Local runners compete at cross country state championship meet

CAMBRIDGE TWP. — The best cross country runners in the state gathered at Michigan International Speedway Saturday for the MHSAA state championships where the Adrian boys were the top local runners.

The Maples took sixth in the Division 2 boys race with a score of 220 to trail Otsego (135), Chelsea (147), St. Johns (150), Grand Rapids Christian (160) and Pinckney (210).

Adrian has been led all season by anyone of its top-five runners, but at MIS it was sophomore Braylon Petty medaling as he took 29th (16:17.49). Junior Aiden Smith took 38th (16:30.40) followed by fellow juniors Ben Schefka in 43rd (16:34.87), Bryce Soule in 68th (16:48.61) and Jake Eagling in 136th (17:28.58).

The Maples will return its entire team for next season.

Tecumseh senior Ethan Leitner earned a medal as he took 22nd with a time of 16:05.22.

Senior Caleb Jarema of Pinckney took first overall with a time of 15:22.22.

On the girls side, Tecumseh took 16th with a score of 434 while East Grand Rapids (66), Grand Rapids Christian (99) and Petoskey (136) took the top three spots.

Junior Chesney Wilke led Tecumseh in 54th (19:52.59) while fellow junior Kaylee Pesta took 95th (20:20.83). Freshman Madison Morris took 145th (20:52.42) while junior Emma Abbott took 175th (21:16.69) and fellow junior Emily Stevenson took 193rd (21:31.24).

Tecumseh's entire team will return next season.

Adrian freshman Sophy Skeels took 97th (20:21.87) while sophomore Yoselin Fermin-Campos took 134th (20:47.44).

Division 3

The Onsted and Clinton girls teams, along with the Hudson boys, competed in the Division 3 races.

Onsted girls took 20th (470) to beat out Lenawee County Athletic Association foes, Clinton, in 21st (483). Hart (143) won the title followed by Kent City (179) and Traverse City St. Francis (182).

Freshman Emmry Ross led the Wildcats as she took 49th (20:03.17) while junior Kara Terakedis took 51st (20:06.81). Senior Cassie Bayes took 169th (21:59.55) while junior Allyson Robarge took 178th (22:02.78) and freshman Allie England took 198th (22:25.51).

The Redwolves were led by a trio of sophomores in Cylee Elkins in 62nd (20:18.85), Samantha Coots in 108th (20:59.63) and Allison Bowles in 151st (21:29.03). Freshman Zoey Sieier took 156th (21:45.13) and sophomore Emma Shankland took 209th (22:45.25).

Clinton returns its entire team for next season.

Blissfield junior Mari Cueto took 106th (20:58.84). Ithaca senior Lani Bloom took first overall at 17:29.69.

Hudson's boys team took 18th overall (387) while St. Louis (104) took first followed by Hart (146) and Lansing Catholic (194).

Sophomore Alex Czeiszperger led the Tigers as he took 33rd (16:54.63) while freshman Isaac St. John took 87th (17:35.51). Seniors Tristan Bolenbaugh and Rhys Mitchell took 123rd (17:54.44) and 154th (18:17.25) respectively while junior Josh Deline took 173rd (18:34.71).

Clinton senior Gabe Nelson took 116th (17:51.86). Junior Hunter Jones of Benzie Central won the race at 15:08.39.

Division 4

Both Lenawee Christian teams raced with the boys team taking 11th while the girls took 12th.

Leading the Cougars to 313 points in the boys race was juniors Grant Long and Lucas Lange in 56th (17:50.55) and 73rd (18:06.37) respectively. Sophomore Nathan Daniels took 76th (18:04.35) while freshman Joel Lange took 140th (18:56.35) and sophomore Josh Green took 152nd (19:08.65).

The Cougars will return everyone for next year's team.

Morenci junior Bryson Bachelder took 52nd (17:49.63). Hillsdale Academy took first overall (154) while Concord took second (184) and Kalamazoo Christian took third (238). Junior Lezawe Osterink of Wyoming Potter's House won at 15:50.60.

The LCS girls took 12th (367) while Muskegon Western Michigan Christian won (98) followed by Kalamazoo Christian and Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest tied with 157 points.

Freshman Izzy Brooks medaled as she took 18th (20:08.09) while senior Lizzy Scharer took 82nd (21:40.74). Juniors Dalay Ojeda and Zoey Breznik took 123rd (22:22.88) and 160th (23:00.86) respectively. Senior Rachel Powers took 180th (23:32.31).

Addison freshman Stephanie Hernandez took 55th (21:08.77) while Morenci sisters, senior Libby Rorick and sophomore Leah Rorick, took 69th (21:26.10) and 130th (22:31.19) respectively.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Lenawee County runners compete at MSHAA state championship at MIS