Cross Country Regional Roundup: Aiden Harrand leads Buckley to championship; Traverse City St. Francis boys, girls win titles
Oct. 28—BUCKLEY — Aiden Harrand was just glad it wasn't raining.
The Buckley senior and now three-time Division 4 regional champion practiced all week while northern Michigan's weather looked and felt a lot more like that of the Great Northwest as consistent rain pummeled the area.
"It was miserable," Harrand said of the week's weather leading up to Saturday
But that was not the case Saturday morning at Buckley Community Schools as the sun broke through the clouds from time to time to shine on the bevy of high school varsity runners taking to the course with a trip to the state finals and championship glory on the line.
For the first time in more than two decades, that glory belonged to the Buckley girls — earning Harrand and the rest of her fellow Bears a regional title and a chance to compete on the biggest stage for a state championship at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday, Nov. 4.
"I'm so excited, and I'm so proud of my girls," Harrand said. "Going from my freshman year of only having two girls on the team to turn around with a huge team winning regionals is beyond amazing. I'm so proud of them and so proud of us."
Buckley won the girls division with 44 points as Mason County Eastern finished runner-up with 50. Grand Traverse Academy took third, qualifying the Mustangs for the state finals as well.
Harrand won by more than a minute and a half, running a 17:39.6 — a new personal record, a new course record and a new school record — while Leland's Ella Knudsen finished in second at 19:09.7, qualifying her for the state finals as an individual.
"I knew I wasn't doing this for myself. I was doing this for the team," Harrand said. "It was tough, but I did it for them."
Harrand goes to the finals with teammates Brooklynn Frazee (5th, 20:31.3), Kinsey Peer (7th, 20:37), Mikayla Kulawiak (15th, 21:13), Kaylee Swanson (21:46), Madison Chilson (27th, 22:16.5) and Kayla Milarch (45th, 24:56.7).
The Mustangs headed to MIS for GT Academy are Paige Bell (9th, 20:56.1), Addison Patrzik (12th, 20:57.9), Madison Smith (16th, 21:21.5), Shenoah Collier (18th, 21:36.7), Bailey Stephen (19th, 21:39), Ava Butera (28th, 22:18.5) and Stella York (34th, 22:59.2).
Area runners qualifying as individuals along with Knudsen were Bear Lake-Onekama's Addy Zeller (3rd, 20:21.1), Frankfort's Addison Chownyk (6th, 20:32.4), Lake Leelanau St. Mary's Claire Couturier (10th, 20:56.5), Leland's Natalie Burpee (14th, 21:04.4), Glen Lake's Emily Alaimo (17th, 21:22.4) and Brethren's Abby Kissling (21st, 21:45.5).
In the boys division, Mesick freshman Kyle Redman began his varsity cross country postseason career with an individual regional championship. The young Bulldog lived up to his school mascot's reputation, putting together a strong performance with a time of 15:46.3.
"I felt really good, today," Redman said. "I had a good warmup and was feeling strong. My legs were feeling very energetic and bouncy."
Redman will be joined at the state championships by his twin brother, Ty Redman, who finished in fourth place at 15:59.9. Both qualified as individuals.
"That kick at the end, that was just whatever I had left," Kyle said of his sprint the final 100 yards. "It didn't feel good, I can tell you that."
Colebrook Sutherland nabbed the runner-up slot, leading Glen Lake to a runner-up finish in the overall standings to confirm reservations for seven Lakers at MIS on Nov. 4.
Joining Sutherland at the state finals are Abraham Feeney (10th, 16:46), Liam McCaw (13th, 17:17.7), Joel Martin (27th, 18:14.9), Lincoln Bailey (32nd, 18:28.8), Britton Wheeler (41st, 19:03.8) and Dean McKellar (44th, 19:13.7).
Mason County Eastern won the boys championship, but the Leland Comets finished third to qualify for state as a team.
Representing Leland will be Augustin Creamer (11th, 17:11.2), Evan Keen (18th, 17:42.5), Brady Keen (20th, 17:57.6), Logan DeFour (33rd, 18:30.2), Sawyer Couturier (42nd, 19:11.3), Jimmy Alpi (43rd, 19:13.1) and Ryan Grinage (50th, 19:36.3).
Area boys runners who qualified as individuals along with the Redman brothers were Bear Lake-Onekama's Kaden Forward (3rd, 15:52.4) and Mason Sinke (7th, 16:38.4) as well as Frankfort's Carroll Robotham (14th, 17:18.6).
Runners finishing in the top 15 of the boys and girls division all qualified for the state finals and earned All-Region honors.
The Division 4 girls race kicks off the state championship finals at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The D4 boys race follows at 10:50 a.m.
DIVISION 3
Gladiators double champs at East Jordan
EAST JORDAN — Twice was nice for Traverse City St. Francis as both the Gladiator boys and girls varsity cross country teams captured titles at the Division 3 regional championships in East Jordan on Saturday.
The titles mark the ninth regional crown in a row for the Gladiator girls and the fifth straight for the boys as St. Francis continues to dominate the cross country landscape, finishing No. 1 in both the final boys and girls rankings. The wins also send both teams to the state championship finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Saturday, Nov. 4.
St. Francis' Betsy Skendzel took the top spot in the girls division, winning regional gold by more than a minute. The junior finished in 17:52.94 with Elk Rapids' Brynne Schulte taking second at 18:53.19.
Both the Glads and Elks send their full teams to the state finals. Elk Rapids finished runner-up to St. Francis, scoring 36 points to the Gladiators' 31.
Representing St. Francis along with Skendzel will be Molly Kate Hollandsworth (4th, 19:17.75), Mary Masserant (5th, 19:18), Maddie Gallagher (7th, 19:30.12), Emily Dunphy (15th, 20:20.3), Sarah Trojanowski (18th, 20:33.4) and Margot Hagerty (23rd, 20:46.15).
