Overcoming adversity makes champions. That is what the Clarkston Wolves girls cross country team waded its collectively-young way through this season after a senior leader was unable to compete.
The girls, all of whom are in the ninth or tenth grade at CHS, pulled ran well enough to win the regional finals in late October where all seven runners recorded personal best finishes. The Wolves placed sixth at the state finals in Brooklyn, Mich. on Nov. 4.
In the process, the girls put three runners into the top 50, led by Kristen Smith, who finished at 18:28.7.
Smith’s time qualified her for all state honors, in addition to her all league, county and region honors accrued this season.
Katie Vondette finished in 38th overall with a time of 19:10.7 and Olivia Allen (49th) at 19:17.8 were the other top three finishers for the Wolves.
Tiffany Kincaid (19:29.6) and Breanne Timm (19:53.1) were fourth and fifth for the team.
‘I think it came together well, we all ran as good as we could,? Smith said.
Smith said the team could use the youth factor as an advantage.
‘We’re fresher than juniors and more experienced seniors would be even though they have that experience, we have the (youth) where our legs are fresh, we’re looking forward to running and we’re not looking forward to college yet,? she said.
‘We made some mistakes this year and we know what we’re going to have to do next year to fix it.?
Senior Jenna Leach, who recently signed a letter of intent to run for Paul Rice’s program at Oakland University, took on a different role this season after an injury took her out of the second half of the season.
‘For me, the season was definitely exciting because I had all these young girls and it was a great year to rebuild,? Leach said.
‘My goal this year was to take down the qualities I learned in my three years here and pass them down to them. And to show them the qualities and dedication it takes to be a runner.?
Freshman Breanne Timm said the pressure of living up to three previous state championships was a daunting task.
‘I was really surprised what all the freshman and sophomores were able to accomplish, because I had no idea what we were going into and I was really impressed with our young team and how it ended,? Timm said.
‘We all thought we had to do it again (championship) just to keep up the Clarkston name, but we were okay in the end result’we stuck together as a team and we got through it.?
Bailee Braunreuther, a freshman, felt with the team’s experience on center stage will help
‘I think that we’re so young that’s going to help us because we have all been to the state meet now and we’ll hopefully not get nervous next year.?