CROSS COUNTRY: Everest Collegiate wins first regional, climbs into top 10 for first time
BY DAN STICKRADT
SENIOR EDITOR
dan.stickradt@northoaklandsports.com
Twitter: @LocalSportsFans
CLARKSTON — A year ago the seed was planted. Now, Clarkston Everest Collegiate has taken a few more steps up the mountain.
The Mountaineers girls cross-country team recently captured their first Division 4 regional championship on Oct. 25 and also just cracked the Top 10 in the state rankings for the first time.
And, yes, the program is only four years old.
“We have done really well for a program that started just four years ago,” said coach Mary Williams, also the school’s communications and marketing director. “We didn’t have very many runners that first year, but now we are up to (21) girls this year and only four seniors on the entire roster. We have a really strong freshman class and some other good underclassmen too.”
Sophomore Avery Hergott finished eighth at the Division 4 regional and helped Clarkston Everest Collegiate capture its first regional title. Courtesy Photo | Everest Collegiate
Everest Collegiate collected 48 points to win the Metro Beach regional, while Allen Park Cabrini was second (59) and Royal Oak Shrine (66) also qualified for the state finals. Plymouth Christian (82), Westland Lutheran (110), Rochester Hills Lutheran Northwest (153), Auburn Hills Oakland Christian (215), Detroit Hope (235) and Southfield Manoogian (273) were the other program that had at least five finishers to collect a team score.
The Mountaineers landed three runners in the top 10, five in the top 20 and all seven finishers in the top 30 to prevail. The top three teams and top 15 individual finishers all qualify for the Lower Peninsula sate finals Nov. 2 at Michigan Speedway near Brooklyn, Mich.
“With Cabrini dropping down from Division 3 last season and with Shrine normally being a strong squad, I kept an eye on those schools all season,” said Williams. “I figured those two would be our top competition.”
Freshman Caroline Ross finished fifth (20:14.1) at the regional to lead Everest Collegiate. Sophomore Avery Herrgott was eighth (20:28.8), junior Theresa Waller ninth (20:41.6), freshman Elise Felix 18th (21:34.5), sophomore Erin Booms 19th (21:44.0), senior Molly Milosch 23rd (22:06.5) and freshman Stephanie Suran 30th (22:18.6) for the Mountaineers.
“This team has come a long ways, especially this year,” said Williams. “Last year we were 24th (at the state finals) out of 27 schools. We got to experience what it’s like to go last year. This year we have much higher goals.”
Members of the Clarkston Everest Collegiate girls cross country team celebrate the program’s first regional title in program history. Courtesy Photo | Everest Collegiate
Everest Collegiate placed second in the Division V race at the Holly/Duane Raffin Invitational at Springfield Oaks back in mid-September and the Mountaineers have continued to shine all season.
“After we finished second there, I realized that we could be really good this year,” added Williams. “We’ve placed first or second at a lot of meets this year.
“We knew we had some talented freshmen, but you never know how well they’ll do. They improved a lot over the course the season. The whole team got better. I think our entire team had PRs at the regional,” continued Williams.
So far his season, Everest Collegiate won all three CHSL Intersectional-2 Jamborees to capture their first divisional crown. The Mountaineers also finished second at the CHSL C-D league meet in mid-October.
Everest also won the Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard Small School Invitational and the Auburn Hills Oakland Christian Small School Invitational to add to their impressive resume.
Freshman Caroline Cross emerged as Clarkston Everest Collegiate’s top runner this season and her fifth-place finish at the Division 4 regional aided the team title. Courtesy Photo | Everest Collegiate.
Now, goals for a first top 10 team finish at the state finals is a reachable goal for the Mountaineers.
“We hope to be in the top 10,” said Williams. “If we run well, we might be able to do it. There are a lot of good teams there so we have to have a great race. Fortunately, we’re the first race of the day. With all of the rain we’ve had, the course might be a little muddy later in the day.
“We’re excited because all of this hard work is starting to pay off,” added Williams. “We have had a great season and hopefully we can finish with a top-10 finish.”
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