Huffman makes podium four times, helps lead Inland Lakes girls to third at states
HUDSONVILLE – When it was all over, Larissa Huffman couldn’t hold back her tears.
Because when you’ve had a successful track and field career like Huffman, you probably never want it to end.
On Saturday, the senior Mackinaw City co-op athlete representing the Inland Lakes Bulldogs went out in style, reaching the podium four times and earning all-state honors during the Division 4 finals in Hudsonville.
Huffman’s day consisted of a state runner-up finish in the girls 100 hurdles (15.29) and fifth place in the 300 hurdles (48.25) and high jump (5-2). The times in both hurdle events were personal bests for Huffman, who was also a member of the 400 relay team of Natalie Wandrie, Kaylee Taglauer and Lauren Fenstermaker that took seventh at 52.8.
“I was good, I was happy, and then Lauren (Fenstermaker) hit me with the, ‘That was your last race,’ and I broke down to tears,” said Huffman. “I’m happy to have placed in all of my events. The 400 (relay) team placed, too, which was great. It’s amazing. Not only getting on the podium, but I tied my PR in the high jump, PR’d in the 100 hurdles, PR’d and broke the school record in the 300 hurdles.”
Huffman’s big day helped the Inland Lakes girls earn third overall with 38 points. Joining Huffman with individual all-state honors was Wandrie, who took first in the shot put (38-9) and discus (128-11).
“Larissa matched her personal record in the high jump, she PR’d by a half second in the (100) hurdles, she broke her own school record in the 300 (hurdles) – you can’t ask for more out of her,” said Inland Lakes coach Sarah Furman. “It was funny. She crossed the finish line after the (100 hurdles) and she was angry. You could see it on her face because it was the first time that she didn’t win it this year, and she stormed across the infield and I said, ‘15.29, we’re not going to get angry over this,’ and she was like, ‘OK.’”
What Furman’s always appreciated about the senior star is her work ethic and unselfishness.
“If you walked into my practice, she carries herself like she’s just an average kid,” Furman said. “She does the work, she doesn’t utter a complaint, she’s happy to do whatever she’s asked, and after she finishes one thing she asks, ‘What do you want me to do next?’ Her work ethic, she’s one of the last girls to leave every night, and it’s been huge."
Saturday was a culmination of a tremendous season for the Bulldogs, who say goodbye to senior stars Wandrie, Huffman, Fenstermaker, Hannah Robinson and Luci Bunker, who have all been key to I-L's success.
“I said any success we had today was shared success, because we all worked to get here, and every kid who practices in the lane next to Larissa (Huffman) at practice gets her to that second place,” Furman said. “Same thing with Natalie (Wandrie). We’ve got a great group of throwers. When they work together, Natalie gets better, and it’s one person who stands on the podium for that one event, but there’s six or seven kids that helped them get there.
“Shared success today. Any success we had today, we shared it as a team.”
Buckley, which scored 52 points, edged out Portland St. Patrick (49) for the girls team title.
Onaway’s Santiago third in high jump, Crull hits podium twice to cap remarkable career
Finishing off one of the most exciting track seasons in the area was Onaway junior Xavier Santiago, who earned third in the boys high jump at 6 feet, 1 inch.
“I’ve enjoyed this as much as I possibly could, and I can’t be more thankful for it either,” said Santiago. “My coach (Mix) has helped me through so much. So many mental and physical battles throughout the sport, so I’m very thankful for it. Super excited, I’m ready to work this summer. One hundred percent, I’m ready to work this summer and come back stronger than ever.”
Meanwhile, Onaway senior Madilyn Crull capped off a fantastic career with a pair of podium finishes. Crull took seventh in the high jump (5-2) and earned eighth in the 100 (13.2).
“It’s tough to talk about the day with her – it’s more so her career,” said Onaway coach Marty Mix. “We always tell the kids that you obviously live in the moment, but you enjoyed the experience, and I think today’s that whole process. She finished up an unbelievable career for us, the most decorated kid we’ve ever had on the track, male or female. To be a 12-time qualifier in five different events, I mean, what do you do? Madi’s day was good. The good thing is she’s hungry for more, which is exactly who she is, but to recap it for a day, it was an amazing day.
“Her career has been beyond amazing.”
Mix also praised his son, junior Jadin Mix, who didn’t make the podium but had a solid race in the 300 hurdles.
For Coach Mix, he’s more than excited he’ll bring back both Santiago and Mix next spring.
“They’re just getting started, which is probably the coolest thing about them,” Mix said. “Those two finding a little belief in themselves has gone a long way, and they’re excited to regroup and get ready to go in the fall, and it’s humbling. You get down here and it’s not even about their finishes, it’s about them knowing how hard they worked to get here and get rewarded on the biggest stage.”
I-L's Schoonmaker makes podium in high jump
Rounding out the area all-state finishers was Inland Lakes junior Sam Schoonmaker, who placed seventh in the boys high jump (5-11).
Winning the boys team state was Kalamazoo Hackett (53 points). Reading (47) took second.
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Huffman makes podium four times, helps lead Inland Lakes girls to third at states
