The Mountaineers continued to climb new heights as they claimed the MHSAA Division 4 Girls Cross Country Region 36 championship at Chandler Park on Friday.
“It has been a season at a whole different level for the Everest Collegiate cross country team,” said Coach Mary Williams. “As a young team heading into this season, the team hadn’t claimed a single trophy.”
The Mountaineers changed that – claiming first places at second and third Catholic High School League Jamborees, the Small School Invite, the Gabriel Richard Invite, and the Lutheran Northwest meet; and taking second place at the Holly Invite and Old Skool Classic.

It prepared them as they scored 48 points at the regional meet to finish in first place as Allen Park Cabrini finished in second, 59 points; and Royal Oak Shrine, third, 66, to join Everest at the state final.
“The team faced a tough challenge this season with Allen Park Cabrini coming down from Division 3 to Division 4,” said Williams. “The top-ranked teams in the region flip-flopped all season between Everest, Shrine, Cabrini, and Plymouth Christian. As the season progressed, the Mountaineers consistently started outrunning their competitors, but the scores were tight. After winning the league title, the team had a tough loss to Shrine at the CHSL Championship. Down a runner, the team lost the championship in a tie-breaker. The team came back with vengeance and claimed the regional title.
The Mountaineers had three runners receive medals for finishing in the top 15 in the varsity race with Caroline Cross finishing in fifth place, 20:14.1; Avery Herrgott, eighth, 20:28.8; and Theresa Waller, ninth, 20:41.6. Alyse Felix and Erin Booms rounded off the top five runners for Everest. Felix finished in 18th place at 21:34.5 and Booms in 19th place, 21.44.
The Mountaineers run at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in the Division 4 races. Awards and presentations are at 12:15 p.m. Admission is $8 at Michigan International Speedway.

  Clarkston Everest Collegiate, cross country, Mountaineers