The year was 1977 when the Bulldogs were competing in Class C, and gasoline was selling for less than one dollar a gallon.

But there were signs Rudyard’s history was about to change May 15 when the Bulldogs won the Division 2 Regional at Bark River-Harris.

That indeed did change Saturday as the Bulldogs were crowned Finals champions with 87 points at Flivver Field. They were followed by BR-H with 78 and Ewen-Trout Creek with 71.

“We were dealing with a lot of little things, but the girls kept battling,” coach Mike Kirschner said. “They love to compete, and the warm weather helped. We knew what to expect from Pickford and Bark River-Harris, but we didn’t see (E-TC) coming because West Iron County won that (Gwinn) Regional. They’re young, but (E-TC has) some good athletes. No doubt, they’re tough.”

Bristol Shamion of West Iron County won the 100-meter hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and high jump in Division 2 at the Upper Peninsula Track & Field finals Saturday. (Courtesy photo)

West Iron, led by sophomore Bristol Shamion, placed fourth with 66 points. Norway was seventh in the 12-team field and Iron Mountain finished 11th.

Shamion posted victories in the 100 hurdles (16.81) and 300 (48.49), both personal bests, and a third-place finish in the 200 at a season-best 27.82. Shamion also won the high jump at 4-10.

The individual champions also included Norway senior Lauren Adams in the 200 at 26.77 seconds. Adams was second in both the 100 and 400 and placed fourth in long jump.

Rudyard sophomore Amelia Fountain won the 100 in 13.22 seconds and 400 (1:02.27) and was runner-up to Adams in the 200 (27.4).

Rudyard freshman Melissa Kirschner soared a personal-best 9 feet, 1 inch in pole vault, enough to match the UPD2 Finals record she now shares with Kali Jo Marshall of St. Ignace from 2010.

BR-H swept the sprint relays and junior Emma Zawada, who was a part of each relay, added a first in long jump at 14-11.5.

E-TC crossed the finish first in the 3,200 relay and senior Irelynd McGeshick took discus (101-1).

Pickford senior Talya Schreiber, who will continue her running career at Bowling Green (Ohio) University, captured the 800 (2:29.58), 1,600 (5:08.2) and 3,200 (11:14.28). She won a combined eight individual championships over her final three seasons.

Hancock’s Tatum Sporalski won the shot put at 32-7.25.

Also of note for West Iron:

— Senior Lacey Shamion was second in the long jump.

— Senior Lilyanna DeSousa was third in shot put.

— Sophomore Kendall McDonald was sixth in the 100 and 200.

— Genesis Robles, Lilyanna DeSousa, Lacey Shamion and McDonald placed second in the 400 relay.

— Robles, DeSousa, McDonald and Laurel Johnson placed fourth in the 800 relay.

Iron Mountain junior Lindsey Lewandowski was seventh in long jump. The Mountaineers were fourth in the 3200 relay and the team of Lewandowski, Emma Bouchard, Whitney Siren and Brandi Ciochetto was third in the 1600 relay.

—

The Daily News contributed.