News File Photo Alcona’s Garrett Somers, left, and Gavin Walker race neck and neck with Mio’s Nathan Hurst during the boys 100 meter dash on Tuesday at the Alpena News Honor Roll Invite. Somers and Walker will compete in the 200 meter dash and 100 meter dash respectively at today’s Division 4 track and field state finals.

ALPENA — After a season of hard work and strong regional performances, Northeast Michigan track and field athletes are hoping to end the season strong.

Three Alpena High School athletes will compete in the Division 1 state finals today in Rockford, while more than a dozen local athletes will compete in the Division 4 finals at Baldwin Middle School in Hudsonville.

For athletes making a return trip to the finals, today is a chance to prove themselves on the biggest of stages. For first-time qualifiers, today is not just a chance to compete against the state’s best, it’s also a chance to experience the finals atmosphere.

Alpena senior sprinter Cooper Bright is one athlete making a return to the finals and hopes to end the season with an all-state performance in the 400 meter dash.

Bright finished 11th in the event at last year’s finals, but has blazed an impressive path this season. On Tuesday, he set a new school record in the 400 at the Alpena News Track and Field of 49.84 seconds and has also won regional and conference titles in the event this season.

“I’m feeling good. Getting a PR right before it is always good,” Bright said. “Before (last year) I had never run against athletes of that caliber, so I’ll be a little more prepared this time.”

Alpena’s other returner this weekend is Madi Szymanski, who will compete in the 3,200 run. Szymanski finished 14th in the event at last year’s finals and has had a strong senior season.

After earning all-state honors in cross country in her final season, Szymanski hopes to do the same thing to cap off her final track season as a Wildcat.

Alpena junior Elijah Allen hopes to turn a strong season — which includes a conference title — into an all-state finish this weekend in the 300 hurdles.

After having eight all-state medalists last year, Alcona High School hopes to bring home a similar haul today. Senior Kelsey Hansen, who finished runner-up in shot put last year, has a busy day ahead as she’ll compete in the shot put, discus, and long jump.

In addition to Hansen’s three events, Gavin Walker competes in the boys 100 dash, Garrett Somers and Jeremiah Bullis both compete in the boys 200 dash, Bullis competes in the pole vault, Hayden Johnston competes in the shot put, and Alcona’s boys 800 relay team competes as well.

Onaway’s Madilyn Crull also has a busy day ahead. One year after a fifth-place finish in the high jump, Crull competes in the 100 dash, 200 dash, high jump, and 400 relay today.

Other local competitors today include: Rogers City’s boys 400 relay team, Rogers City’s Anthony Paull in the shot put; Onaway’s Jadin Mix in the 300 hurdles, Rogers City’s Hayden Hentkowski in the long jump, Onaway’s Xavier Santiago in the high jump, and Posen’s Lizzy Romel in the 100 hurdles.