Mountaineers claimed their first Catholic High School League Jamboree victory in school history last week.
The Clarkston Everest Collegiate Cross Country team finished in first place with 59 points during the race at Young Patriot’s Park in Riverview, Sept. 14.

“The Mountaineers showed up determined to reclaim the course after they had posted their slowest times of the season at that location on a hot day two weeks ago,” said Coach Mary Williams, adding this particular jamboree is run with multiple CHSL divisions, but it is scored by division.
Freshman Caroline Cross led the Mountaineers as she finished in fourth place in the time of 22:21. Top five Everest runners also included sophomore Avery Herrgott in sixth place, 22:22; junior Theresa Waller, 11th, 23:18; sophomore Erin Booms, 18th, 23:46; and freshman Alyse Felix, 26th, 24:16.
“I am really proud of all the girls,” Williams said. “Although the top runners were frustrated because they aren’t yet shaving off the time they would like to see come off, the fact they outran their competitors shows at the end of a tough three weeks of competition they are truly improving.”
She added a performance which stood out was by junior Maggie Smith, who finished in the time of 29:47.
“The victory was punctuated by junior Maggie finally breaking 30 minutes after fighting for it for three seasons, “Williams said. “I love in this sport we are able not only to celebrate the victories of the team, but every single member of the team is improving and contributing to the team culture and success.”
The Mountaineers finished in second place at the Old Skool Classic, Sept. 21.
“Two river crossings, mud, a sprained ankle, heat, Molly Milosch running two miles without shoes, and Gabi Lazzara running two miles with just one shoe did not slow the Mountaineers down,” said Williams. “The Old Skool Classic was a new invite for the Mountaineers this year. We ran this race for mental training. It was fun. I hope they all learned something from it.”
The Mountaineers raced at their grade level in the Orange division. Top seven for Everest: Cross, first in the ninth grade division; 22:51; Felix, second in the ninth grade division; 24:53; Waller, third in the junior division, 23:11; Alison Tong, sixth in the freshman division, 26:49; Milosch, seventh in the senior division, 25:41; Herrgott, 12th in the sophomore division, 23:33; and Booms, 13th in the sophomore division, 24:55.
The Mountaineers finished second place at the Holly Invite in Division V in the varsity race with 86 points out of 20 teams, Sept. 14.
Cross led the team as she finished in sixth place at the time of 22:11.7. The top finishers also included Herrgott in eighth place, 22:12.6; Waller, tenth, 22:28.8; Booms, 25th, 23:16.1; and Felix, 33rd, 23:57.5.
Everest finished in fifth place during the JV race with 151 points. The top five runners were sophomore Emily Callaghan in 16th place at 25:28.1; Tong, 21st, 25:56.2; junior Anna Allard, 32nd, 26:33.1; junior Danielle Brown, 43rd, 27:27; and sophomore Celine Legg, 45th, 27:38.
The Mountaineers host the CHSL Jamboree No. 3 on Monday, Oct. 7.
“Our home course is one of the toughest we run, but the girls really love it,” said Williams. “We hope to dominate again on home turf. We have a great schedule for the remainder of the season which should set them up for success.”
~WARP

  cross country, Everest