Cross Country: Lakeview, Harper Creek pace area runners at state sinals
The best of the best made it Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn at the Michigan High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Finals.
The Battle Creek area was well represented for the Saturday championship meet with Lakeview and Harper Creek each qualifying their boys teams for the event and St. Philip sending both its boys and girls team to run.
Division 1
Lakeview advanced to to the state meet for the first time in more than 20 years and finished with 490 team points for 22nd place. Spartan senior Parker LaGro highlighted Lakeview's trip to MIS by taking 39th in a time of 16:11.73, just off his school-record time of 15:57.
Sophomore Aiden Moore finished in 127th in 16:52, with junior Caleb Bost just behind that at 16:56, Kevin Grady at 17:19 and Zach Piercy at 17:48.
Division 2
Harper Creek's team had a standout finish at 16th place overall with 418 team points, trailing first-place Otsego.
The Beavers were led by an All-State performance by senior Owen Gilbert, who took 25th at 16:05, just off the pace he set a few weeks ago at 15:41, which had him as the No. 2 runner of all time at the school.
Harper Creek's Dominic Lowrie was 65th in 16:46, which is one of the top times ever at the school for a freshman. Senior Josh Maurer finished in 17:32, Braxton Liss in 17:47 and Brian O'Dell in 17:51.
Running as an individual in Division 2, from the area ,was Coldwater's John Aerts, who finished in 28th in 16:17. Marshall's Aidan McPartlin finished in 17:28 and Olivet's Lucas Hopkins in 17:38.
The Marshall girls qualified as a team and were 11th overall with 346 team points, trailing first-place East Grand Rapids.
Redhawks sophomore Camille DeCola had an All-State performance, taking 14th in 19:00. Marshall senior Brooke Waito was 90th in 20:17 and junior Zariah Ozuzu was just behind her at 92nd in 20:19. Laraya Warnsley finished in 20:41 and Shawn Brophy in 21:36.
Division 3
The Bronson boys were 11th overall, led by top-100 performances by Ashton Wells (16:57) in 34th and Aden Hathaway (17:18) in 54th.
Individually, Quincy's Rhett Reif was All-State, taking 11th in 16:24.
In the girls race, individual Sidney Swick was in the top 100 for Bronson at 87th.
Division 4
The St. Philip boys took 20th as a team, led by sophomore Luke Sprague, who was 57th in 17:52. The Tigers' young team was paced by two other sophomores, as well, with Ryan Casterlline taking 103rd and Max Shugars at 123. Senior Jacob Thome finished 164th and freshman Jerome Bastian was 207th.
The St. Philip girls were 18th as senior Therese Campos was 67th in 21:20 and Emma Shugars was 90th in 21:47. Sophomore Mimi HIbbard took 129th, with Alex Kersten 154th and Sophia Latimer 211th.
Individually, Tekonsha's Dani VanLente was 51st and Colon's Macey Burgess was 65th.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Cross Country: Lakeview, Harper Creek pace area runners at State Finals
