All-Area track team selected

TRI-CITY AREA — From the first meet until the last, these athletes came through with outstanding performances each time out.

Here is a look at who landed a spot on the 2025 edition of the Tri-City Times All-Area boys’ track team and the credentials they generated along the way:

Name: Eli Garcia
School: Imlay City
Year: Sophomore
Event: High jump

Best effort: Garcia cleared 6 feet en route to a fifth at a North Branch-based Division 2 regional on Saturday, May 17.

Top finishes: He supplied second at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison; collected thirds at the Bad Axe-based Hatchet Invitational and Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions. registered a fourth at the Blue Water Meet of Champions in Marysville; generated a fifth at a North Branch-based Division 2 regional; provided a seventh at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational; furnished a 12th at the 62nd Elmer Ball Oxford Invitational; and added a 26th among Division 1/2 entrants at the SVSU Indoor Invitational.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Senior
Event: Pole vault

Best effort: Battani cleared 14 feet 3 inches en route to a sixth at the Division 3 state finals on Saturday, May 31.

Kent City High School is where the action unfolded.

For his performance, Battani earned All-State accolades (reserved for the top-eight finishers in each event).

Top finishes: He took first at the Marlette Invitational, County Press/North Branch Invitational, Marysvile-based Blue Water Meet of Champions, Davison Twilight Classic and Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; generated a second at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison; supplied a third at the Bath-based Jon Nugent Invitational; provided a sixth at the Division 3 state finals in Kent City; plus added a 14th at the Third Annual MITCA Champion of Champions Invitational in Davison.

Name: Jovani Pena
School: Imlay City
Year: Sophomore
Event: Long jump

Best effort: Pena registered a performance of 17 feet 7 inches three times this season.

The first time it happened was March 19 en route to a 31st among Division 1/2 entrants at the SVSU Indoor Invitational.

He equaled that distance April 22 for fourth during a BWAC meet with North Branch and Yale.

A week later, Pena repeated the feat again while taking first in a meet with league foe Cros-Lex.

Top finishes: He obtained a first at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden; pulled up sixth at the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; took eighth at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational; was 31st among Division 1/2 entrants at the SVSU Indoor Invitational; and added a 43rd at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Name: Jerry Zheng
School: Imlay City
Year: Senior
Event: Shot put

Best effort: Zheng uncorked a shot put toss measuring 42 feet 6 inches for first Friday, May 2 at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden

Top finishes: He collected a first at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden; took sixth at the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; placed eighth at the Hatchet Invitational in Bad Axe; contributed 12ths at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational and a Division 2 regional in North Branch; generated a 14th at the Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; obtained a 15th at the 62nd Elmer Ball Oxford Invitational; registered a 17th at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison; and tacked on a 19th among Division 1/2 entrants at the SVSU Indoor Invitational.

Name: Dustin Claeys
School: Almont
Year: Junior
Event: Discus

Best effort: Claeys managed a throw of 120 feet 2 inches en route to a third at an Algonac-based Division 3 regional on Thursday, May 15.

Top finishes: He took third at the Blue Water Area Conference League Meet hosted by Algonac High School; obtained a 12th at the County Press/North Branch Invitational; furnished an 17th Davison Twilight Classic; contributed an 18th at the Jon Nugent Invitational; plus managed 23rds at the Davison-based Shake Off the Rust Invitational and Marlette Invitational.

Name: Bret Lestage
School: Imlay City
Year: Sophomore
Event: 100-meter dash

Best effort: Lestage posted a time of 11.23 seconds for second at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic Friday, May 2 in Dryden.

Top finishes: He took firsts at the Bad Axe-based Hatchet Invitational and Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Algonac; obtained a second at the Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; provided thirds at the Lapeer Lightning Inviational, Hatchet Invitiational in Bad Axe and Caro-based Thumb Meet of Champions; supplied a fourth at a Division 2 regional in North Branch; managed an 11th at the Davison-based Shake Off the Rust Invitational; plus added a 16th a the 62nd Annual Elmer Ball Oxford Invitational.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Senior
Event: 110-meter hurdles

Best effort: Batttani supplied a school record-setting clocking of 14.81 seconds en route to a first at an Algonac-based Division 3 regional on Thursday, May 15.

