2026 Girls Outdoor Track and Field Preview

It’s time for the 2026 Girls Outdoor Track and Field Season Preview!  The statistics used to write the season preview include BWAC, MAC, and Catholic High School League results, Blue Water Area meets such as the Marysville Invitational, Muskrat Invitational, Blue Water Meet of Champions, Thumb Meet, and Macomb County Meet, and, of course, Regional and State Finals qualifying and placements.  The top ten area performance lists for each event also played a driving role in making predictions.

A couple of notes about the process: 

• Consistency is key: when reviewing so many performances over a months-long period, there had to be consistent participation and placement throughout the season to gauge performance and potential for improvement. 

• I don’t include freshmen (last year’s 8th graders) because they may end up participating in a different spring sport or not come out for track in high school.  

• I did not preview relay events because of graduated athletes and relay leg changes, making it difficult to predict relay team members and times.

• In most cases, PBs (personal bests) from last year's meets that were hand-timed won’t be used for the preview, nor will I use them for top times and marks lists this season.  When you see PRs for everyone across the board by huge margins, especially in sprint events, that’s a sign that the times are usually inaccurate. With the requirement of FAT timing for state meet qualification, it’s a more reliable standard.  

• Early Qualifying Marks are in effect for the second year; athletes can meet a state-meet qualifying mark before regionals. An EQ is defined by the MHSAA as “an athlete who achieves the mark in any round of a valid pre-qualified event which meets the proper standards (FAT TIMED and 6+ teams) is qualified to participate in the LP finals in that event”. An automatic qualifier (AQ) is the standard needed to run AT the regional meet outside of a top-two finish. 

D1 AQ/EQ List

D2 AQ/EQ List

D3 AQ/EQ List

D4 AQ/EQ List

Finally, I’m sure to miss someone who deserves a nod or mention: with such a large amount of data across a long period, it is inevitable.  I cross-check and reference and scour athletic.net repeatedly, but Blue Water Running is just me, so sometimes, things get missed. I’m human. Also, my apologies in advance if I mispronounce or misspell your name or incorrectly type a time or mark.

Alright, let’s get into the season ahead!  

SPRINTS

• Malencia Price, Port Huron High.  Price sat at the top of the area's top times list in the 100 (12.54), 200 (26.44), and 400 (59.12), and was the Blue Water Meet of Champions MVP, where she won four events.  She also qualified for the D1 state finals in the long jump by finishing as the regional runner-up in 2025, leaping 17’-1.25”.  Her indoor 200 for Motor City Track Club best came close to her outdoor PB, and she ran cross country for the first time last fall, so she looks to return for her senior campaign with strength and experience.  Price’s 400 PB currently stands at #4 all-time in the Blue Water Area.

• Ava Lovett, Richmond.  Lovett stormed into BWAC track action with a solid freshman season last year, winning the BWAC Championship in the 100 (13.09) and finishing second in the 200 (27.29 PR).  She made a big statement in the 400, sitting at #3 in the area with a 60.58 best and finishing second only to Price at the Blue Water Meet of Champions and taking third at regionals.  She played a significant role in helping the Blue Devils drop their 4x100 relay time from 63 to 55 seconds over the course of the season.

• Penelope McNutt, North Branch.  Sitting near the top in each of the area sprint lists, McNutt was regional runner-up to earn a state berth in the 100 (13.15 PR), as a 200-best of 26.59, and anchored the Broncos’ 4x100 relay to the BWAC and Thumb Meet of Champs titles.  It would be interesting if McNutt dipped her toes into the 400-meter dash…

• Jenna Dobbs, Algonac. Another speedy freshman in 2025, Dobbs had bests of 13.34 and 27.34 in the 100/200, but found her niche in the 400, winning half of her races and qualifying with an AQ at regionals to earn her first trip to the D3 state finals, where she finished 29th in a best of 61.26.  She even jumped in the 800 once and ran a respectable 2:43. If Dobbs can drop under 60, she has a legitimate shot at an all-state finish.  With a season of cross-country under her belt and a career as an elite competitive gymnast, her sophomore year will be one to watch, especially since this is the last season Algonac will compete in the BWAC (they move to the MAC in the fall).

• Morgan Pillon, Port Huron Northern.  Also a sophomore, Pillon was the 4x400 relay anchor and won the Lapeer Lightning Invitational in the open 400-meter dash. She was third in the 400 at the Blue Water Meet of Champs in 61.1; Pillon frequented the 800 with a best of 2:33. 

