CROSS-COUNTRY: Stoney Creek cruises into driver’s seat in OAA-White race
Rochester’s Lucy Cook, Farmington’s Peter Baracco impressive in individual wins
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
ROCHESTER HILLS — Lucy Cook has some large shoes to fill. Make that very big shoes.
With a history of legions of talented female cross-country runners over the past five-plus decades coming through Rochester, there are some expectations for the Rochester freshman standout.
Rochester junior Chloe Nixon finished fourth overall at the OAA White Division Jamboree No. 1. Photo | Dan Stickradt
Cook debuted in her first 3.1-mile race at Bloomer Park Tuesday afternoon and broke the tape with a 19:19.4 clocking — winning by some 18 seconds over Bloomfield Hills senior Kate Jenkins (19:37.9). Cook had won a 2.5-mile race on Sept. 3.
“I think I ran well, but it was different. It felt good to race (a full 5,000 meters),” offered Cook, who chased male runners the whole race and even best over half of the overall field. All four races, varsity and junior-varsity, were combined to beat the oncoming thunderstorms.
“There is a list up on the gymnasium (wall) that lists something like the top 15 runners (in school history),” continued Cook. I want to be on that list by the end of the season. I’ve seen the names up there and know (the history).”
Meanwhile, Rochester Stoney Creek’s girls captured the first OAA White Division Jamboree No. 1 title with 48 points, landing four runners in the top 10 and five in the top 15. Rochester was a close second with 59 points, followed by Farmington (66), Bloomfield Hills (74), Royal Oak (89) and Troy Athens (185).
Makenna Musser (sixth), Sydney Gergics (eighth), Lily Solek (ninth), Alyssa Ko (10th) and Katie Knish (15th) paced the victorious Cougars.
Following Cook, Chloe Nixon (fourth), Caroline Burlat (14th) and a
Lauren Wroza (18th) aided Rochester’s runner-up cause.
Despite graduating five of its top seven runners and 16 total athletes to graduation, Stoney Creek’s boys team is gunning for sixth straight league title. The Cougars had eight of the top 21 finishers — five in the top 11 — and racked up only 33 points to win going away.
Farmington (59), Royal Oak (61), Rochester (91), Bloomfield Hills (121) and Troy Athens (136) rounded out the team scores in the boys meet.
Chaz Huthwaite finish the runner-up slot in 17:05.7 to lead the Cougars. Hunter Frank (fourth), Owen Murray (seventh), Brandan Washburn (ninth) and Evan Lord (11th) also scored for Stoney Creek.
“We’re in the driver’s seat. We want to defend our titles,” offered Stoney Creek coach Jed Kramer. “We didn’t run our best overall. We had some kids who are coming off injuries or illnesses, but I think every school was in the same boat. I know some schools were missing kids. But overall I’m pleased. We want to repeat as league champions with both the boys and girls and this is the first test.”
Farmington senior Peter Baracco, a three-time All-State runner, cruised to pole position with a fine 16:42.8 clocking under humid temperatures — winning comfortably by 23 seconds. Kevin Miller (fifth) and Iggy Grynaviski (eighth) also finished in the top 10 for runner-up Farmington.
Royal Oak also had three top-10 finishers, while Rochester had three runners inside the top 15.
Boys Cross-Country
OAA WHITE DIVISION JAMBOREE NO. 1
(9-14 at Bloomer Park)
TEAM SCORES — 1. Rochester Stoney Creek, 33; 2. Farmington, 59; 3. Royal Oak, 61; 4. Rochester, 91; 5. Bloomfield Hills, 121; 6. Troy Athens, 136
TOP FINISHERS — 1. Peter Baracco (Farmington) 16:42.8; 2. Chaz Huthwaite (Rochester Stoney Creek) 17:05.7; 3. Sebastian Ramirez (Royal Oak) 17:07.8; 4. Hunter Frank (Rochester Stoney Creek) 17:13.2; 5. Kevin Miller (Farmington) 17:34.1; 6. Weston Schroeder (Royal Oak) 17:40.8; 7. Owen Murray (Rochester Stoney Creek) 17:55.2; 8. Iggy Grynaviski (Farmington) 18:01.1; 9. Brendan Washburn (Rochester Stoney Creek) 18:03.4; 10. Julio Jaime (Royal Oak) 18:05.9; 11. Evan Lord (Rochester Stoney Creek) 18:09.6; 12. Martin Goleski (Rochester) 18:25.1; 13. Nicholas Teknos (Rochester) 18:29.4; 14. Rocco DeAngelis (Bloomfield Hills) 18:36.3; 15. Jake Crist (Rochester) 18:38.7.
Girls Cross-Country
OAA WHITE DIVISION JAMBOREE NO. 1
(9-14 at Bloomer Park)
TEAM SCORES — 1. Rochester Stoney Creek, 48; 2. Rochester, 59; 3. Farmington, 66; 4. Bloomfield Hills, 74; 5. Royal Oak, 89; 6. Troy Athens, 189
TOP FINISHERS — 1. Lucy Cook (Rochester) 19:19.4; 2. Kate Jenkins (Bloomfield Hills) 19:37.9; 3. Failing Wong (Farmington) 20:54.3; 4. Chloe Nixon (Rochester 20:58.1; 5. Grace Jenkins (Bloomfield Hills 21:04.5; 6. Makenna Musser (Rochester Stoney Creek) 21:12.5; 7. Molly Baracco (Farmington) 21:17.5; 8. Sydney Gergics (Rochester Stoney Creek) 21:21.5; 9. Lily Solek (Rochester Stoney Creek) 21:21.8; 10. Alyssa Ko (Rochester Stoney Creek) 21:23.0; 11. Sarah Barnett (Royal Oak) 21:24.1;
21:25.5; 12. Isabelle Fairless (Royal Oak) 21:25.5; 13. Kate Meinecke (Royal Oak) 21:28.6; 14. Caroline Bulat (Rochester) 21:29.7; 15. Katie Knish (Rochester Stoney Creek) 21:42.9.
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