Adams girls hope to start new streak on cross country trials
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
ROCHESTER HILLS — Some streaks are met to be broken.
Rochester Adams had a streak snapped on the cross country course in 2009 and now the Highlanders are trying to start a new one.
After 17 straight berths in the Lower Peninsula Class A/Division 1 state finals, the Adams girls cross-country team was left on the outside looking in at a state finals pass in 2009, finishing fourth at the regional. To add insult to injury, the Highlanders dipped even further last season and were sixth at the regional.
The top three boys and girls teams, plus the top 15 individual finishers, from each regional all advance to the Lower Peninsula state finals. This year’s state meet will be at Michigan Speedway near Brooklyn, Mich., on Nov. 5.
“Our goal, definitely, is to make it back,” said veteran Adams coach Budd Cicciarelli. “Not qualifying the past two years has got a little old.”
FINISHING STRONG: Rochester Adams senior Sarah Johnson has emerged as one of the Highlanders' top runers this season and hopes to aid a state meet-qualifying effort at Saturday's regionals. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
This year Adams is expected to be amongst the mix of top teams at Saturday’s Division 1 regional at Goodells County Park west of Port Huron. Even with a deep field at the regional, Adams has defeated most of the teams in the regional and will challenge Oxford for the regional crown.
The past two years Adams has had individual qualifiers on the girls side, including Jamie Morrissey, who earned a top-30 finish the past two years as a freshman and sophomore.
“Our goal is to make it (to the state meet) as a team,” said Morrissey, who recently won the OAA Red division championship. “Coach (Budd Cicciarelli) had a long streak going, 17 years, where we made it. We didn’t do it the past two years and that is one of our goals this season. We want to make it there this year and maybe win regionals.”
Adams has three quality runners in Morrissey, newcomer Gabrielle Thivierge and Sarah Johnson. They also have an improving depth chart that should help them at this weekend’s deep regional.
Clarkston, Rochester, Lake Orion and Romeo also figure to be in the hunt, likely for third place and the other qualifying spot. Adams and Oxford are expected to challenge for the regional title.
MOVING UP QUICK: In her first season of cross country, Gabrielle Thivierge of Rochester Adams has become her team's No. 2 runner and a key ingredient to their success. File Photo | Dan Stickradt
“Two years ago we just got hit with the flu bug. Most of the team was sick and we just ran terrible at the regional,” recalled Cicciarelli, who has coached since the late 1970s. “Last year we just weren’t all that good. We have run a lot better this season.”
Adams was fourth at the recent Oakland County championships and third at the league meet. The Highlanders also have several other top-10 team finishes at various invitationals this season.
The Highlanders do have a deep history, which included the state runner-up trophy in 2000 and the state championship in 2006. Adams has several other top-10 and top-20 state-meet finishes on its resume.
This year’s team hopes to add to that legacy.
“Our goal is to (qualify) and maybe finish in the top 10,” said Cicciarelli. “But we can’t do that if we don’t qualify. We need to step up at our regional.”
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Category: Featured Articles, High School, Prep Wraps, Rochester Adams
