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West Ottawa, Zeeland East, Holland Christian cross country earn Under the Lights titles

dan d'addona, holland sentinel
·4 min read

GRAND RAPIDS - The West Ottawa girls cross country team had a strong start to its state title defense with a win in the Under the Lights Invite at Grand Rapids South Christian.

The Panthers scored 28 points to win the Twilight Big School division to hold off the competition by 33 points.

Even without individual state champion Helen Sachs, who didn't run in the event, the Panthers went 1-2-4-9-12-15 to dominate the races.

The West Ottawa girls cross country team celebrates winning the Under the Lights Invite on Friday night at Grand Rapids South Christian.
The West Ottawa girls cross country team celebrates winning the Under the Lights Invite on Friday night at Grand Rapids South Christian.

Ava Porras won the event with 19:01.0, going 1-2 with Addie Birkholz (19:30.7). Jane Olney finished fourth (19:44.5). Emma Gunnett took ninth (20.36.5), Julia Frampton took 12th (21:12.1) and Lyla Dowling was 15th (21:34.5).

The Zeeland East girls also won at Under the Lights, claiming the Starlight Big School division title with 40 points.

Allison Kuzma took second in the division with a time of 19:04.3, while teammate Emma Drnek was third (19:20.0). Meredith Cook was seventh (19:49.9). Taryn DiLaura was 11th (20:17.1), Megan Kuzma was 17th (20:59.0) and CC Kuras was 20th (21.09.7).

Holland Christian won the Midnight Small School division with 24, while Saugatuck was third with 88.

Holland Christian went 1-2-3 with Olivia Hollebeek (19:53.2), Eliana Stob (19:59.0) and Ellery Lampen (20:05.9). Mackenzie Huizenga took eighth (21:31.1), Layla Geurink was 11th (21:46.1) and Grace Fenton was 12th (21:51.9).

Saugatuck's Kamryn Sixberry took fifth (21:20.6). Anna McQueary was 19th (23:19.8).

The Holland Christian boys also won the Midnight Small School division with 28. Saugatuck was fourth with 118.

Holland Christian's Will Engbers took second in 16:16.2, Landon Gerritsma was fourth (16:55.0), Aidan Brinks was sixth (17:07.3), Will Whitmore was seventh (17:11.9), Nathan Steen was 10th (17:20.6), Brayden Rynsburg was 11th (17:47.0) and Cole Coffman took 17th (17:57.8).

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Saugtuck was led by Sawyer Monro, who finished 13th in 17:48.8. Sammy Gamboa took 18th (18:12.5) and Brennan Nor was 19th (18:13.4).

The Zeeland West girls took third in the Midnight Big School division with 94. Jordyn Klaasen took fourth in 19:29.3.Tessa Rindfliesch took 15th (20:42.8). Evie Kleinheksel was 22nd (21:24.6) and Caiti Grant was 23rd (21:25.1).

The Zeeland West boys also finished third with 68.

Jack DeKruyter finished fourth in 16:23.8, Robert Dodd was seventh (16:45.6), Keagan Smith was 12th (16:57.0) and Carson Hauch was 17th (17.11.4).

The West Ottawa boys finished third with 97. Jake Follett took 13th to lead the Panthers (17:37.2). Levi Jongekryg was 18th (17:53.8) and Camren DeVries was 22nd (18:01.0).

In the Sunset Big School division, Hamilton finished fifth with 95. Abatu Dykstra took second overall with a time of 16.25.8.

The Hamilton girls finished eighth with 213. Lydia Nelson led the Hawkeyes, taking 49th (23.45.3).

The Zeeland East boys took fifth with 131. Caden Guffey took 14th (17:12.9). Dylan Walters was 25th (17:57.8) and Nate Davis was 26th (17:59.2).

Black River's boys finished third with 89 in the Sunset Small School. Isaac Edgington took fourth in 17:28.2. Jonas Ballard took seventh (17.40.5).

Black River took sixth in the Sunser Small School girls divisin with 145. Nora Ballard took 12th (22.54.6) and Abbi Rozman was 13th (23.27.0). Noah Hernandez took 20th (17:46.9) and Evan Kraker was 21st (17.47.2).

In the Twilight Small School division, Fennville took third in the girls race with 95 points. Isabelle Sliter took second overall with a time of 20:03.09. Nidia Martinez finished seventh (21:24.8).

The Fennville boys took eighth (254). Mason Gardea took 49th (20.11.0).

The Holland Calvary boys took fifth in the Starlight Small School division with 106. Riley Weed took 11th (17:22.3), Noah Schipper was 14th (17:37.1), Gibson White was 22nd (18:10.2) and Christian Getz was 24th (18:20.7).

The Holland Calvary girls took seventh in the Starlight Small School division with 178. Acacia Williams finished 35th in 24:16.8.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: West Ottawa, Zeeland East, Holland Christian cross country earn Under the Lights titles