Macomb County Championships 2023
Stony Creek Metropark - Eastwood Beach
The Macomb County Cross Country Championship was once again at Eastwood Beach in Stony Creek Metropark and featured runners from every school in the state’s third-most populous county. The competition was much faster than last year despite pouring rain, gusting wind, and slippery, muddy course conditions, which demonstrates the high level of competition in the area. The top 21 places earned a coveted All-County Team berth: in 2022 it took a 20:33 in the girls’ race and a 17:14 on the boys’ side. This year? You had to be under 20:10 and 16:50.
Girls
Freshman Annie Hrabovsky took the lead toward the two-mile mark and pulled away to take first in the ladies’ race in 17:58, leading a dominant Romeo pack to a team win. The Bulldogs went 1-2-3-5-7-8 to put all but one of their varsity squad in the top ten. They are currently the favorite to win the Division 1 State Meet and for good reason: their top three all are running 18:06 or under and all varsity girls are under 19:45.
Armada’s Ava Baltierra was the top Blue Water Area finisher, placing 11th in her personal best of 19:25. Last year, that time would have snagged her fourth place, showing just how fast this race shaped up to be with the field pulled by Romeo’s front runners. “I don’t think I could have run that time without the competition: they really pushed me to the finish line,” Baltierra said. “I personally love the course and after racing it earlier in the season I knew when to start kicking it in. I really tried to focus on my second mile and not fall behind. The course conditions weren’t ideal, but I wasn’t just running through it; it was the same for every athlete.” Brooklyn Khon placed 23rd for the Tigers in 20:21 and teammates Sam Kook (28th; 20:29) and Abby Denoyer (37th; 20:59) ran their best times. The Armada team took 5th overall and won the Division 2/3/4 trophy.
For the Richmond Blue Devils, the team was 11th and Brianna Albers had her season-best in 20:18 to take 22nd place, followed by Paulina Chapman (54th; 21:56), Kelsey Pendry (64th; 22:27), Sidney James (83rd; 23:34), and Jadyn Kozlowski (106th; 25:15). Pendry, James, and Kozlowski all ran season or personal-best times.
Anchor Bay's Lauren Thomas was 30th in 20:35. Macomb Athletic Club for Homeschoolers took 14th overall: listed below are their scoring five.
55: Faith Wessel, 21:57
62: Erin Rowan, 22:19
87: Lauren Robinson, 23:54
91: Amber Watta, 24:09
107: Cecilia Grice, 22:23
Boys
Thomas Westphal’s bib was #1 and that’s exactly how things ended up at the finish line: he took home the individual championship in 15:22. His teammates had a stellar performance as well, taking third place overall and once again showing their pack racing strategy. Zachary Rubicz was 14th in 16:26 to also earn All-Conference honors, and Greg Vogt (24th; 16:55), Aidan Leslie (25th; 16:56), and Gabe Rusch (29th; 17:06) all had personal records. Their team spread was only eleven seconds from their third to fifth man and with regionals looming, the goal is a team state berth. Romeo won the boys' team title.
Ian Potts of MACH (Macomb Athletic Club for Homeschoolers) was the next finisher (after Anchor Bay) for Blue Water Area runners in 57th with a time of 17:57. Close behind was Luke Nawrocki of Armada, taking 61st place in 18:12. Richmond’s top runner was Sawyer Rosberg in 85th with an 18:52, a personal record. Kai Fisher of Memphis placed 86th in 18:53.
Full Results:
Blue Water Area Conference teams are back in action Tuesday with the BWAC Championships at Cros-Lex High School.
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