CROSS-COUNTRY: Seaholm girls win sixth straight Oakland County championship; Novi boys defend title
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
MILFORD TWP. — Sitting on the sidelines all of the spring track season was a difficult task for Audrey Ladd to endure.
The Birmingham Seaholm senior is making up for last time this fall. She captured her fourth win of the season Saturday at Kensington Metropark near Milford, racing past the talented field at the Oakland County Championships.
Ladd’s 18:15.4 clocking led the field of over 220 runners and helped the Maples win their record sixth straight Oakland County title.
“It was hard, not being able to compete,” said Ladd. “I am glad to be back though. I feel great.
“Today, I wanted to be conservative the first mile,” continued Ladd. “By the time I got to the hills, I wasn’t so tired. I felt so awesome cause last year at this race, I didn’t run it well.”
Ladd and her Seaholm teammates amassed just 64 points to outdistance runner-up Clarkston (104). Milford claimed third with 134 points, while White Lake Lakeland (141), Troy (143), Lake Orion (198), Oxford (252), Rochester (257), Waterford Mott (257) and Rochester Adams (277) rounded out the top 10.
Clarkston had previously captured five straight county titles (2001-2005). Milford captured four straight back in the 1980s.
“You always hope in your mind that you can win, but in an area such as Oakland County, anything is possible,” offers Seaholm veteran coach Jeff Devantier. “I thought if we ran well, than we would definitely be in the hunt. There are so many good teams and runners here that it’s an amazing accomplishment to be able to win six in a row. We take nothing for granted. It’s big deal to get to six in a row.”
Meanwhile, Novi defended its boys county meet title with 73 points, 80 points ahead of runner-up Milford (153). Birmingham Brother Rice finished third with 159 points, followed by White Lake Lakeland (175), Clarkston (176), Lake Orion (205), Novi Detroit Catholic Central (233), Walled Lake Central (281), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep (291) and Oxford (303) in the top 10.
Notre Dame Prep’s Brendan Fraser outdueled Rochester Adams’ Matt Schram in a heated race, pulling away in the final mile to win in 16:00.1. Schram was second in 16:06.6.
“I got ahead just before the two mile,” said Fraser. “(Schram) went with me, though and I tried to kick it in after that. It was great to race against him. We’ve raced against each other for a long time.”
Lake Orion’s Michael Jarvis, in his first season of cross country, finished third in 16:22.4, while Novi’s Gabriel Mudel, Rochester Stoney Creek’s Harrison Steen, Lakeland’s Harrison Grzymkowski, Rochester’s Austin Remick, Catholic Central’s Ty Buckley, Novi’s Scott MacPherson and Rochester’s Kyle Johnson all finished in the top 10.
Novi landed four finishers in the top 15 and had six finishers in the top 40 to pull away from the pack of state-ranked schools. Twins Aric and John Landy finished 13th and 14th, respectively, while Trey Mullins (34th) aided Novi’s championship effort.
“I was proud of the way they ran. This is the first meet of the championship season and I think it gives them some confidence,” said Novi coach Robert Smith, whose team captured its fifth title overall. “They were bound and determined to defend their title. All they could think of was first place, but I wanted to keep their expectations in check.”
Milford’s runner-up showing came without the services of the Mavericks’ top runner, Dakota Giles, out with an injury.
“Second place today was great for those kids,” said Milford coach Brian Salyers. “To step it up against this competition and still finish second, what a great effort.”
Seaholm’s girls had three top-10 finishers overall, and had all five scorers cross the line inside the top 35 to aid the 40-point win.
Mott’s Rylee Robinson (18:30.7) and West Bloomfield’s Kyle Christopher-Moody (18:37.1) both took turns leading the race before finishing second and third, respectively. Victoria Helligent of Milford was fourth (18:43.5) and Seaholm’s Rachel McCardell fifth (18:46.3).
Clarkston’s Elizabeth Dalrymple crossed sixth (18:48.7) to lead the Wolves to the runner-up slot. Seaholm’s Emily Rooney, Royal Oak’s Grace Cutler, Farmington’s Abby Inch and Lakeland’s Madeline Rehm all finished in the top 10.
Kati Beckeman (20th) and Reagan McNally (33rd) also scored towards Seaholm’s winning total.
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