The Alpena senior speedster saved one the best performances of his season — and of his career — for the 18th annual Alpena News Track and Field Honor Roll Invitational, setting a new school record and a meet record in the 400 dash of 49.84 seconds.

That performance left Bright feeling gassed, but he gutted out his final two events to win the 200 dash (23.03) and a relay gold on the way to being named Male Athlete of the Meet.

“It feels great. I didn’t expect to get it, so I was a little excited,” Bright said. “I pushed myself like crazy in the 400 and got in the shade…tried to stay cool for my next events.”

Alpena junior Chloe Lawrence earned Female Athlete of the Meet honors after winning pole vault (6-6), the 100 hurdles (17.81) and collecting two relay golds.

Fairview’s Landon Galea completes a jump during the boys long jump.

“I’m feeling good. I got a PR in my 100 hurdles by almost a second,” Lawrence said. “(The heat) was bad and I don’t want to have it ever again, but I still did pretty good. You have to push yourself harder to do well (in the heat).”

On a day when temperatures touched the low 90s at Alcona High School, Bright’s new record in the 400 dash was the only meet mark that fell — but it was also one of the oldest. Bright’s time bettered the mark of 50.02 seconds set by Fairview’s Kyle Fortin in 2005, only the second year of the meet.

It’s the latest notch on Bright’s belt during what has been a stellar season that includes a Big North Conference title, a regional title, and a trip to the state finals this weekend.

He also won the 1,600 relay (3:45.44) Tuesday along with Julian Stevens, Andrew Dargis and Hunter Hitzelberger.

“It was great, exactly what I could ask for. My coaches are great,” Bright said. “Early season, I wasn’t running too great, but I turned it on at the end of the year.”

Posen’s Sofya Hincka throws during the girls shot put.

Lawrence repeated as pole vault winner and held off Fairview’s Maggie Alchin to win the 100 hurdles. She also won the 400 relay (55.99) with Franciska Treiliha, Allie Urlaub and Keslee Jex and the 800 relay (2:00.74) with Maddie Linton, Maggie Thayer and Tiffany Tessmer.

Other winners on Tuesday included:

BOYS

Alpena’s Julian Stevens in the 100 dash (11.47); Alpena’s Quinn Kelly in the 800 run (2:08.20); Alpena’s Hayden Allen in the 1,600 run (4:51.03) and 3,200 run (11:42.66); Alpena’s Joseph Sheridan in the 110 hurdles (16.33); Hale’s Zachery Koepke in the 300 hurdles (time not available); Alcona’s 400 relay team of Garrett Somers, Gavin Walker, Hayden Johnston and Hunter Rigby (46.13); Alcona’s 800 relay team of Somers, Rigby, Jeremiah Bullis and William Liebler (1:37.61); Alpena’s 3,200 relay team of Elijah Allen, Hayden Allen, Andrew Dargis and Hunter Hitzelberger (9:35.43); Alpena’s Ethan Johnson in the shot put (42-0 1/2); Alpena’s Ryan Voltz in the discus (111-9 1/2); Fairview’s Landon Galea in the high jump (5-10) and long jump (20-3) and Bullis in the pole vault (11-0).

GIRLS

Athletes race for position during the girls 100 meter dash. Pictured from left to right are: Posen’s Mia Newhouse, Alpena’s Allie Urlaub, Alcona’s Carmen Dellar, Posen’s Macy Kroll, Rogers City’s Alexis Cook, and Hillman’s Morgan Arbour.

Alcona’s Carmen Dellar in the 100 dash (13.69) and 200 dash (28.24); Treiliha in the 400 dash (1:02.78); Alpena’s Emma Dickins in the 800 run (2:39.55); Alpena’s Madi Szymanski in the 1,600 run (5:18.60); Alpena’s Samantha Zolnierek in the 3,200 run (14:03.18); Tessmer in the 300 hurdles (55.03); Alpena’s 1,600 relay team of Grace Mitchell, Thayer, Liberty Prevost and Treiliha (4:43.96); Alpena’s 3,200 relay team of Mitchell, Dickins, Kaelyn Heath and Cailyn Burrone (11:50.14); Alcona’s Kelsey Hansen in the shot put (33-9) and discus (96-4); Posen’s Macy Kroll in the high jump (4-10) and Urlaub in the long jump (14-7 1/2).

Full meet results will run in a future edition of The News.

Alpena senior Cooper Bright and Alpena junior Chloe Lawrence were named the Male and Female Athletes of the Meet respectively after a combined four individual wins.

Alcona’s Gavin Walker leads the way during the final leg of the boys 400 relay.