BROOKLYN, Mich. — The best boys cross country runners in Michigan gathered at the Michigan International Speedway on Saturday for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Lower Peninsula state finals. There were some dominant team and individual performances and MLive was on hand to grab photos and videos of the action.
Brighton, Otsego, St. Louis and Hillsdale Academy all took home team titles at Michigan International Speedway. The 5-kilometer course was soft in some spots, but it was in generally good condition as runners had to worry more about a noticeable headwind at the start and finish.
Here is a division-by-division look on how things happened at MIS on Saturday.
Click here for complete girls recap and all-state performers.
PHOTOS
Click here to see photo galleries from every race on Saturday at the MIS.
DIVISION 4
Wyoming Potter’s House Christian junior Lezawe Osterink was looking to make up for lost time on Saturday. After having to sit out the state championship a year ago because of a broken collar bone, he returned to MIS in dominant fashion to win the D4 race with a time of 15:50.6, which is just eight seconds off of his personal best.
“It’s great,” Osterink said. “It’s hard work and it’s fun.”
He is the first cross country state champion from his school.
“I could feel myself pulling away,” Osterink said. “I was kind of surprised. They went out pretty good and stuck with me for a while. I was kind of scared of the guy behind me. I didn’t look back, but people were there saying he was close, so I had to keep hammering the whole time.”
In the end, Osterink left no doubt with a 24-second victory.
In the team race, Hillsdale Academy captured its first state championship with 154 points, which was 30 points ahead of runner-up Concord.
D4 ALL-STATE FINISHERS (TOP 30)
PLACE, NAME, GRADE, SCHOOL, 5k FINISH
1, Lezawe OSTERINK, 11, Wyoming Potter’s House, 15:50.6
2, Jonathan MIKOVITS, 12, Concord, 16:14.4
3, Brock LYNCH, 12, Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, 16:22.9
4, Isaac BOS, 12, Kalamazoo Christian, 16:40.2
5, Theodore DAVIS, 9, Dansville, 16:47.2
6, Mason SUMNER, 12, Breckenridge, 16:47.6
7, Tyler BAYS, 11, Reading, 16:48.0
8, Emil SCHLUETER, 12, Hillsdale Academy, 16:49.7
9, Samuel PAGA, 12, Petoskey St. Michael Academy, 16:50.8
10, Jacob WARTENBERG, 11, Johannesburg-Lewiston, 16:51.7
11, Nile DEVERS, 12, Gobles, 16:54.6
12, Isaac BOGARD, 11, Kalamazoo Christian, 16:58.7
13, Logan JOHNSON, 12, Novi Christian Academy, 16:58.9
14, Alex MESZAROS, 11, Riverview Gabriel Richard, 16:59.8
15, Nathan LOTT, 12, Webberville, 17:00.5
16, Ashton KEIFFER, 12, Carson City-Crystal, 17:01.0
17, Macartan MOORE, 11, Petoskey St. Michael Academy, 17:01.0
18, Jonah CERONE, 12, Royal Oak Shrine, 17:02.7
19, Joe BULKO, 12, Concord, 17:03.1
20, Lars HUFFMAN, 11, Mackinaw City, 17:03.2
21, Malaki GASCHO, 10, Johannesburg-Lewiston, 17:04.1
22, Adair ARTIS, 11, Concord, 17:05.9
23, Blake FOX, 10, Johannesburg-Lewiston, 17:06.7
24, Evan SUYDAM, 11, Petersburg-Summerfield, 17:07.5
25, Logan SWINEY, 11, Wyoming Potter’s House, 17:08.3
26, Ethan GREEN, 11, Kingston, 17:08.9
27, Christopher RUSSELBURG, 11, Allen Park Cabrini, 17:09.4
28, Owen PATTON, 10, Vestaburg, 17:09.9
29, Nate WING, 11, Mason County Eastern, 17:10.6
30, Ty PAVLICHEK, 12, Unionville-Sebewaing, 17:15.3
TOP 10 D4 TEAMS
PLACE, SCHOOL, SCORE
1, Hillsdale Academy, 154
2, Concord, 184
3, Kalamazoo Christian, 238
4, Breckenridge, 241
5, Riverview Gabriel Richard, 253
6, Petoskey St. Michael Academy, 258
7, White Cloud, 261
8, Whitmore Lake, 277
9, Johannesburg-Lewiston, 283
10, Mason County Eastern, 308
DIVISION 3
The winner of the Division 3 race was never in doubt as Benzie Central junior Hunter Jones cruised to a winning time of 15:08.4, a full 40.6 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. Although some runners tried to stay with Jones early, they were no match for his superior talent.
