Canton Cleans Up in Field Events at the MHSAA Regional Finals

The Canton Chiefs boys track team cleaned up in field events at the Michigan High School Athletics Association regional competitions on Friday.

Senior Nick Alaniva vaulted into the state finals – which will take place on June 4 – by setting a new school record pole vault height, 14 feet, 7 inches, besting his own previous record, set just two weeks ago, of 14 feet, 6 inches. 

“It feels really good,” he said. “It’s always nerve wracking, but when you make it, it’s so much fun.”

Canton senior Ben Spreitzer also advanced to the state finals, with a first place high jump of 6 feet, 5 inches.

Plymouth senior Andy Bihn achieved a pole vault of 12 feet, 11 inches and put its relay team into the state finals for the fifth straight season, taking second place in the 4 x 800 relay.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Derek Gielarowski, a junior at Plymouth High School. “Our coach kept telling us we could do it.”

Joining Gielarowski at the state meet will be relay mates senior Stephen Balaze, senior Joe Porcari and freshmen Max Rogowski.

Dearborn Finalists

senior Feerooz Yacoobi advanced to the MHSAA track and field state finals on Friday, taking first place in the shot put event at the regional championships at Canton High School.

Junior Ali Hammoud also goes to state after a second place 100-meter dash finish. “It’s exciting,” he said. “It’s my first year running track, and I made it to the state finals.”

Dearborn will also send representatives to the June 4 state finals.

Junior Kareem Hachem took second place in discus, with a throw of 142 feet.

“Dearborn dominated,” said Ameer Nemer, a senior at Fordson, about the strength of both Dearborn schools. “The competition was pretty fierce, though.”