Rachel Ifezue and Emma Nicholson flushed memories of 2023.

So did Jayden Harberts.

Ford’s Ifezue won two individual events and Nicholson one, and both qualified for the state finals in three events at the Division 1 regional track and field meet at Romeo on Friday.

“Last year, I was not that good and I never ‘clicked,’” Ifezue, an 11th-grader, said after winning the 100-meter high hurdles in a personal-record 15.39 seconds.

“That was the most intense run I’ve ever done. Everyone was right next to me the whole time. I’m just so glad it went well.” Ifezue also won the 300 low hurdles in 47.13 after the meet was interrupted by a lightning delay.

Nicholson won the 100 dash in 12.52 and qualified with a runner-up finish in the 200.Ifezue, Nicholson, Mi’Kaila Pugh and Tatyana Ramey finished second in the 4×100 relay in 49.89.

The top two finishers in each event qualified for the finals. Others qualified by meeting standards set by the Michigan High School Athletic Association.

Nicholson missed making the finals in the 100 by .06 seconds last year. She didn’t attempt to qualify in the 200.

“Ever since I came into high school, I fell in love with the short sprints,” the junior said. “I was always good at it, but I was never able to get to the top.

“Then this year, I put in a lot of work throughout the indoor season and worked with a personal trainer. I worked hard for this (100) race. I’m very excited to make states.”

Nicholson ran a PR of 25.46 in the 200 preliminaries at the regional. She won Macomb Area Conference White Division championships in both sprints this season.

Ifezue won White Division titles in both hurdles and the high jump.

“Hydrate,” Ifezue said when asked what has made a difference this year. “I drink so much water and just go to practice and listen to my coach. My trail leg had been slowing me down, but it finally clicked one day in practice.”

She wants to finish in the top eight and make all-state in her events at the finals, which will be at East Kentwood on June 1.

“I want to try to place, that’s what I want to do,” Ifezue said. “Get my name up there, that’s my goal.”

Nicholson has a goal of getting under 12 seconds in the 100.

“A key for me is starting low, just worrying about myself and not worrying about anyone else. Those first four steps are so important.”

She’s trying to concentrate on not glancing at other competitors.

“I’m still not there yet,” she said. “I’m still working on it. It’s a matter of working at it each day.”

Dakota’s Harberts wasn’t able to run in the 2023 regional because of an injury. The senior made her mark this time with first-place finishes in the 1600 and 3200, and her anchor leg helped the meet-champion Cougars finish second in the 3200 relay.

“I’m happy about being here,” Harberts said after winning the 1600 in 5:04.36. “I realize that this is my last regional. There’s nothing to lose. I just had to go after it and make my final marks.

“In the past two years, I’ve come to realize what works for me. Just because someone else is doing more doesn’t necessarily make them better than I am. If I’m doing what I’m doing and staying healthy, then I’m happy.”

Harberts won the 3200 in 10:42.11. She has made all-state twice in that event.

Harberts will continue her career at Syracuse, where she plans to study psychology.

“My team has gotten so close over this past year,” Harberts said. “I’m sad to leave them, but I know they’re going to be OK without me, and I’m excited for what’s to come at Syracuse next year.”

Dakota scored 129 points, 28 more than runner-up Romeo.

The Cougars’ Sienna Avery and Anna Lucas finished 1-2 in the pole vault with respective heights of 9 feet, 9 inches and 8-3. Dakota’s Casey Cojocar and Sydney Timpa went 1-2 in the high jump at 5-0.

Utica’s Zoe Zeiser was a double winner, taking the long jump in 17-7.75 and the 200 in 26.46.

Romeo won the 3200 and 1600 relays.

Claire O’Brien gave Ford a fourth individual championship by winning the shot put with a mark of 33-5.5.

Other champions were Raine Redding, L’Anse Creuse, discus, 112-88; Troy Athens in the 800 and 400 relays; Maddy Piotrowski, Troy Athens, 400 dash, 59.58, and Grace Grupido, Fraser, 800 run, 2:20.38.

Team scores

Dakota 129, Romeo 101, Ford 68, Troy Athens 59, Utica 58.5, L’Anse Creuse 45, Chippewa Valley 45, Fraser 41, Anchor Bay 29, Eisenhower 18.5, Stevenson 17, Port Huron 14, L’Anse Creuse North 11, Port Huron Northern 9, Sterling Heights 2.

State qualifiers

Shot put: Claire O’Brien, Ford, 33-5.5. Mckenzie Reese, Utica, 33-2.75.

Discus: Raine Redding, LC, 112-88. Erin Lee, Troy Athens, 110-2.

High jump: Casey Cojocar, Dakota, 5-0. Sydney Timpa, Dakota, 5-0.

Long jump: Zoe Zeiser, Utica, 17-7.75. Layla Babich, Romeo, 16-9.75.

Pole vault: Sienna Avery, Dakota, 9-9. Anna Lucas, Dakota, 8-3.

3200-meter relay: Romeo (Violet Hrabovsky, Emmerson Clor, Lillian Deskins, Natalia Guaresimo) 9:28.88. Dakota (Lidia Clancy, Mylene Pham, Aubrey Rizzo, Jayden Harberts) 9:40.87. Fraser (Olivia Cereska, Remi Flanz, Grace Grupido, Katelyn Frazier) 9:41.78.

100 high hurdles: Rachel Ifezue,, Ford, 15.39. Gabrielle Robinson, Troy Athens, 15.54. Mia Barnett, CV, 15.59.

100 dash: Emma Nicholson, Ford, 12.52. Kennedy Gatlin, CV, 13.01.

800 relay: Troy Athens (Gabrielle Robinson, Izzie Piotrowski, Analiese Jajou, Maddy Piotrowski) 1:45.06. Romeo (Sydney Fabbri, Josie Finkbeiner, Layla Babich, Sam Sackfield) 1:46.33.

1600: Jayden Harberts, Dakota, 5:04.36. Violet Hrabovsky, Romeo, 5:18.97.

400 relay: Troy Athens (Gabrielle Robinson, Izzie Piotrowski, Analiese Jajou, Maddy Piotrowski) 49.68. Ford (Mi’Kaila Pugh, Tatyana Ramey, Rachel Ifezue, Emma Nicholson) 49.89.

400 dash: Maddy Piotrowski, Troy Athens, 57.88. Sam Sackfield, Romeo, 59.58.

300 low hurdles: Rachel Ifezue, Ford, 47.13. Londyn Hollins, LC, 48.03.

800: Grace Grupido, Fraser, 2:20.38. Katelyn Frazier, Fraser, 2:23.72.

200: Zoe Zeiser, Utica, 26.46. Emma Nicholson, Ford, 26.60.

3200: Jayden Harberts, Dakota, 10:42.11. Annie Hrabovsky, Romeo, 10:51.54. Natalia Guaresimo, Romeo, 10:52.41. Lillian Deskins, Romeo, 10:52.84. Addison Johnson, Utica, 11:04.36. Emmerson Clor, Romeo, 11:09.73. Olivia Purdy, Romeo, 11:12.27. Emma Brown, Utica, 11:13.12.

1600 relay: Romeo (Evianna D’Angelo, Violet Hrabovsky, Natalia Guaresimo, Sam Sackfield) 4:06.09. Eisenhower (Jenna Vansant, Mariana Stojcevski, Lily Pantaleo, Maggie Baginski) 4:09.41.