Shelby Township, Utica

Local runners excel at finals; Lutheran North’s Patterson takes D-3 title

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques Eisenhower’s Kevin Salter, pictured during regionals, finished in the top 50 at the Division 1 boys cross country state final Nov. 3. Photo by Deb Jacques Eisenhower’s Kevin Salter, pictured during regionals, finished in the top 50 at the Division 1 boys cross country state final Nov. 3.

Several local runners and a few teams were in action Nov. 3 at the MHSAA boys and girls cross country state finals held at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

Here are some local highlights. Visit www.mhsaa.com for complete results. Check out our website at www.candgnews.com for photos from throughout the cross country season.

Division 1
In the girls competition, Chippewa Valley junior Rachel Walny finished 22nd (out of 228) with a time of 18 minutes, 28.9 seconds. Utica Eisenhower freshman Brianna Mozariwskyj placed 91st (19:12.4), and Dakota senior Christina Micale finished 133rd (19:42.1).

In the boys competition, Warren De La Salle sophomore Mickey Davey took 20th (out of 251) with a time of 15:41.6. Eisenhower senior Kevin Salter was 46th (16:16.9), and L’Anse Creuse North senior Trevor Creagh finished 141st, crossing the finish line in 16:44.6.

Division 2
Warren Regina’s team took ninth out of 27 girls teams. Cassie Bloch, who finished in 18th (of team-based runners), led the Saddlelites after turning in a time of 18:58.3. Rounding out Regina’s team-scoring members are junior Christina Ridella (49th, 19:42.1), junior Elizabeth Bloch (66th, 19:56.0), sophomore Stephanie Latos (67th, 19:57.5) and junior Jenny Ponkowski (77th, 20:04.6).

Division 3
Macomb Lutheran North’s girls finished seventh out of 27 teams. Gina Patterson finished first overall with a time of 17:43.4. Also scoring points for North are sophomore Jenna Briney (26th, 19:24.0), sophomore Jenna Cundy (44th, 20:02.1), freshman Briana Weglarz (57th, 20:19.3) and senior Lori Schwark (147th, 22:15.2). See next week’s paper for more on Patterson’s big win at the finals.

North’s boys team finished 27th in the team standings, led by senior Zach Weglarz (106th, 17:48.9) and sophomore Jacob Miller (107th, 17:50.3).

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1040. Follow Jon on Twitter.