Cranbrook, Notre Dame Prep lead D-2 regional field
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
GOODELLS — There is a first for everything. Such a first came Saturday for Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook Kingswood on the cross country course.
The Cranes captured their first-ever girls cross country regional championship at Goodells County Park west of Port Huron. Cranbrook landed three runners in the top six and five in the top 22 to rack up 57 points to win the Division 2 race.
Pontiac Notre Dame Prep was second with 70 points, while Yale finished third with 101 points.
The top three teams and the top 15 individuals in each race advance to the Lower Peninsula state finals Nov. 29.
“We’re in the same conference and same division and we’ve been going back and forth all season,” admitted Cranbrook coach Greg Miller, of his team’s new-found rivalry with Notre Dame Prep. “We knew it would be close today and we lucked out. I’m proud of this team because they have come a long ways. We don’t have any seniors (in the top seven).”
Notre Dame Prep’s Sara Barron was the individual winner, running 19:06. It was the second fastest time of her career.
“It was a flat course, very fast, which is fun,” said Barron, a senior who is the defending D-2 state champion in the 800 meters in track and field. “I don’t do as well on the courses such as Kensington with the big hills. When it’s flat this is my race, my type of course. I just go out there and try my best and kind of use that track mentality.”
Barron was well ahead of runner-up finisher Rachel Durbin of Armada, who crossed in 19:25. Jemma Howlett (third), Claire Ford (fifth) and Emily Barish (sixth) led Cranbrook’s winning effort. Karen Blake and Emily Lynch were 21st and 22nd, respectively for the Cranes.
Jamie Hanson (11th), Christina Casali (13th) and Lauren McGrath (15th) all joined Barron in the top 15 for Notre Dame Prep. Mardina Pagnecco was 30th to round out the Irish’s team score.
Auburn Hills Avondale, the only other school with local ties, finished 12th with 292 points in the girls meet.
In the boys race, St. Clair (41), Marine City (95) and Croswell-Lexington (100) took the top three slots to qualify for state. Armada was fourth (107) and Richmond was a distant fifth with 154 points.
Cranbrook was seventh (205), Notre Dame Prep ninth (216), Orchard Lake St. Mary’s 10th (217) and Avondale 11th (255).
George O’Connor of Croswell-Lexington was the overall winner in convincing fashion, running 16:22. St. Clair’s Cody Smith was second (16:45) and Notre Dame Prep’s Troy Kauffman was third (16:51) to lead area runners.
St, Mary’s Stephen Zorc ran 10th (17:17) to gain an individual berth. Avondale’s Alex Klusman just missed by crossing 18th.
Dakota Hazel (fourth), Nathan Leonard (Seventh), Randy Gottler (12th) and Sean Hrecho (17th) joined the aforementioned Cody Smith as the winning quintet for St. Clair.
To submit information to www.northoaklandsports.com, e-mail dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. To advertise, e-mail advertising@northoaklandsports.com . Follow us on Twitter @LocalSportsFans and more than a dozen other social media networks.
Category: Auburn Hills Avondale, High School, High School (M-Z), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Prep Wraps
REPORTING SCORES
Varsity coaches are urged to report varsity results in a timely fashion by e-mail to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com or results@northoaklandsports.com, or by calling the sports nightline recording at (248) 812-1053.
Deadlines are normally midnight each day.
High schools and colleges in the NorthOaklandSports coverage region include Auburn Hills Avondale, Auburn Hills Oakland Christian, Auburn Hills Christian Academy, Clarkston, Clarkston Everest Collegiate, Clarkston Springfield Christian, Holly, Lake Orion, Lake Orion Baptist, Lake Orion Shalom Baptist, Ortonville Brandon, Oxford, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek, Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest, Troy, Troy Athens, Troy Bethany Christian, Troy Christian Leadership Academy, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, plus Rochester College, Oakland University and Oakland Community College.
The NOS sports desk will also publish information on club, youth and recreation teams with local or regional interest.
PHOTOS: Have courtesy action photos that who wish to contribute? Please feel free to e-mail photos in a color j-peg format to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com .Please include all pertinent information, including photographer, link back to web site, date, location and competing schools or teams in the photos and the identification of each athlete in each photo.
VIDEO: Have courtesy action videos or interview videos that who wish to contribute? Please feel free to e-mail the embed codes for video or web-link to senior editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com. Please include all pertinent information, including videographer, link back to web site, date, location, competing schools or teams in the video and the identification of each athlete in the video.
INTERNSHIPS / STUDENT WRITERS: High School and college internships are available. Contact marketing director Dennis VanWingerden at dennis@northoaklandsports.com or Senior Editor Dan Stickradt at dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com.