“It was pretty much for myself and how fast I could run,” Jones said.
The win is Jones’ third-straight individual title and it sets him up for a chance next year to become just the second Lower Peninsula runner to win four-straight titles. Ryan Shay of Central Lake won four-consecutive Class D titles from 1993-96. Austin Plotkin of Brimley is the only Upper Peninsula runner to achieve the feat (2016-19), doing so in the U.P. Division 3.
“Ryan Shay is a big inspiration to me,” Jones said. “I look up to him very much. He’s the only guy that won four times in a row. That’s my goal: To be like Ryan Shay, you know? He was an NCAA champion and I want to get to that level.”
In the team race, St. Louis won its second-straight championship as Hart finished runner-up for the second-consecutive year as well. St. Louis scored 104 points, well ahead of the 146 for Hart. The March Brothers — senior Nate (16:17.7) and sophomore Ben (16:19.2) — finished eight and ninth, respectively, to lead St. Louis to the victory.
D3 ALL-STATE FINISHERS
PLACE, NAME, GRADE, SCHOOL, 5k FINISH
1, Hunter JONES, 11, Benzie Central, 15:08.4
2, Noah MORROW, 12, Manton, 15:49.1
3, Tyler GUGGEMOS, 12, Kalkaska, 15:59.9
4, Josh OTTEN, 12, Lansing Catholic, 16:07.3
5, Espen LEHNST, 12, Ithaca, 16:08.5
6, Sam PETERSON, 12, Charlevoix, 16:14.3
7, Rogan MELLING, 11, Hanover-Horton, 16:14.6
8, Nate MARCH, 12, St. Louis, 16:17.7
9, Ben MARCH, 10, St. Louis, 16:19.2
10, Clayton ACKLEY, 11, Hart, 16:19.3
11, Parks ALLEN, 11, Ithaca, 16:19.4
12, Carson BRUNK, 12, Potterville, 16:24.8
13, Rhett REIF, 11, Quincy, 16:24.9
14, Jaden BARNES, 10, Bloomingdale, 16:25.3
15, Collin FARMER, 10, Pewamo-Westphalia, 16:25.6
16, Cal BENJAMIN, 11, Harbor Springs, 16:26.2
17, Adam MARTINSON, 12, Saugatuck, 16:28.4
18, Samuel MARTINI, 10, Kent City, 16:30.9
19, Matthew PATTULLO, 10, Caro, 16:33.7
20, Jacob WALKER, 12, Brooklyn Columbia Central, 16:34.9
21, Logan MANION, 12, Grandville Calvin Christian, 16:36.5
22, Tristan ASHLEY, 12, Saugatuck, 16:37.3
23, Chase HOBSON, 12, Montrose, 16:39.2
24, Aaron BOWERMAN, 12, St. Louis, 16:41.0
25, David PRUDER, 12, Lansing Catholic, 16:42.1
26, Wyatt DEAN, 11, Hart, 16:43.3
27, Simon VANDERVLUCHT, 10, Monroe St. Mary CC, 16:43.5
28, Charlie WARD, 12, Elk Rapids, 16:44.1
29, Noah BOSLEY, 12, Hart, 16:44.2
30, Jackson ANSEL, 11, Erie Mason, 16:45.2
TOP 10 D3 TEAMS
PLACE, SCHOOL, SCORE
1, St. Louis, 104
2, Hart, 146
3, Lansing Catholic, 194
4, Grandville Calvin Christian, 263
5, Ithaca, 272
6, Traverse City St. Francis, 285
7, Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, 290
8, Saugatuck, 307
9, Caro, 309
10, Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard, 318
DIVISION 2
After finishing second in the Division 2 race a year ago, Pinckey’s Caleb Jarema returned for his senior year this fall as one of the favorites. Recording a time of 14:57.5 this season — the fastest in Division 2 this year — Jarema sealed the deal on his state title at MIS with a winning time of 15:22.2.