The regional title win for the girls was dedicated to the mother of one of the St. Francis runners.
"We pulled through," St. Francis head coach Julie Duffing said. "It was a really good day for us. I'm really excited for us."
Duffing said a state title has been the girls' goal all season.
"If we can stay happy and healthy and just relax out there, I think we'll be OK," she said of the Glads' championship chances. "We just have to stay focused and keep the intensity levels high."
The Elks en route to MIS along with Schulte are Anna Pray (6th, 19:23.76), Hunter Shellenbarger (8th, 19:40.63), Jaida Schulte (10th, 19:45.05), Eva Pray (12th, 20:05.33), Ella Peck (25th, 21:16.76) and Joelle Swanson (30th, 21:42.83).
Area girls qualifying as individuals were Mancelona's Emily Anger (13th, 20:06.37), Charlevoix's Katie Rohrer (14th, 20:07.2), Grayling's Nico Triebold (16th, 20:24) and Boyne City's Delaney Little (19th, 20:33.62).
The St. Francis boys took seven of the top 11 spots with Leo Swager leading the way in second at 15:58.37 and teammate Josh Slocum not far behind in third with a personal best at 15:59.88.
Riley Pattinson was sixth at 16:22.64 followed by Owen Read in seventh at 16:23.44, Robby Myler in ninth at 16:25.5, Tucker Krumm in 10th at 16:30.75, and Lewis Walter in 11th at 16:33.64.
"The boys were super excited, but they know it's one meet at a time. We're done with this one, and now it's on to the next goal," Duffing said. "They thrive off of pushing each other, and it is so fun to watch them."
Charlevoix finished third as a team to qualify for state. Those repping the Rayders will be Hunter Eaton (12th, 16:34.08), Ryder Hopkins (18th, 17:08.78), Matthew Solomon (19th, 17:09.03), Jacob Veurink (23rd, 17:21.02), David Dhaseleer (24th, 17:28.29), Peyton Scott (36th, 18:27.62) and Quinn Cassada (71st, 20:45.91).
Area boys qualifying as individuals were Kalkaska's Gavin Guggemos (4th, 16:08.23), Camden Moore (15th, 16:59.19) and Adam Williams (17th, 17:03.45); Grayling's Drew Moore (5th, 16:14.46) and Tristan Demlow (14th, 16:53.9); Elk Rapids' Qwynn Darnell (16th, 17:01.22) and Boyne City's Isaac Dionne (20th, 17:11.84).
Runners finishing in the top 15 of the boys and girls division all qualified for the state finals and earned All-Region honors.
The Division 3 state championships start at 10:10 a.m. Saturday with the girls race followed by the boys race at 11:30 a.m.
DIVISION 4
Cardinals dominate behind Nowak's win at East Jordan
Girls State-Qualifying Teams: 1. Johannesburg-Lewiston 34 (regional champion); 2. Harbor Springs 47; 3. Petoskey St. Michael 99.
Joburg: 1. Allie Nowak 18:47.99 (regional champion); 6. Harlie Fox 19:26.68; 8. Madalyn Agren 19:34.99; 10. Yolanda Gascho 20:36.32; 14. Danielle Agren 20:58.18; 19. Rosalinda Gascho 22:01.42; 20. Cora Mullins 22:01.68.
Harbor Springs: 4. Stefi Reskevics 19:21.65; 7. Juniper Rodham 19:28.51; 12. Fran Warren 20:43.35; 15. Julia Clarke 21:06.6; 17. Genevieve Rodham 21:26.06; 18. McKenzie Bowman 21:37.32; 21. Grace Hayhurst 22:10.47.
Petoskey SM: 2. Jane Manthei 18:57.11; 13. Veronica Paga 20:44.44; 30. Kate Schlueter 24:11.51; 37. Adelaide Kolka 25:18.48; 42. Ella Nolan 26:06.47; 56. Catherine Hayes 29:10.41.
Area Individual Qualifiers: 5. Miriam Murrell 19:25.32 (Gaylord St. Mary); 9. Elizabeth Furman 20:26.74 (Inland Lakes); 11. Ruby Pletcher 20:41.15 (Ellsworth) 16. Elke Knauf 21:09.98 (East Jordan); 22. Isabella Hocking 22:11.33 (Bellaire); 23. Bailey Thompson 22:23.63 (Gaylord St. Mary).
Boys State-Qualifying Teams: 1. Petoskey SM 55 (regional champion); 2. Joburg 56; 3. Harbor Springs 66.
Petoskey SM: 2. Cody Bradley 16:28.09; 5. Lynus Cadarette 16:55.09; 6. Russell Vandermus 17:09; 13. Atticus Cadarette 17:31.62; 35. David Chamberlin 19:23.31; 54. Ronan Weed 21:43.01; 58. Elijah Pulver 22:43.61.
Joburg: 1. Malaki Gascho 16:25.30 (regional champion); 3. Blake Fox 16:46.29; 4. Jeremiah Witt 16:46.37; 25. Dusty Layman 18:32.73; 30. Drake Fulton 18:50.6; 61. Nathan Jackson 24:16.08.
Harbor Springs: 9. Trevor Clarke 17:23.03; 10. Logan Kihnke 17:24.97; 15. Henry Kruzel 17:35.13; 17. Teddy Krieger 17:42.54; 18. Adam Ferguson 17:42.93; 19. Max Vroman 17:44.6; 49. Everett Baetens 20:40.39.
Area Individual Qualifiers: 11. Austin Sneed 17:26.32 (East Jordan); 16. Jacob Chamberlain 17:38.42 (East Jordan); 20. Tyler DeYoung 17:51.02 (Ellsworth).