• Allison Mansfield, Armada.  Mansfield ended the outdoor season with personal bests of 13.56 in the 100, 27.94 in the 200, and 62.44 in the 400, but with a solid season of indoor track for 16 Ways Track Club under her belt, she’s since made improvements.  Her open 400 now sits at 61.09, and she helped her 4x400 relay to a 4:05 third-place MITS champs finish, ultimately taking 14th at Nike Nationals in NYC.  

• Cristina Semian, Armada.  Injured most of last outdoor season, Semian stepped up at the end of the year to help the Armada 4x400 make the state finals, taking second in their regional.  She has since competed all winter in indoor track competitions, dropping her 400 best to a 60.59 and also racing as part of the 16 Ways 4x400 in 4:05.

• Kiera Miller, Cros-Lex. With PBs of 13.28 for the 100 and 27.2 for the 200, Miller won the Marysville Invitational in the 200-meter dash and several league jamborees in the 100, ultimately placing fourth overall in the BWAC league championship. She also made the 200-meter dash final at regionals (top 8 qualifiers).

Other athletes to watch:

• Iyana Brown, Anchor Bay. 13.63 (100 m), 61.96 (400 m), 2:32 (800 m).

• Liana Martoni, MLN. 13.33, 27.14.

• Elizabeth Stanfield, Cros-Lex. 400 PB 62.34.

• Giana Gashaj, Cardinal Mooney. 14.05 100 PB, finished third at D4 regionals.

MID-DISTANCE/DISTANCE

• Samantha Whitlam, Macomb Lutheran North. Voted the Blue Water Area Cross Country Runner of the Year for the fall of 2025, Whitlam just keeps getting better.  Topping the area list with a 2:22 800 PB last season, she has already gone 2:17 indoors; she also dropped ten seconds off her indoor 1600, running 5:16 over the winter season for 16 Ways Track Club.  If Whitlam can run 2:17 outdoors, she’d be one of the top-five fastest 800 runners in Blue Water history.  Whitlam has never run the 1600 outdoors, so it will be interesting to see what her times look like in comparison.   Whitlam also has some leg speed, as she was part of the third-place 4x400 relay at the indoor state meet in 4:05.

• Alannah Wessel, Macomb Area Club for Homeschoolers (MACH).  Wessel had the area’s fastest 1600 last year in 5:10, but she dipped closer to the sub-five club by running 5:02 to take eighth at the MITS Championships on March 1.  That time will put her as the fifth-fastest 1600m runner in our area to date, if she can match it outdoors; she is the third-fastest all-time in the mile.  Wessel also set personal bests in the 800 (2:19) and 3200 (11:20) during the indoor season.  As a homeschooled athlete, Wessel can’t compete at regionals or earn state meet qualifications outdoors, but she could certainly chase an All-State finish if allowed to do so.

• Saige Cole, Yale.  Cole cemented herself as the area’s Most Improved Runner during cross country and ran her first sub-20-minute 5K at the state finals to set a PB of 19:38, the top BWAC girls' finish in D2. She looks to continue her inaugural track success into her sophomore season.  The 400-meter BWAC champ, she set a freshman record for Yale High School at 60.17 and was the regional runner-up (to the eventual state champion in the 800), and the top ninth-grader at the D2 state meet, finishing 25th.  She has been on the cusp of a sub-60 lap for quite some time.  Cole also ran 2:27 for the 800 and 5:26 for the 1600, which are the fastest returning BWAC times, and won the Blue Water Meet of Champions 1600. 

• Samantha Langolf, Port Huron Northern.  Langolf had a sensational cross-country season, dropping into the sub-19-minute range several times.  With bests of 2:29 in the 800, 5:26 in the 1600, and 11:46 in the 3200 - the second-fastest area time - watch for Langolf to translate her fall distance strength into new track PBs this season.  We may see Langolf’s name move into the top-ten all-time area list in this event; she needs an 11:31 to do so.

• Taylor Stanczak, Almont.  Stanczak won her D3 regional in the 1600, then finished second in the BWAC (with a PB of 5:34) and third in the BWAC 800 behind two now-graduated seniors, second at the Blue Water Meet of Champions in the 800 (2:28), and was also part of the Raiders’ state-qualifying 4x800 relay.  Stanczak had a huge fall PR in cross country as well.  

