BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The Clarkston Boys Varsity Cross Country team finished in second place at the Jackson Invitational on Saturday.
“I am very excited and happy for them,” said Larry Adams. “Winning last year was nice. We knew going in this year the field had increased in strength. A lot more higher ranked and tougher teams came in. We knew it was going to be a challenge for us. I thought a top three finish would be spectacular for us.
Senior Brendan Favazza led the team as they finished with 118 points. He finished in second place at the time of 15:25.2.
“Brendan did a nice job. He was actually battling a little bit of a cold,” Adams said. “He positioned himself well to finish well in the last half mile.”
Senior Nathan Sesti finished in 13th place at the time of 16:13 and sophomore Andrew Sesti finished in 16th place, 16:20.3.
“Nate was solid as always,” said Adams.
Senior Christian Collis and sophomore Joey Taverna took the last two top five spots for Clarkston as Collis finished in 30th place, 16:40.5; and Taverna finished in 59th place, 17:14.5.
Adams added they did well especially since the temperatures were too hot to run faster like the athletes wanted.
The top ten teams out of a field of 28 included Romeo in first place with 107 points. Dexter finished in third place with 134 points; Ann Arbor Skyline, fourth, 153; Olentangy Liberty, fifth, 171; Hartland, sixth, 189; Stoney Creek, seventh, 200; Saline, eighth, 209; Ann Arbor Pioneer, ninth, 218; and Salem, tenth, 249.
The girls team finished in 11th place with 302 points during the meet.
Senior Mia Patria led the pack with a 12th place finish in the time of 19:16.5.
The top five runners included junior Mattie Drennan in 21st place in the time of 19:39.2; freshman Lindsey Darnell, 75th, 21:14.9; sophomore Mackenzie Montigano, 85th, 21:24.6; and sophomore Elise Wilhelm, 137th, 22:46.9.
The top ten teams out of a field of 22 included East Grand Rapids in first place with 38 points; Ann Arbor Pioneer, second, 87; Salem, third, 111; Saline, fourth, 139; Temperance Bedford, fifth, 186; Troy, sixth, 205; Bloomfield Hills, seventh, 235; Grand Blanc, eighth, 242; Romeo, ninth, 248; and Birmingham Seaholm, tenth, 270.
The JV and varsity teams opened the week at the OAA Jamboree No. 2 at Lake Orion on Tuesday.
They head to the Hanson’s Invitational. The first race begins at 9:30 a.m.
The runners head to the Oakland County High School Championships at Kensington Metropark in Milford next Saturday.

  Clarkston Boys Cross Country, Clarkston Girls Cross Country, cross country