Mitchell Day knows just how close he was to an all-state performance at last year’s track and field state finals.

Day wants to leave no doubt this time around.

The Alpena junior is one of several local athletes who will compete in the state finals today. Day and teammate Alec LeTourneau will compete in the Division 1 finals in Hudsonville and more than a dozen local athletes will compete in the Division 4 finals in Grand Rapids.

As a sophomore last year, Day qualified for the state finals in the 3,200 run and finished 10th with a time of 9:21.76. That time set an Alpena varsity and underclassmen record, but it fell agonizingly short of an all-state finish. Rockford’s Isaac Harding finished eighth-the final all-state spot- in 9:17.60.

After qualifying in the 3,200 run again this year, Day knows he’s more than talented enough to finish in the top eight among the state’s best.

“I know it’s a very fast field, highly competitive and I know I’m there,” Day said. “I did not place as well as I wanted to last year, but I was right there.”

Day’s week got off to a roaring start when he shared Male Athlete of the Alpena News Honor Roll Invitational. Day won the 1,600 and 3,200 runs, finished second in the 800 run and was part of a winning 3,200 relay team.

“It’s more a tapering, good to just do one final workout; not too strenuous, but it’s just perfect and keeping me fresh for the big race on Saturday,” Day said of his finish Tuesday.

LeTourneau will compete in the pole vault after clearing 13-9 in regionals.

In the Division 4 finals, many local athletes will be making return appearances and some of them are competing in multiple events.

Alcona’s Torie Harmon qualified in the 400 dash and 800 run after competing in both last year and will look to improve on 14th and 18th place finishes in those events. The same goes for Rogers City distance runner Emily Malocha, who qualified in the 1,600 and 3,200 runs. Malocha finished seventh in the 3,200 run last season to earn all-state honors and 14th in the 1,600 run.

Another multi-event qualifier is Posen’s Lindsey Randall. Randall qualified in the long jump last season, but was forced to miss the state finals. Determined to earn a spot in the finals this season, Randall has been a standout as a long jumper and sprinter and will run in the 200 dash and 400 dash today, the two events she prefers most.

“Honestly it’s the best feeling in the world. This is a dream I’ve had since I was in the sixth grade,” Randall said. “This year I told myself that I was going to try even harder. (Not making the finals) wasn’t going to be an option. I was going.”

Joining Randall in the 200 dash is Fairview’s Mara Krupinski, who was the Female Athlete of the Honor Roll meet. Like Randall, Krupinski qualified in the long jump, but this season she’s been one of the Eagles’ top sprinters and has battled Randall at several meets.

“I’m hoping to medal, so we’re going to push and get me there,” Krupinski said earlier this week.

Hillman’s Billy Kolcan is the area’s other multi-event qualifier and will also be looking for a second straight all-state finish. As a freshman last year, Kolcan tied for fifth in the high jump and he’ll compete today in the high jump and 300 hurdles.

Other area qualifiers include: Mio’s Brooke Shultz (pole vault) and Sam Whitmore (pole vault); Rogers City’s Aaron Romel (100 dash); Hillman’s Brandon Banks (1,600 run); Posen’s Kayla Flewelling (high jump) and Kelsey Jakubcin (shot put) and Onaway’s Clare Bastian (100 dash) and Vydailya Letts (long jump).

James Andersen can be reached via email at sports@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5694. Follow James on Twitter @ja_alpenanews.