“It means pretty much everything to me,” Jarema said. “I’ve been for probably eight years and I’ve never really pictured that I would be in this situation, but it’s not an individual award at all. I just feel like I reflect my teammates, my coaches, my family and everyone who has helped me get here each step of the way. So, I definitely could not have done this without other people.”
Despite being the heavy favorite, he won by just six seconds as Fremont senior Conor Somers ran a great time of 15:28.9.
“I didn’t expect that many kids to kind of stick with me at the beginning,” Jarema said. “Honestly, it was kind of exciting. It’s really fun to race other people. I saw the one kid who got second was not really expected to get second, so that was really cool to see. They made it hard. I was not holding back at all. They made it hard. They scared me a little bit.”
After finishing runner up in 2015 and 2019, Otsego won its first team cross country title in narrow fashion. Scoring 135 points, Chelsea was second with 147 and St. Johns was third with 150. Otsego senior Nick Cockerel led the way with a ninth-place finish and a time of 15:53.9.
D2 ALL-STATE FINISHERS
PLACE, NAME, GRADE, SCHOOL, 5k FINISH
1, Caleb JAREMA, 12, Pinckney, 15:22.2
2, Conor SOMERS, 12, Fremont, 15:28.8
3, Michael HEGARTY, 11, Dearborn Divine Child, 15:38.9
4, Connell ALFORD, 10, Chelsea, 15:42.6
5, Parker LAMBERS, 12, Holland Christian, 15:49.5
6, Griffin ARMBRUSTMACHER, 12, St. Johns, 15:50.9
7, Tinsae NELSON, 12, Grand Rapids Christian, 15:51.4
8, Ben ZWART, 12, Grand Rapids Christian, 15:51.5
9, Nick COCKEREL, 12, Otsego, 15:53.9
10, Joey BOWMAN, 11, St. Johns, 15:54.8
11, Caden MEYER, 12, Zeeland East, 15:55.2
12, Tj HANSEN, 9, Freeland, 15:55.5
13, Race BETTICH, 12, Stevensville Lakeshore, 15:57.7
14, Bram HARTSUFF, 11, Chelsea, 15:59.0
15, Tristin CANALES, 12, Otsego, 15:59.6
16, Michael DENNIS, 12, St. Johns, 16:00.2
17, Mason KOLHOFF, 12, Otsego, 16:01.4
18, Samuel SMITH, 12, Petoskey, 16:02.5
19, Jackson JONES, 12, Sparta, 16:04.5
20, Aiden SULLIVAN, 11, Forest Hills Eastern, 16:04.5
21, Kyle EBERHARD, 11, Linden, 16:04.9
22, Ethan LEITNER, 12, Tecumseh, 16:05.2
23, Gabriel PHILLIPS, 12, Clio, 16:05.4
24, William WINTER, 11, Parchment, 16:05.8
25, Owen GILBERT, 12, Battle Creek Harper Creek, 16:06.0
26, Carter MCCALISTER, 11, Monroe Jefferson, 16:07.2
27, River MECKSTROTH, 12, Linden, 16:15.7
28, John AERTS, 12, Coldwater, 16:17.4
29, Braylon PETTY, 10, Adrian, 16:17.5
30, Killian WHALEN, 9, Allendale, 16:18.5
TOP 10 D2 TEAMS
PLACE, SCHOOL, SCORE
1, Otsego, 135
2, Chelsea, 147
3, St. Johns, 150
4, Grand Rapids Christian, 160
5, Pinckney, 210
6, Adrian, 220
7, Linden, 259
8, East Grand Rapids, 265
9, Petoskey, 275
10, Freeland, 317
DIVISION 1
Riley Hough came in with a lot of expectations. As the most dominant runner in Michigan this fall, the undefeated senior from Hartland ran a winning time of 14:56.47, becoming the first runner to ever run sub-15 minutes twice at MIS. He won last year’s Division 1 race with a 14:49.62, which is the second-fastest time ever at MIS. His 14:56 this year is the eighth-fastest ever at MIS.
“I wanted to go for a PR, but on this course, it’s a little bit hard with the conditions of it. My main goal was just to get under 15 and, obviously, place first.”
