Jonesville track's battle with the elements helps forge team mentality

Joseph Flaherty, Hillsdale Daily News

JONESVILLE — If you ask Jonesville track and field athletes if the weather on Tuesday any effect on their results, they'd probably tell you they've been through worse. Just last season, the Comets battled against several area teams, including rivals Hillsdale, in a torrential downpour regional finals championship.

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The Jonesville track teams battled similar elements on Tuesday night, and despite the conditions changing from sunny to windy bands of rain showers, the Comet athletes were mentally focused on getting the job done against Cascades opponent Brooklyn Columbia Central.

"We actually had a few kids PR today, which in the conditions is encouraging," Jonesville coach Peter Konieczki said. "It's sometimes hard for kids to mentally to up for dual meets, so I think I was proud of the mental focus, especially with these home meets. As coaches, we kind of have to help manage the meet, too, so the fact that the kids were able to focus themselves up was encouraging."

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Jonesville boys defeated CC with a total score of 102 points to the Golden Eagles 33 points. The Comet girls team won 103 points compared to 23 points for Columbia Central.

The Jonesville track programs are competing through their first spring in the Cascades conference, having earned wins against Vandercook Lake and Homer for the boys team and against Vandercook Lake for the girls teams. The girls came up just short of Homer in a 75-60 dual final score.

Jonesville 800-meter dash runners kick off their race, where freshman Caleb Blonde won for the boys and freshman Kendahl Drake won for the girls Comet track teams.
Jonesville 800-meter dash runners kick off their race, where freshman Caleb Blonde won for the boys and freshman Kendahl Drake won for the girls Comet track teams.

"It's nice that most of these teams we will see at the regional each year," Konieczki said. "So, it's not necessarily teams we are unfamiliar with, which has made the transition easier, I think. It's nice to see new competition and different faces. I think its fresh for the kids, so that's enjoyable."

Even new (returning) members of the team enjoyed success despite the weather conditions. Jonesville senior Carter Rounds, who ran in 2021-2022 but not 2023, participated in his first 200-meter dash of the season. The senior took first with a time of 24.01 seconds.

"We had the Grass Lake Invitational a week ago and it was pretty windy, but this was definitely a little colder," Rounds said. "So, it was the first time we've had to really mentally lock in and push through the weather. I think this weather helps up prepare because we had a bunch of PRs today and that shows that even in bad weather, we can get the job done and push through it. A lot of other teams don't want to do that in this weather, so I think it shows the mentality we have as a team."

Senior Carter Rounds runs to a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash
Senior Carter Rounds runs to a first-place finish in the 200-meter dash

Like many senior track members, this season marks the final time the Comets will get a chance at competing against Hillsdale High School. The two teams have battled once this season already, but they will have the Hillsdale Invitational and the regional championship at Hillsdale in the near future.

"I think we can make a run to win regionals," Rounds said. "So, I'm excited show everyone that Jonesville (has) a powerhouse for track. (Hillsdale) is a good team, but I think they got to be ready for us because we are getting a lot better, and I think it will be close at regionals."

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Jonesville Boys Track and Field Winners

  • Ryan Marcavage - 100 Meters - 11.98

  • Carter Rounds - 200 Meters - 24.01

  • Nicholas Fowler - 400 Meters - 53.98

  • Caleb Blonde - 800 Meters - 2:06.25 - PR

  • Gavin Van Kampen - 1600 Meters - 4:44.61

  • Caleb Blonde - 3200 Meters - 10:19.91

  • Nicholas Fowler, Makinlee Packer, Jordon VanSickle, Carter Rounds - 4x200 Relay - 1:35.76

  • David Fowler, Zachery Childress, Kaleb Males, Nathan More - 4x400 Relay - 3:49.24

  • David Fowler, Caleb Blonde, Collin Fucile, Gavin Van Kampen - 4x800 Relay - 8:28.97

  • Scott Aube - Shot Put - 43-8 1/2

  • Reece Rundquist - High Jump - 5-8

  • Makinlee Packer - Pole Vault - 9-0

  • Jaren Trujillo - Long Jump - 18-7 1/2

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Jonesville senior Brooke Sharp runs to a first place finish in the 400-meter dash. She also won the 200-meter dash.
Jonesville senior Brooke Sharp runs to a first place finish in the 400-meter dash. She also won the 200-meter dash.

Jonesville Girls Track and Field Winners

  • Zoey Udzik - 100 Meters - 14.79

  • Brooke Sharp - 200 Meters - 28.70

  • Brooke Sharp - 400 Meters - 1:05.50

  • Kendahl Drake - 800 Meters - 2:50.87 - PR

  • Keira Knight - 1600 Meters - 6:53.46 - PR

  • Keria Knight - 3200 Meters - 15:30.36

  • Harper James, Ameilia Means, Miley Dunlap, Sierra Winter - 4x100 Relay - 59.01

  • Zoey Udzik, Miley Dunlap, Payton Nichelson, Brooke Sharp - 4x200 Relay - 1:58.31

  • Zoey Udzik, Kendahl Drake, Payton Nichelson, Brooke Sharp - 4x400 Relay - 4:48.78

  • Kendahl Drake, Keria Knight, Julia Mandrelle, Joeleane Gulledge - 4x800 Relay - 12:10.75

  • Megan Lee - Shot Put - 30-3 1/4

  • Megan Lee - Discus - 83-4

  • Payton Nichelson - High Jump - 4-6

For more sports, follow The Daily News Sports Account on X (formerly Twitter) and reporter Joe Flaherty on X; jflaherty@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Jonesville track and field battles the elements to earn another Cascades dual win

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