Pioneer’s Rachel Forsyth earns trip to National Finals in San Diego

Pioneer’s Rachel Forsyth has been keeping busy.

After winning the MHSAA Division 1 race in November and leading her team to a state title, the Pioneer sophomore has competed in several races against some of the best runners in the country.

Rachel finished first at the NXR Midwest Regional Championships in Indiana on Nov. 14. Representing the Purple Track Club, Rachel won with a time of 17:58.5. Her sister, Sarah Forsyth, finished fifth with a time of 18:21.2.

On Nov. 28, Rachel finished seventh (17:31.3) at the Eastbay Cross Country Championship (formally Foot Locker Cross Country) Midwest Regional in Kenosha, Wisc., and earned an automatic invitation to compete in the National Finals.

She finished 33rd overall with a time of 18:41.2 at the Eastbay Cross Country Championships National Finals on Saturday, Dec. 11 at Morley Field, Balboa Park in San Diego.

Rachel broke the record for the fastest time in a Division 1 State Finals for a sophomore during her run last month at MIS. Her time of 17 minutes, 09.32 seconds was not only a record, but also the fastest time in the D-1 race on a sunny Saturday afternoon as she crossed the finish line first, well ahead of TC Central senior Julia Flynn (17:20.49).

Pioneer grabbed three of the top 12 spots and five of the top 45 to finish with 68 points and run away with the D-1 MHSAA State Title for the third consecutive year. Holland West Ottawa was a distant second with 100 points while Traverse City Central was third (183), Northville fourth (197) and Saline fifth (201).

Profile: Pioneer’s Rachel Forsyth is setting her own course – and own records