Battani third at state finals

ALMONT — Chase Battani registered a pole vault clearance of 14 feet for third, helping the Almont boys’ track squad (six points) wind up in a seven-way tie with Kent City, Lansing Catholic, Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, Hemlock, Hillsdale and Grand Rapids Northpointe Christian for 34th place last Saturday at the Division 3 state finals.

Kent City High School is where the meet was contested.

Pewamo Westphalia and Clare shared the title with 47 points each. Detroit Edison (32 points), Jonesville, Napoleon (26), Reed City (23), Elk Rapids (22), North Muskegon (20) along with Ithaca and Lawton (18 each) notched top-10 team showings as well.

Matthew Bacholzky supplied the next best Almont finish that day. His long jump performance of 18 feet 10 1/2 inches paid off with a 19th.

The Almont 800-meter relay of Tim Miller, Cole Walton, Nolan Maxlow and Bacholzky took 23rd in 1:32.21.

Bacholzky 400 dash, 53.01 seconds; provided Almont with a 24th.

Almont also received a 32nd from their 1600-meter relay of Adam SaintOnge, Walton, Maxlow and Bacholzky. They registered a 3:40.06 clocking along the way.