Top finishes: He collected firsts at a Division 3 regional in Algonac and at the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; supplied a second at the Marlette Invitational and Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; provided eighths at the Lapeer County Press/North Branch Invitational and at the Kent City-based Division 3 state finals (earning All-State accolades as a result); placed ninth at the Davison Twilight Classic; and furnished a 14th at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Name: Brett Lestage
School: Imlay City
Year: Sophomore
Event: 200-meter dash

Best effort: Lestage raced to a time of 23.32 seconds for first April 29 during a dual meet versus visiting Blue Water Area Conference rival Cros-Lex.

Top finishes: He took firsts at the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet and Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden; provided thirds at the Lapeer Lightning Invitational and Blue Water Meet of Champions in Marysville; placed fourth at the Bad Axe-based Hatchet Invitational; claimed a ninth at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison; furnished a 19th at the 62nd Elmer Ball Oxford Invitational; and added a 21st among Division 1/2 entrants at the SVSU Indoor Invitational.

Name: Chase Battani
School: Almont
Year: Senior
Event: 300-meter hurdles.

Best effort: Battani registered a clocking of 42.52 seconds en route to a third at the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet on Tuesday, May 20.

Top finishes: He registered a first at the Marlette Invitational; took third at the Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Algonac; placed sixth at an Algonac-based Division 3 regional; obtained an eighth at the Davison Twilight Classic; collected a ninth at the Marysville-based Blue Water Area Meet of Champions; plus generated a 12th at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Name: Enrique Cardenas
School: Imlay City
Year: Junior
Event: 400-meter dash

Best effort: Cardenas supplied a time of 52.33 seconds for first May 2 at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden.

Top finishes: He generated a first at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden and added a 25th among Division 1/2 entrants at the SVSU Indoor Invitational.

Name: Colton Grzyb
School: Almont
Year: Sophomore
Event: 800-meter run

Best effort: Grzyb furnished a clocking of 2:09.77 en route to a 30th at the Kent City-based Division 3 state finals on Saturday, May 31.

Top finishes: He claimed a second at a Division 3 regional in Algonac; supplied a sixth at the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; obtained a seventh at the Marlette Invitational; wound up eighth at the Marysville-based Blue Water Meet of Champions; placed 11th at the Jon Nugent Invitational in Bath; ranked 13th at the Lapeer County Press/Norh Branch Invitational; and was 30th at the Kent City-based Division 3 state finals.

Name: Isaac Sommer
School: Imlay City
Year: Junior
Event: 1600-meter run

Best effort: Sommer posted a time of 4:48.17 for sixth Friday, May 9 at the Bad Axe-based Hatchet Invitational.

Top finishes: He took fifth at the Blue Water Meet of Champions in Marysville; plus provided sixths at the Bad Axe-based Hatchet Invitational and Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Algonac.

Name: Logan Romain
School: Dryden
Year: Junior
Event: 3200-meter run

Best effort: Romain managed a 10:45.61 clocking en route to a 25th at the Hudsonville-based Division 4 state finals on Saturday, May 31.

Top finishes: He provided firsts at Third Annual Cardinal Classic Invitational in Dryden; a Dryden-based Division 4 regional; and the Big Thumb Conference Blue and Red Division League Meet in Deckerville; placed second at the Marlette-based Get on Track Meet; plus contributed sixths at the Marlette Invitational and the Hurd Invitational in Vassar.

Team: Tim Miller, Eric Haddon, Brody Corneau, Matthew Bacholzky and Nolan Maxlow.
School: Almont
Years: Senior, junior, sophomore, junior and senior.
Event: 400-meter relay

Best effort: No matter what lineup Almont opted to utilize, success was certain to follow.

An Almont team consisting of Tim Miller, Eric Haddon, Brody Corneau and Matthew Bacholzky furnished a time of 46.10 seconds for 13th Friday, May 2 at the Davison Twilight Classic.

Top finishes: Almont registered a first at the Blue Water Area Conference League in Algonac and Davison-based Shake Off the Rust Invitational; claimed sixths at the Blue Water Meet of Champions in Algonac and Marlette Invitational; obtained eighths at the Lapeer County Press/North Branch Invitational, Marlette Invitational and an Algonac-based Division 3 regional; wound up 12th at the Jon Nugent Invitational in Bath; plus managed a 12th at the Davison Twilight Classic.

Team: Brett Lestage, Enrique Cardenas, Ethan Everhart and Alan Valdovinos.
School: Imlay City
Years: Sophomore, junior, junior and junior.
Event: 800-meter relay

Best effort: A team of Brett Lestage, Enrique Cardenas, Ethan Everhart and Alan Valdovinos set a school record en route to a first during a meet versus visiting Blue Water Area Conference counterpart Cros-Lex on Tuesday, April 29.

