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Sports

Eagles Girls Soar at Track Regional

Evenson, Pasternak pave the way for girls; boys qualify two for states.

MILFORD — Hartland’s distance-running duo of Anna Pasternak and Avery Evenson led the Eagles to a third-place finish at the Division 1 regional tournament at Milford High School on Friday.

“I’m pretty happy with third,” Hartland coach Bev Guile said. “I didn’t expect that.”

Novi placed first with 117 points, Waterford Mott was second (77), Hartland third (57), Howell fourth (52) and Walled Lake Central fifth (51). There were 16 teams at the regional and full results are scheduled to be posted Sunday on the MHSAA website.

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Evenson, a sophomore, finished first in the 3,200-meter run in 10 minutes, 47.10 seconds and second in the 1,600 (4:55.80).

“I’m very pleased,” Evenson said. “I was a second off my time from last year (in the 1,600), but we’re looking to peak at states.”

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Pasternak, a senior, finished fifth in both the 1,600 (5:09.10) and 3,200 (11:10.80). She qualified for the state finals based on her times in both events.

The top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for states, while others can advance by meeting qualifying times.

Joined by Allison McGinn and Kaylee Phillips, Evenson and Pasternak also qualified for states in the 3,200 relay. 

Hartland freshman Ahna Buffa qualified for states in the 100 with her second-place finish (12.60).

“That was exciting,” Guile said.

Hartland’s 400 relay team of Claire Seekely, Katheryn Schmidt, Rachel Egeland and Buffa set a school record with a finish of 51.50. They finished third, just missing states, placing behind Walled Lake Central (49.90).

Schmidt placed seventh in the 300 hurdles (49.00) and Phillips was seventh in the 800 (2:23.00).

Olivia Cutler placed fifth in the long jump at 15-1.25.

The Hartland boys had a pair of state-qualifiers in Ian McGinn and David Smisek. 

McGinn, Allison’s twin brother, qualified in the 1,600 and 3,200 and Smisek in the 300 hurdles.

McGinn qualified based on his times, while Smisek placed second in the 300 hurdles.

“I’m speechless,” said Smisek, a senior. “I never thought of going to states and it just happened. I’m really excited. You see all these guys around and they look so menacing, but you’ve just got to run.”

Clayton Lovern placed eighth in the high jump at 5-11.

Hartland boys coach Chuck Cullen said Smisek’s performance was a pleasant surprise, but otherwise it was about what he expected.

“At meets like this, we just don’t have the firepower to pick up points,” Cullen said. 

The Eagles were 16th with nine points. Detroit Catholic Central won the boys regional with 110 points.

The Division 1 state finals are in Rockford on June 4.

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