Other athletes to watch:

• Cara Prusakiewicz (Dryden) and Cassidy Bowers (Austin Catholic).  Both girls were D4 All-State in cross country, which could play a role in track improvements.

• Laila Evola, Almont. Evola has a 5:44 1600 best.

• Madelyn Barkley, Cros-Lex. Top returning BWAC finisher in the 3200 (PB 12:58).

HURDLES

• Sadie Dykstra, Yale.  Where, oh where, do we even begin with Sadie? She realistically could be listed as a contender in ANY event on the track or field, so exceptional is her athleticism.  The University of Michigan commit originally specialized in the hurdle events, winning her first state championship in the 300 hurdles as a sophomore, along with a long jump title.  Over the last year, Dykstra branched out into the high jump, earning All-State honors and jumping 5’-5”.  With an All-American heptathlon finish at the 2025 Nike Outdoor National Meet, Dykstra demonstrated her incredible versatility across multiple disciplines.  She has bests of 26.27 in the 200, 59.88 in the 400, 2:26 in the 800, 15.08 in the 100 hurdles, 45 flat in the 300 hurdles, 18’-2.75” in the long jump, and helped her 4x400 relay go sub-four for an All-State finish, as well.  It’s hard to say what she will focus on primarily this season (or if she will continue a multi-event approach aligned with her future heptathlon goals), but if you see her on the start line, it’s a safe bet she’ll be a factor.

• Mariah Turner, Port Huron High. The MAC Gold champion in the 100s (16.59 PB), edging closer to the AQ of 15.5.  Turner also won four out of her seven races in the 300s (50.04).  Running in Division 1, she’ll need a top-two finish at regionals or an AQ of 46.80 for a state meet qualification.

• Allie Markel, Marine City. Markel dipped well below the sub-50 mark in the 300s, running her best of 48.90 behind Dykstra at last year’s Marysville Invitational.  Markel also earned a trip to the D3 state finals with her runner-up finish at regionals in both hurdling events.  Her PB in the 100s is a 16.86, so look for her to close out her senior season with more improvements. 

• Caila Fitchett, Dryden. Fitchett found her groove in the 300s last year, running sub-50 (PB of 49.67) to take second in her D4 regional and was 18th in the state.  If Fitchett can improve to a second faster, she would be in the running for an All-State finish.

• Madison Starnes, Richmond.  Starnes was only a freshman last year, winning several league jamborees and finishing fourth at regionals in the 300s with a PB of 52.9.

• Addison Cruciano, PHN. Cruciano broke 17 seconds in the 100s (PB 16.83) and was number three on the area list.  She also has a best of 51.22 in the 300s. 

FIELD EVENTS

THROWS

• Aubree Deshetsky, North Branch.  Deshetsky is the current undisputed queen of the throws in the Blue Water Area, sitting at number two all-time in both discus and shot put.  She was undefeated outdoors in the shot until she claimed a state runner-up finish with a measurement of 42'-0'.  Deshetsky was also All-State in the discus, taking third in 132'-8", and was second only once the entire season in that event.  She was the league champ, regional champ, won the Blue Water Meet of Champions, and was the Thumb Champs double winner.  Deshetsky is one of the favorites to win both throwing events at the state meet this season.  She is also a versatile athlete, running well in all events from the 100-meter dash to the 800.

• Katie Gill, North Branch. Gill won the Blue Water Meet of Champs and was third at the Thumb Champs in the discus with a big PR of 119’-7” and had six runner-up finishes in various invitationals and duel meets.  She is only a few inches off the discus state meet Early Qualifier mark of 120 feet.  Her shot put best is 32’-3”. 

• Katelyn Welter, Cros-Lex. With bests of 32’-6” and 106’-6”, Welter won two duel meets in the BWAC discus and had several runner-up finishes in the shot.

• Riley Agee, Armada.  Agee has steadily improved over the last two years, entering her junior year as the BWAC and Blue Water Meet of Champions runner-up in the shot put. With a PB of 34’-3”, improvement of a few inches at regionals would propel her into state-qualifying territory.

• Bree Rule, Cros-Lex.  Rule was only a freshman and took third behind Deshetsky and Agee in the shot put finals at the BWAC champs and BW Meet of Champs (PB 33’-10”) and threw close to 100’ at the Reese Invite in the discus early on in the 2025 season.

