The varsity runners finished in 14th place at the MHSAA Division 1 State Finals on Saturday at Michigan Internationals Speedway.
Junior Sam Tanielian finished in 12th place, with a time of 15:54.8 and was named All-State.
Senior Adam Bruderick was the second fastest runner for the team,16:39.6; senior Michael Culver, third at 16:42.4; senior Daniel Byrne , fourth at 16:52.6; senior Ian Brennan fifth at 16:58.2; and junior Nick Moore, sixth at 17:03.3.
“It was a good season,” said Mike Taylor, coach for the Clarkston Boys Cross Country team. “We had pretty good depth because we were 7-8 guys deep and at any time we had a few running good.”
Taylor added the turning point for the team was in the middle of September when the boys won the Chesaning Invitational.
The boys followed it up with finishing first in their second OAA Jamboree, beating Lake Orion.
“It had been a turning point,” Taylor said. “Until then I had been on them about what they needed to do as a team. It was the first time they sparked as a team and realized we could be a good team. It was like they were just going through the motions and not really going at it 100 percent.”
The boys next won the Hanson Invitational, Oct. 1 and fifth at the Oakland County meet, Oct. 8.
“The teams that beat us were teams ranked top ten in the state,” Taylor added. “The guys thought ‘whoa, we could be really good.’ They trained better but they raced a lot better. Every time they were in a race they were more focused at running near each and running better times. They got more involved on checking on the internet on time s of everyone else at the run.”
They took second place at the OAA Championship on Oct. 20, finishing in the league in second. The Wolves followed it up by placing second at the MHSAA Regionals, Oct. 29.
Taylor added it was an unusual year for injuries and the reserves had to be prepared to be able to race.
“They are a real good group of guys,” said Taylor. “I am really proud of what they did this year. We can look at the finals and say we are 14th in the state. It was a good performance.”