Cross Country: Pioneer boys, girls sweep MHSAA Pre-Regional

Henry MonteSano is moving on up – and at exactly the right time.

The Pioneer junior has finished in the top three in every race this season but has never been the first across the line – until Saturday. MonteSano ran a time of 15:58.40 to finish first overall and help lead the Pioneers to a first-place finish at Saturday’s MHSAA Pre-Regional at Indian Creek Park in Bedford.

The Pioneers simply ran away with this one. They finished with 27 points, well ahead of second-place Saline. Bedford was third (88), Monroe fourth (97), Lincoln fifth (109) and Belleville sixth (183).

Pioneer took six of the top 12 spots in the field, including three in the top six. After MonteSano, junior Owen Johnson was third (16:11.90) and senior Max Klarman ran sixth (16:39.10).

Senior Ben Jakabcsin was eighth (16:48.50), junior Fred Wallace was ninth (16:54.50), junior Levi Straszewski was 12^th (17:01.30) and sophomore Roman Cortina ran 18^th (17:19.40).

Girls

Well, that didn’t take long.

After experiencing their first loss of the season at the SEC meet to Saline, the Pioneer girls’ cross country team got back on track by winning Saturday’s MHSAA Pre-Regional at Indian Creek Park in Bedford. And, yes, Saline was in the field.

The Pioneers landed six runners in the top 13 to finish with 31 points, nine better than second-place Saline. Bedford was third (72 points), Monroe fourth (113) and Lincoln fifth (127).

Rachel Forsyth, who has finished first in every race but one this year, continued her brilliant freshman season with a winning time of 17:38.0, a PR.

Pioneer’s strong junior class took over from there with Cookie Baugh third (18:07.40), Charlotte Batra seventh (19:05.70) and Sarah Forsyth ninth (19:26.30). Freshman Sylvia Sanok Duffalo ran 11^th (19:43.30), sophomore Emily Cooper was 13^th (19:45.0) and senior Anna Dudek was 23^rd (21:04.50).