Cross Country: Pioneer boys finish fifth in the state (see WLAA photo gallery)
The best runners in the state motored on down to Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn on Friday for the MHSAA Cross Country Division 1 and 2 State Finals. And while things were quite different in 2020 – each division race was divided in two races with final results based on the times and there was a limited number of spectators allowed in the stadium – just having a state finals was a nice reward to this challenging season.
The first race was for Regional third-place teams and individual runners and the second race was for Regional winners and second-place teams.
When the times and places were all added up, the Pioneer boys’ team finished fifth in the state with 243 points.
Romeo, ranked No. 1 all season, backed it up on the course by winning the team championship with 124 points. Caledonia was second with 156. Rockford landed third (236) and Novi fourth (239). Traverse City Central was sixth (265).
The Pioneers were led by Henry MonteSano. The junior finished with a PR time of 15:35.32 and landed sixth overall on the day. It was a great end to a great season for MonteSano, who took third at Regionals and finished top three in every race leading up to the state finals.
Owen Johnson was 34th with a time of 16:09.73. The junior also had a great season – he was second at Regionals and finished first in four races this season leading up to MIS.
Senior Max Klarman had his second fast time of the year with a 16:32.94 and placed 82nd for the Pioneers. Klarman was sixth at Pre-Regionals and 18th at Regionals and placed in the top four in every race before the league meet, where he ran seventh.
Senior Ben Jakabcsin finished his high school career with his best time of the season. He went 16:46.4 and placed 117th overall.
Junior Fred Wallace was 121st (16:47.84), sophomore Roman Cortina ran 124th (16:49.10) and junior Levi Straszewski was 184th (17:20.37).
Skyline senior Hobbs Kessler was second overall in 14:51.79 (see WLAA story on Kessler). See link below.
Huron senior Michael Hill-Carruthers was 85th overall with a time of 16:35.46.
Skyline’s Kessler takes second-place finish in stride – a credit to his winning personality
