Hillsdale, Hillsdale Academy track teams head to MITCA Team State Finals; Schedule

HILLSDALE COUNTY — It is officially MITCA week.

The MITCA final power rankings filled in the final spots for the team state finals meets being held this weekend. Traditionally, MITCA team state championships are held the week before the MHSAA state finals. MITCA's team state championships were designed by MITCA in an effort to crown a true team state champion in each division.

More: Hillsdale boys track earns a regional title, Hornet athletes qualify for the state finals

As has been the case for the past several seasons, Hillsdale County will be sending multiple teams to compete in the Division 3 and Division 4 MITCA team state meets. Hillsdale County has had a historically tradition of bringing home hardware from this event, and it looks like local teams will have a shot this year to do just that.

More: Hillsdale Academy track teams win team regional titles; multiple Colts qualify for state

Hillsdale sends both its boys and girls track teams to compete at the Division 3 meet. Hillsdale Academy will send both of its teams to the Division 4 meet. Pittsford girls track will compete at the Division 4 meet, as well, continuing their rivalry with the Colts that has brought much success to both squads at MITCA events.

The final week power rankings saw the Hillsdale girls track team ranked 11th. The team came in third place at regionals this season. The Hornets boys team won the regional championship at their home track. Their team was fourth in the final power rankings but had qualified for MITCA earlier in the season.

Hillsdale Academy's two teams ranked No. 1 in the final power rankings, an achievement they constantly reached throughout the season. The Pittsford girls track team came in seventh in the final rankings. Both Academy teams claimed regional titles this season and the Wildcats finished second.

More: Pittsford senior Brooke Smith leads track D4 state qualifiers with three regional titles

The rivalry between the Wildcats and Colts girls track teams at MITCA has been a consistent tradition with the Division 4 meet each season. Last year, the Colts won the MITCA team state championship while the Wildcats finished second. The Colts boys team finished runner-up in 2023 and 2022 but won the team state title in 2021, the year the Colts also won the girls state title. The Colts placed second in 2022.

Pittsford girls track won the MITCA team state D4 championship in 2019, defeating the runner-up Colts for the title. The Wildcat girls team also won in 2018, 2017 and 2014. The Colts girls won in 2006, 2010 and 2011. The Wildcats were runners-up in 2015. The Colts were runner-up in 2012 and 2013.

The Hornets also have a lengthy history with the MITCA team state meets. Hillsdale boys track won its first MITCA team state title for Division 3 in 2014. That was their first of three back-to-back-to-back titles from 2014-through-2016. They finished runners-up in 2017 and in 2021. The Hornet girls track team were the runner-up team in 2004.

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Meet Information

The Division 3 MITCA team state championship will be held at Clar High School this Saturday, May 25. The field is not located at the high school. The official address is 670 Ann Arbor Trail, Clare, MI 48617.

Field events start at 9:30 a.m. The 3,200 relay starts at 11 a.m. Following the 3,200 relays, there will be a Parade of Champions, where teams will be represented by their school flags and Mascots. Finals begin at 12 p.m. Admission is $8 at the gate, and tickets are available for purchase at GoFan.

Parking can be limited based on crowds, and attendees may want to schedule advanced time to find parking near the track facilities.

The Division 4 state meet will be held on Saturday, May 25 at Community Memorial Stadium in Mt. Pleasant located at Mt. Pleasant High School.

Field begin at 9 a.m. 3,200 relays begin at 11 a.m., followed by the Parade of Champions and running finals starting at 12 p.m. Tickets are $7 at the gate, and there is a fee of $5 for spectator parking.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Hillsdale, Hillsdale Academy track teams head to MITCA Team State Finals; Schedule