Clarkston Everest Cross Country finished the regular season on a high note before heading into regionals this Friday.
The Mountaineers were down a varsity runner on Saturday at the Catholic High School League Championship but it didn’t slow them down from tying with Royal Oak Shrine at Kensington Metropark. Shrine claimed the championship in a tie breaker.
Everest advanced from eight out of nine teams last year to CHSL finalists this year and claimed the sectional league title as well as the Mark Carpenter Sportsmanship award for the third time in the program’s four-year history.
Sophomore Avery Herrgott led the team as she finished in fifth place at the time of 22:03.2. Freshman Caroline Cross finished in seventh place, 22:16.4; and junior Theresa Waller, eighth place, 22:30.3. All three were recognized as All-Catholic with their finishes in the top fifteen.
Freshman Alyse Felix finished in 17th place, 23:29.7, and was named All- League for finishing in the top 20. The rest of the Mountaineers finished in the top 40 with freshman Stephanie Suran finishing in 33rd place, 24:41.2; senior Molly Milosch, 36th, 25:02.3; and freshman Allison Tong, 37th, 25:11.7.
The Mountaineers competed at Lutheran Northwest meet at Spencer Park, Oct. 15, where Cross set a school record with her time of 20.52.9 as she finished in second place.
Waller finished in third place in the time of 20:54; Herrgott, fourth, 21:11; sophomore Erin Booms, eighth, 22:20; Milosch, 10th, 23:13; Feli, 11th, 23:29; and Suran, 23:39.
Mary Williams, head coach, said not only did the runners do well, but she received compliments.
“The Lutheran Northwest coach commended me on the girls thanking him on their way out,” she shared. “These girls are making an impression, certainly by their running, but more importantly by who they are as teammates and athletes.”
The Mountaineers finished in first place during the 35th Annual Gabriel Richard Invitational at Hudson Mills with 52 points, Oct. 12. Herrgott led the team, finishing in fourth place at 21:03.8. The top five runners also included Cross in sixth place, 21:24.3; Waller, seventh, 21:24.9; Booms, 20th, 22:21.8; and Felix, 26th, 22:42.2.
“They edged out rivals Shrine and Plymouth Christian, both of whom the Mountaineers will face at regionals,” Williams said.
The Mountaineers claimed another first as they had their first victory on their home course when they held the CHSL C-D Jamboree No. 3, Oct. 7.
The Mountaineers finished in first place with 54 points. Cross led the team, finishing in fifth place at 22:40.7. The five runners also included Herrgott in sixth place, 23:03.6; Waller, 11th, 23:34.8; Booms, 16th, 24:18.1; and Felix, 18th, 24:30.1.
The Mountaineers compete in the MHSAA Division 4 Lower Peninsula Girls Cross Country Region 36 at Chandler Park on Friday, 3:30 p.m.

  Clarkston Everest Collegiate, cross country, Everest Cross Country