MAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Macomb Area Conference competition for the 2023 season wrapped up Saturday with the MAC Championships at Lake St. Clair Metropark. Results were tallied for finishers overall and also separated into three divisions: White, Red, and Blue. Medals were awarded to the top 21 finishers in each division. Featured below are some of the highlights from each Blue Water Area team.
MAC RED
Anchor Bay's Thomas Westphal won the boys' race in a MAC-record time of 15:19. The Tars took fourth overall and within their division, with four of their scoring five earning medals (all are running sub-17) and their third through seventh runners all setting personal records.
Thomas Westphal: 1st in 15:19. *MAC RECORD.
Zachary Rubicz: 11th in 16:29. Medalist.
Gabe Rusch: 17th in 16:41. *PR. Medalist.
Greg Vogt: 20th in 16:46. *PR. Medalist.
Aidan Leslie: 23rd in 16:50. *PR
Aaron Osterman: 36th in 17:25. *PR
Brandon Ziehmer: 42nd in 17:44.*PR - third fastest freshman in the MAC.
Anchor Bay's Lauren Thomas finished 10th in the MAC Red girls' race and 15th overall, running a 20:10 to medal.
The St. Clair boys were sixth overall and in the MAC Red, seeing many personal records fall across their varsity squad, as well. Ethan Kreger was their second man on Saturday and finished as the fastest freshman in the MAC, placing 29th in 17:05. "I went out fast and did everything I could to hold on to it," Kreger stated.
Dylan Distelrath: 15th in 16:40. *PR. Medalist.
Ethan Kreger: 29th in 17:05. *PR - fastest freshman in the MAC. Medalist.
Dylan Schuman: 30th in 17:07. *PR
Jerry Westrick: 31st in 17:10. *PR
Brayden Prieskorn: 44th in 17:50.*PR
Korbyn Thornton: 49th in 17:58. SR
Colin Boullard: 51st in 18:04.*PR
Luke McDonell: 52nd in 18:05. *PR
For the Lady Saints, another fast freshman led St. Clair to a fifth-place team MAC Red finish (sixth overall). Gabriella Komarowski ran her personal best of 20:39 to finish 19th in the Red. She is the fourth-fastest freshman in the conference. The team had a low spread of 1:30 between runners.
Gabriella Komarowski: 19th in 20:39. *PR. Medalist.
Allie Komarowski: 26th in 20:59. SR
Ella Thornton: 27th in 21:06. *PR
Molly McNabb: 33rd in 21:32.
Aubrey Sargent: 41st in 22:10.
Clair Bacon: 43rd in 22:35.
Eden Brewer: 49th in 23:17. *PR
MAC BLUE
The Marysville Vikings took home the first-place trophy in the girls' race, medaling eight of their runners in the Blue division. Lillian Rutallie was first in the Blue Division as well, running her season record of 20:17. "I'm extremely proud of the entire team for their hard work," Marysville coach Sarah St. Coeur stated. "They are great teammates who encourage and push each other to try their best in each meet. It was noticeable in the pack running we had in both the girls' and boys' races. We also had some boys step up with two of our varsity runners unable to compete. Our top five varsity boys all ran personal records."
Lillian Rutallie: 1st in 20:17. SR. Medalist.
Ella Deshon: 5th in 21:49. SR. Medalist.
Addison Stevens: 6th in 21:49. *PR. Medalist.
Joselyn Chapman: 12th in 22:32. *PR. Medalist.
Kenzie LeVey: 13th in 22:56. *PR. Medalist.
Kylee Hall: 14th in 23:24. SR. Medalist.
Lydia McBride: 17th in 23:54. *PR. Medalist.
Carlee Woolum: 18th in 23:54. Medalist.
Marysville boys: 5th in Blue Division, 20th overall.
Nathan VanderMuelen: 9th in 17:49. *PR. Medalist.
Jeremy Johnson: 22nd in 18:56. *PR. Medalist.
Colton Stevens: 23rd in 18:58. *PR.
Korey LeVey: 28th in 19:38. *PR.
Jameson Glass: 35th in 20:13. *PR.
For Marine City, twins Alex (10th in 17:50) and Jayden Robertson (13th in 18:01) medaled, along with Earl Beattie (20th in 18:48). Ryan Jackins (27th in19:27) and Trenton DeSmyther (44th in 20:59) rounded out the top five for the Mariners, who all set season or personal bests. The team was fourth in the Blue division, 19th overall. In the girls' race, Emma Erdmann was 10th in 22:12 and Aubrey Pilon 11th in 22:27 - personal records for both. Emma Terhune was 19th in 23:57 and Morgan Goulette 22nd in 24:20.
Port Huron High's Jordan Barksdale (35th; 20:12), Johnathon Heim (51; 22:00), and Bondaryl McCall (54th; 22:05) ran for the Red Hawks.
MAC WHITE
The Port Huron Northern boys were 10th overall but runners-up in the MAC White division. Once again, it was a Luke up front: Luke VanderHeuvel was fourth in his division in 16:26 (his PR) and Luke Maher was 6th in 16:42, his season record. Grant Gonser finished 16th to medal, also running his personal best in 17:34. Oliver Howie (26th - 18:17 PR) and Carson Prone (28th- 18:30) brought up the rest of the top five.
The Lady Huskies had two medalists: Samantha Langolf in 20:54 (10th) and Haley Sharp in 21:20 (11th). Isabelle Nestle (22:44), Miley Caughel (23:52), and Emily Edwards (24:07) were 25th, 32nd, and 40th, respectively. They were fourth in the White division, and 11th overall as a team.
Perhaps the best story of the day was a spontaneous cool down that started with one group of runners that invited others to join, leading to a mob of teenagers showcasing cross country camaraderie.
MAC CHAMPS Full Results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/220941/info
CHSL Championships
Tyler Lenn of Cardinal Mooney ran his season-best time (16:02) and was close to his personal best at Willow Metropark in the Cardinal Division Catholic High School League Championships, defeating Abenezer Zerone of Royal Oak Shrine by seven seconds. Zerone had finished right ahead of Lenn in every CHSL Jamboree previous to Saturday’s championship. “It was a great race,” Lenn commented. “The CHSL continues to grow more competitive each year. Jackson Lumen-Christi was newly added to the league a few days before the championship. Performing alongside them made for a more competitive race. I’m glad to have that competition to race against and excited for what Mooney will do at regionals, as well as the whole Catholic league on the state stage. I personally am excited for the regional and state championships!”
Maya Ferguson was Cardinal Mooney’s lone female athlete, finishing 19th in 22:53.
Finish line photo cam:
Full Results: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/225268/info
All Blue Water Area teams head into regional competition this weekend.
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