I often get asked the question of which sport is my favorite to cover.
To some it should be an easy answer. I mean, I love hockey, hence I left Michigan for Minnesota. I love football, and I’ve held my own in the same arena as some of my idols (a story for another day).
But if I’m going to be completely honest, the answer to the proposed question isn’t one you’d expect — track and field. And the reason for that answer showed its roots this weekend at the Mark Schuck Open & Multi, an event where something felt really familiar.
A few weeks ago I wrote about how hungry I was to prove myself when I was first breaking into this business with the Manistee News Advocate. I started in the middle of February, the tail end of basketball season, there was no way that I could sink my teeth into a full beat with two weeks left.
So I had to wait until spring which, similar to here, takes forever to arrive in Michigan. Being a few miles away from the furious shores in Lake Michigan didn’t help that process along.
So, baseball and softball were major wild cards. I couldn’t bank on those games. But weirdly enough, track and field was wide open.
That’s what I sunk my teeth into. That’s where my best photography came from. And my goodness, the relationships I built along the way are some I cherish to this day.
Also, the talent was kind of insane.
Benzie Central had Hunter Jones. If you don’t know that name, well, he’s currently at Wake Forest. He owns the second fastest time at the MHSAA state finals. I watched him run his career best cross country time of 14:32.1.
There also were sprinters at Manistee that turned heads. It was the quartet of Ashtyn Janis, Audrey Huizinga, Libby McCarthy and Lacey Zimmerman.
See, this group was one of the best in state in their division. They were All-State in the 4×100 and 4×200 relays. All four are now competing collegiately in track and field.
They were a lot of fun to watch. And in some way, shape or form, I built a relationship with their families. I also got fairly tight with the McCarthy family.
Turns out Libby was the first kid in my career I could call a pure athlete. She was a solid volleyball player, an All-State caliber basketball player and had so many accomplishments in track.
There are also some kids that I never get a bad photo of. I say those are “kids my camera loves.”
But that was in 2023. Let’s fast forward to last weekend at Myers Fieldhouse at Minnesota State University.
See, Libby wound up signing her letter of intent with the University of Marquette. To no surprise, she’s finding success at the college level competing in multiple events. She also competed in last weekend’s pentathlon.
Of course I had to see this for myself.
I’m at the point in my career where the first wave of high school athletes is now competing at the college level. I’ve watched a handful compete at the junior college level.
But watching Libby, man, that hit differently. And as it turns out, my camera still loves her.
I didn’t really think that the part of my career in Manistee would ever collide with the part of my career here in Mankato. It reminded me how small this world really is.
It also reminded me that my mental journey is progressing perfectly. As someone who battles severe anxiety, I’m fighting on a daily basis to make peace with the past.
By all accounts, watching Libby compete started the process to create peace from my time in Manistee. It also reignited the passion I have for track and field and the relationships that come with it.
And for that, I am grateful.
Mitch Vosburg is a multi-time award-winning sports writer and photographer who proudly serves as sports editor for The Free Press. He can be reached at mvosburg@mankatofreepress.com. Follow him on X (@realmitchvburg) and on Instagram (@themantheycallmitch).