The only runner to every run faster than Hough at MIS did so by a significant margin. The MIS record of 14:10.4 was set back in 2000 and is held by former Rockford runner Dathan Ritzenhein. The time is regarded by some as the fastest high school cross country 5-kilometer time ever recorded.
Even if Ritzenhein’s MIS record is unreachable, Hough did break some of Ritzenhein’s records at other courses this year.
“Obviously, I have some of his records in some of the other invitationals,” Hough said. “But honestly, I feel (I’m trying to) just make a name for myself instead of trying to replace someone else.”
He was the only runner at MIS on Saturday to break the 15-minute barrier, winning his race by 23.5 seconds and capping his unbeaten season.
“Yes, I feel like I was definitely ready for it,” Hough said, who owns a personal-best time of 14:37.1. “Obviously, you can’t be 100 percent ready for any race, but I feel like I was prepared as I possibly could have been.”
Brighton had just one runner finish all-state, but it still managed to win the state with 141 points. It is the fourth team title in program history and the first since 2019. Caledonia finished its superb season in second with 175 points.
Brighton senior Quinn Cullen led the way for the Bulldogs with a sixth-place finish and a new personal-best time of 15:37.6. Last year, Cullen placed 113th in his first state finals appearance.
“It’s the best day of my life,” Cullen said. “I wasn’t supposed to go out there and get sixth. All the predictions had me 15th at best. I mean, no one really believed in us besides ourselves and that’s all we need. All we needed was ourselves. It’s surreal, to be honest.”
D1 ALL-STATE FINISHERS
PLACE, NAME, GRADE, SCHOOL, 5k FINISH
1, Riley HOUGH, 12, Hartland, 14:56.5
2, Seth NORDER, 10, Grand Haven, 15:19.9
3, Benne ANDERSON, 11, Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills, 15:22.9
4, Peter BARACCO, 12, Farmington, 15:25.7
5, Luke VENHUIZEN, 12, Traverse City Central, 15:34.2
6, Quinn CULLEN, 12, Brighton, 15:37.5
7, Owen SHARNAS, 12, Romeo, 15:38.3
8, Klay GRANT, 12, Muskegon Reeths-Puffer, 15:38.3
9, Matthew CROWLEY, 12, Midland, 15:38.4
10, Jack KELKE, 12, Romeo, 15:39.0
11, Matthew ZELEKE, 12, East Lansing, 15:40.0
12, Easton WILLIAMS, 12, Highland-Milford, 15:41.0
13, Nicholas NEGRU, 11, Walled Lake Central, 15:41.2
14, Josh OOM, 12, Caledonia, 15:47.1
15, Owen JOHNSON, 12, Ann Arbor Pioneer, 15:47.7
16, Jonah HOCHSTETLER, 11, Traverse City West, 15:49.8
17, Nolan CLARK, 11, Grand Haven, 15:50.5
18, Brendan HERGER, 10, Northville, 15:51.3
19, Brady MCARDLE, 12, Davison, 15:51.4
20, Sam YEAGER, 12, Forest Hills Central, 15:52.1
21, Blake CHIPMAN, 12, Flushing, 15:53.1
22, Kenny MINTO, 12, Davison, 15:53.8
23, Joe MUHA, 11, Traverse City Central, 15:54.6
24, Logan DETWEILER, 11, Grosse Pointe South, 15:54.8
25, Jared PLATT, 11, White Lake Lakeland, 15:55.0
26, Alex SULLIVAN, 12, White Lake Lakeland, 15:56.6
27, Colin GRAHAM, 11, Rockford, 15:56.9
28, Micah BAUER, 11, Traverse City Central, 15:59.5
29, Nicolas FRY, 11, Ann Arbor Skyline, 16:00.1
30, Sean BYRNES, 11, Plymouth, 16:00.5
TOP 10 D1 TEAMS
PLACE, SCHOOL, SCORE
1, Brighton, 141
2, Caledonia, 175
3, White Lake Lakeland, 194
4, Northville, 204
5, Romeo, 221
6, Traverse City Central, 230
7, Grand Haven, 252
8, Saline, 259
9, Lake Orion, 264
10, Rockford, 317