6-01-2014 3:11pm

Hornets Break State Record, Bring Home Medals From State Meet

Athletes posted all-state performances up and down the lineup as Saline finished third at the MHSAA boys Division 1 state meet at Rockford High School Saturday.

Saline finished with 37 points, 13 behind Oakpark and 34 behind the champs from East Kentwood.

Saline's only victory was an historic one.

The day on the track began with Saline breaking a state meet record in the 4-by-800. Logan Wetzel, Ryan Wilke, Ryan Gauche and John Davis finished in 7:40.54 to win the event and. The Saline foursome beat the record set in 2004 by the Saline team of Neil Atzinger, Dustin Voss, Carter Bishop and Alex Muhs.

Saline's other all-state relay was the 4-by-400, where Gauche, Wilke, Wetzel and Skyler Bowden finished eighth in 3:22.50.

Kaj Althaus was Saline's highest finisher individually. He cleared 14-07 to take second in the pole vault.

On the track, the Hornets had all-state performances in every straight running race beyond the 100.

Bowden was all-state in the 400 (7th, 49.85) and the 200, during which Bowden was injured but managed to cross the finish line. That gave Bowden three all-state finishes.

Wilke and Bowden were all-state in 800. Wilke was seventh in 1:53.59 and Wetzel was eighth in 1:53.87.
Wetzel's fourth all-state race was his best. He finished third in the 1600 meters in 4:13.23. taking more than five seconds off this regional time and more than two seconds off his Golden Triangle time.

Kevin Hall was all-state in the 3200, finishing seventh in 9:24.24.

John Smutny was fifth in the shot put, throwing 54 feet to take home an all-state medal.

Smutny was also 10th in the discus (151-06). Nic Sawyer was 18th with a throw of 142-07. Sawyer was 14th in the shot put (49-04). In the long jump, Brad McCormick leaped 20-11.

Josiah Davis was 14th in the 300 meter hurdles, crossing in 40.04.