Top finishes: Imlay City collected firsts at the Bad Axe-based Hatchet Invitational, 62nd Elmer Ball Invitational in Oxford and Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet; furnished a second at the Third Annual Cardinal Classic in Dryden; took fourth at the Lapeer Lightning Invitaional; plus added an 11th at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Team: Nolan Maxlow, Adam SaintOnge, Matthew Bacholzky and Colton Grzyb.
School: Almont
Years: Senior, junior, junior and sophomore

Event: 1600-meter relay

Best effort: A team of Nolan Maxlow, Adam SaintOnge Matthew Bacholzky and Colton Gryzb posted a time of 3:42.49 for fourth Thursday, May 15 at an Algonac-based Division 3 regional.

Top finishes: Almont took fourth at an Algonac-based Division 3 regional; pulled up sixth at the Blue Water Area Conference League Meet in Algonac; placed seventh at the Marlette Invitational; generated an eighth at the Lapeer County Press/North Branch Invitational; supplied a 12th at the Bath-based Jon Nugent Invitational; contributed a 14th at the Davison Twilight Classic; plus registered a 20th at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison.

Team: Jamin Siewert, Jacob Biolchini, Adam SaintOnge and Colton Grzyb.
School: Almont
Years: Sophomore, junior, junior and sophomore.
Event: 3200-meter relay

Best effort: An Almont team of Jamin Siewert, Jacob Biolchini, Adam SaintOnge and Colton Gzyb registered an 8:58.34 clocking en route to a 30th at the Division 3 state finals on Saturday, May 31.

Kent City High School is where the meet was contested.

Top finishes: Almont obtained a second at an Algonac-based Division 3 regional; collected a third at the Lapeer County Press/North Branch Invitational; supplied sixth at the Jon Nugent Invitational in Bath, the Algonac-based Blue Water Area Conference League Meet and Blue Water Meet of Champions in Marysville; generated a ninth at the Marlette Invitational; contributed an 11th at the Davison Twilight Classic; managed a 16th at the Shake Off the Rust Invitational in Davison; plus provided a 30th at the Division 3 state finals in Kent City.

Second team- Nolan Maxlow, high jump, Almont; Gabriel Hibner, pole vault, Almont; Tyler Kanai, long jump, Imlay City; Dustin Claeys, shot put, Almont; Chase Battani, 100-meter dash, Almont; Brody Corneau, 110-meter hurdles, Almont; Tim Miller, 200-meter dash, Almont; Eric Haddon, 200-meter dash, Almont; Alan Valdovinos, 200-meter dash, Imlay City; Brody Corneau, 300-meter hurdles, Almont; Nolan Maxlow, 400-meter dash, Almont; Adam Saint Onge, 800-meter run, Almont; Logan Romain, 1600-meter run, Dryden; Levi Fitchett, 3200-meter run, Dryden; Imlay City’s 400-meter relay of Brett Lestage, Juan Salcedo, Ethan Everhart and Alan
Valdovinos; Almont’s 800-meter relay lineup which included Chase Battani, Eric Haddon, Matthew Bacholzky, Nolan Maxlow and Tim Miller during the 2025 campaign; Imlay City 3200-meter relay of Hudson Everhart, Will Cilk, Liam Bhatti and Isaac Sommer.

Honorable mention- Brenden Peter, high jump along with the 110 and 300-meter hurdles, Dryden; Nolan Tyler McKenney, 100-meter dash, Capac; Tim Miller, 100 and 200-meter dash, Almont; Alan Valdovinos, long jump, 100-and 200 meter dash, Imlay City; Eric Haddon, 100 and 200-meter dash, Almont; Ethan Everhart, 110 and 300-meter hurdles, Imlay City; Eric Cardenas, 200-meter dash, Imlay City; Nolan Maxlow, long jump and 200-meter dash, Almont; Isaac Sommer, 800-meter run, Imlay City; Levi Fitchett, 1600-meter run, Dryden; plus Dryden’s 3200-meter relay of Logan Romain, Dylan Lasher, Sean Finnigan and Levi Fitchett.

Coach of the Year- For directing Almont to a two-way tie for second at a Division 3 regional as well as a third at the Blue Water Area Conference League Meet, Raider Coach Jamey Wade earns Tri-City Times All-Area Coach of the Year accolades.