Even though St. Joe didn’t win the last race of the day, a fourth place finish in the 1600 meter relay by .16th of a second helped secure the Bears first Boys Track and Field State Championship since 1997, when the Bears won the Class B State Title.
St. Joe finished the meet with 40.75 points,2.75 points ahead of Clinton Township Chippewa Valley. Chippewa Valley finished 3rd in that final race, earning 6 points, while the Bears 4th place finish earned 5 points and the state title.
St. Joe’s 1600 meter relay team of Shay White, Will Fiesbeck, Alex Moyer and Trey McGinnis as the Anchor. McGinnis came in 2nd in the 100 meter dash with a time of 10.79 seconds. He also came in 2nd in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.28.
St. Joe’s Jerry Capaccio was and individual State Champion in the Discuss with a throw of 167 feet 2 inches. He came in second in the shot put with a throw of 56 feet and 11 and a quarter inches. Capaccio earn 18 points on the day.
St. Joe also earned points in the High Jump, Joshua Scott had .75 points with a 7th place tie with a jump of 6 feet 3 inches.
The 3200 meter relay team of Fiesbeck, Moyer, White, and Eli Toney added another point with an 8th place finish with a time of 7:58.57.
The times in the Boys 3200 Meter Relay and 1600 Meter Relay were St. Joe school records.
It’s the Seventh State Championship for the Bears Boys Track and Field Team, who won the Class B title in 1997 under coach Ron Waldvogel, 1957 under coach Dick Higgs. 1945 and 1939 under head coach Arnold Karsten. The Bears also won the 1932 and 1927 State Championship under head coach Henry Howe.
Scoring total (top 10)
- Joseph 40.75
- Clinton Twp. Chippewa Valley 38
- Rockford 36
- Ann Arbor Huron 30
- Detroit UD Jesuit 29
- Rochester Adams 28
- Kalamazoo Central 26
- Northvillel 75
- East Kentwood 25
- Saline 23
Other area teams
Battle Creek Lakeview (12th) 19
Kalamazoo Loy Norrix (18th) 11.5
Mattawan (49th) 3
