CROSS COUNTRY: Adams leads the pack with regional title

BY DAN STICKRADT

SENIOR EDITOR

dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com

GOODELLS — Participating in two sports in the same season, Gabrielle Thivierge is just now rounding into form in cross-country.

A longtime swimmer, where she is a distance freestyler for the Highlanders’ state-ranked swimming team, Thivierge is starting to show her natural ability on the trails in her first season of cross country.

Thivierge was Adams’ top finisher Saturday at Goodells County Park west of Port Huron, and she aided the Highlanders’ effort which included a Division 1 regional. championship. Thivierge was second in a career-best 18:07 to lead the Highlanders.

It marked Adams’ first regional since 2006 and the Highlanders’ first state finals berth since 2008.

“It has been an interesting season doing both, because I am not at cross country every day,” reminded Thivierge. “I am enjoying doing both. I am happy to help each team out. I thought we ran a great race today as a team.”

Adams scored 67 points to win the title. Oxford was second with 79 points and Clarkston claimed third with 83 points. The top three teams, plus the top 15 individuals, advance to the Lower Peninsula state finals Nov. 5 at Michigan Speedway near Brooklyn.

“I knew coming in here that we should (qualify) and I thought that if we ran well we would win the regional,” offered longtime Adams coach Budd Cicciarelli. “My top three have been running well all season. We just needed for the rest of the pack to run better today and they did that. They are starting to come around a little bit.”

Adams landed five runners in the top 30 and three in the top 10. Following Thivierge, Jamie Morrissey (third), Sarah Johnson (10^t), Lydia Stanley (24^th) and Monica Rasmussen (28^th) aided the Highlanders’ effort.

Romeo senior Shelby Jackson won with a blistering 18:00 clocking on the flat course, pulling away midway through the race and coasting to the title.

Lake Orion finished fourth (105), Rochester fifth (124) and Rochester Stoney Creek sixth (137), as the OAA Red Division took the top six slots.

A total of 12 of the top 15 individuals came from the OAA-Red. Jessica Goethals and Maria Lepore were sixth and eighth, respectively, for Rochester. Nicole Kowalchick was seventh for Stoney Creek and Ashley Bartreau 13^th for Lake Orion, as all four made the cut as individuals.

Brooke Kovacic (fourth), Chelsea Johnson (ninth), Brittany Johnson (11^th) and Sabrina Smith (23^rd) all finished in the top 25 to lead Oxford. Smith shaved a minute off her previous best to help the Wildcats.

Natalie Smith (fifth, Kaitlin Catania (12^th), Sage Beauregard (20^th), Lynsie Gram (21^st) and Kylie Knavish (25^th) led Clarkston.

It marked the first time since 1997 that Oxford has qualified in girls cross country, the last time coming in Class B.

“We did some nice things out there,” said veteran Oxford coach Ray Sutherland.”I knew this was the best girls team we’ve had and I felt we had a great chance to make it to the state meet. The girls raced against some very good competition all year and they stepped up at the regional.”

It marks the return to the state meet for Clarkston, which was 12^th in 2008. The Wolves won three state championships (2003-2005) with a state runner-up (2002) back in the early 2000s but appear to be on the way up with a talented and youthful team.

“We’re getting better,” said Clarkston coach Kevin Breen. “Our goal was to qualify today.”

In the boys race, Romeo emerged from the heap to win with 93 points, just ahead of Clarkston’s 96 points and Lake Orion’s 97 points, as the top three were well ahead of the rest of the pack.

Romeo had tow in the top 10 and five in the top 30 to prevail.

Clarkston suffered a huge blow when its No. 2 runner, Austin Draving, suffered a knee injury in the first mile and did not finish the race. Trevor Sharnas (eighth), Jason Saliga (10^th), Joe Gerow (22^nd), Andrew Nelson (26^th) and Alec Toreki (27^th) led Romeo to the team title.

“That hurt. I think with him we win the meet,” offered Clarkston boys coach Mike Taylor. “I think he feels bad but it’s not his fault these things happen. I think he would have felt bad if we didn’t qualify. We made it, and that’s the important thing. We only finished three points out of first and that’s not bad at all.”

Lake Orion was third, making it nine straight state finals appearances and 12 in the past 16 seasons for the Dragons.

“We do have a nice little run going,” admitted Lake Orion coach Stan Ford.

Utica was fourth (152) and Oxford fifth (155) to round out the top five. Rochester Stoney Creek was seventh (157), Rochester Adams eighth (160) and Rochester 11^th (227).

Lake Orion’s T.J. Carey, who was second at the regional last season, pulled away in the last mile to win his first regional individual crown. He crossed the line in a season-best 15:59, with Adams’ Stephen Biebelhausen finishing second (16:06).

“The first mile went out pretty quick and the other guys struck around until the last half mile or so,” said Carey, who was second at the regional last season to eventual state champion Scotty Albaugh of Waterford Mott. “I was able to separate a little bit.”

Sam Taniellian was Clarkston’s top runner, finishing third (16:12). Nick Moore (17^th), Adam Bruderick (21^st) and Michael Culver (24^th) also cracked the top 25 for the Wolves. Daniel Byrne, injured most of the season, was 31^st to save the Wolves, who had only six finishers.

David Diaz (fifth) and Ryan Singles (23^rd) aided Lake Orion’s state-qualifying effort.

Individually, Oxford’s Ryan Gillespie (fourth) and Alec Smith (14^th) made the cut, along with Rochester’s Brooke Pozolo (ninth) and Adams’ Dylan Oppenheiser (13^th).

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Tags: Clarkston Cross Country, Cross Country, High School Cross Country, Lake Orion Cross Country, MHSAA Division 1 Goodells Cross Country Regional, Oxford Cross Country, Prep Cross Country, Rochester Adams Cross Country, Rochester Cross Country, Rochester Stoney Creek Cross Country

Category: High School, Lake Orion, Oxford, Prep Wraps, Rochester, Rochester Adams, Rochester Stoney Creek