• Adrianna Rule, Cros-Lex. As a freshman, Rule was fourth at regionals in the shot put with a throw of 33'-04.5", placing as the top ninth-grader. She has a season-best of 33'-8".

• Ava Klink, Capac.  With five season discus victories and another in the shot, Klink’s discus PB of 103’ is well beyond the needed distance to qualify for states and only a few feet from an EQ; with a new PB or her best throw at regionals, she’s a contender for a D4 state qualification.

HIGH JUMP

• Sadie Dykstra, Yale.  As mentioned previously, Dykstra tried the high jump for the first time in 2025, winning the BWAC and earning All-State honors at the state meet, placing fifth, eventually ending the year with a PB of 5’-5”. 

• Valeria Ricossa, Armada.  Ricossa won every BWAC duel meet, the Lapeer Lightning Invitational, the Marysville Invitational, and the D2 regional at North Branch; she has a PB of 5’-2”.

• Autumn Pratt, MLN.  Pratt won the Blue Devil Invitational, the CHSL Champs, and has a PB of five feet.

• Natalie Valentine, North Branch.  Just a freshman last year, Valentine jumped five feet to take second at the North Branch Invitational.  

• Aubree Deshetsky, North Branch.  Due to the four-event meet limit, Deshetsky doesn’t always high jump, but when she does, she’s in the mix for the win, taking second in the BWAC with a 5’0 best.

• Grace Askew, St. Clair.  At a PB of 4’-10”, Askew won the majority of the MAC Gold meets, including the championship, and looks to improve upon her fourth-place regional finish last year to earn a state-meet qualification.   

• Jessica Probst, MLN.  Jumping her best at regionals, Probst finished third in 4’-9”, just outside of the top two qualifiers: she only needs to get to a 5’-1” height to automatically qualify at the regional meet.  

• Sophia Clark, Algonac. Only a freshman last year in her first year of high jump, Clark was fourth in the BWAC with a best of 4'-6".

LONG JUMP

• Sadie Dkystra, Yale.  Undefeated all season until the state meet, was the 2024 state champion, and has a best of 18’-2”. Dykstra is number two all-time in our area in this event, and less than two inches from being number one.

• Malencia Price, PH. Price has a best of 17’-1.25 - that jump earned her second-place in her D1 regional last spring - and she has already long-jumped several times over the winter indoors. 

• Samantha Whitlam, MLN. Usually, sprinters are seen in the field events more so than distance runners, but Whitlam won the regional meet in the long jump, leaping a huge best of 16’-9.5”.  That’s only half an inch off of this year’s D2 Early Qualifying mark.

• Allie Markel, Marine City.  Markel earned a state berth in the long jump by taking second at her D3 regional in 15’, but has a best of 15’-7.5”. 

• Ava Lovett, Richmond. A freshman in 2025, Lovett was fourth in the BWAC, but won the Blue Devil Invitational with her season's best of 15'1-7.5".

• Alexa Gardner, Algonac. If she can start the season with a jump as far as her freshman best (14'-9.25"), she would be a contender for the top three in the BWAC.

POLE VAULT

• Autumn Pratt, MLN.  Pratt was first or second in every competition of her 2025 season until regionals, where a close tie in third-place finish left her just out of the state qualifiers, despite vaulting the same height as second (8’).  With a best of 9’, she was second overall in Macomb County and is one of the top returners.

• Madison Starnes, Richmond.  With an eight-foot vault at regionals, Starnes made her first-season statement by securing a state-meet qualifying second-place finish as a freshman: her best all season stood at 8’-3”.  

• Emma Pitcel, Anchor Bay.  Pitcel was second in the MAC Red and fourth in Macomb County with a PB of 8’-6”.

• Kendal Donahue, Imlay City. Donahue is a pole vault specialist, solely competing in this event.  She vaulted 8’-6” to take second in the BWAC meet behind now-graduated Madison Niedermaier, who dominated the league, so it looks to be Donahue’s turn to take over the top spot.

• Lydia Stockwell, St. Clair.  Stockwell finished just outside the top two at regionals last year as a freshman, placing third in a tie with Autumn Pratt.  Her best stands at 8 feet, and she is only a sophomore this year, so look for big vaults to come.

I can’t wait to get back out there and see all of you running, jumping, and throwing.  You can find results and articles on bluewaterrunning.org and our social media sites throughout the season.   You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also check out photo albums of meets that will be linked through the website and download and share them to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  

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