake Central 10^th with 18 points.

Individually for the Dreadnaughts, Andrew Herring earned a state championship in the pole vault, clearing a personal best 15 feet, 7 inches. Dexter swept the top two places, as Jeremy Horner finished second with a personal best of 15-4.

“It was one of the most remarkable things I’ve seen in competition,” Dexter coach Dave Testa said of Herring’s state-title performance. “A 15-inch (improvement) for a personal record in one day is truly amazing. The smile and look of disbelief every time he raised his record just grew exponentially. He is such a hard worker and so dedicated to this team and his teammates that it couldn’t have happened to anyone more deserving.”

Testa said Horner was battling a foot injury he suffered prior to the regional meet in May.

“That he was able to recover from (the injury) physically and mentally to achieve a personal record and finish as runner-up in the state is incredible,” he said. “Given how hard he works at the vault, I’m really happy for him.”

In the 400-meter run, Dreadnaught Noah Hiser placed seventh with a school-record time of 49.79. Finishing first in the event was East Kentwood’s Ricco Hall in a Division 1 state record of 47.00.

In the girls’ meet, Dexter tied for ninth place with Jackson, West Bloomfield and Lake Orion, each recording 18 points.

Capturing the Division 1 state championship was Grosse Pointe South with 54 points.

Rounding out the top 10 were Detroit Cass Tech and Ann Arbor Huron, tying for second with 50 points, while East Kentwood was fourth with 39 points, Grand Ledge fifth with 25 points, Novi sixth with 24.20 points, Ann Arbor Pioneer seventh with 21 points, Ypsilanti eighth with 19 points and Rockford 10^th with 16 points.

Individually for the Dreadnaughts, senior Nyki Caldwell defended her state title in the high jump by tying her season-best mark of 5-8. Her final height was the best in the state regardless of division.

“Nyki, true to form, remained calm and collected the entire time and went out and took care of business like we expected her to,” Testa said. “For her to win back-to-back state titles our first year in Division 1 and go undefeated for two straight years in the high jump is absolutely remarkable and a credit to the work that she and jumps coach Jane Thompson put in.”

In pole vault, Dexter’s Micaela Conter finished third, clearing 11-3, while Dreadnaught teammate Claire Tewksbury was seventh with a 10-9. Nicole Ferguson and Katie Callaghan tied for ninth, each recording a season-best 10-3, while Kamie Powell was 11^th with a 9-9 and Michelle Klein 22^nd with a 9-3 for Dexter. Winning the state championship was Macomb Dakota’s Jennifer Schornak with a measurement of 11-6.

“The pole vaulters had a phenomenal day,” Testa said. “Those girls had a great day and all of them will be back next season and could really make some noise at this meet next year. (Pole vault co-coaches) Geoff and Janell Gerstner did a tremendous job with their group of kids this year. This state meet should have the returning vaulters really excited about what’s to come.”

Testa, who will be stepping down from coaching after this season for personal reasons, said he was proud of Dexter’s effort this year.

“I'm excited about the new opportunity, but a big part of me is really going to miss the kids I’ve been fortunate enough to work with over the past four years,” he said. “Last Saturday, the kids had a great day. To walk away from the state meet with two state champions, six All-State performances and a school record is a testament to how hard the kids have worked and focused this season.”