Clarkston’s girls cross country runners came up second at the final Oakland Activities Association meet at Bloomer Park in Rochester Hills on Oct. 19.
The third OAA meet counted for half of the teams? overall league scores, with the other tallied at previous league meets this season.
The Wolves (90 points) finished behind Rochester Adams (56 points), the winners of the OAA. The Wolves won the league the past four seasons.
‘We ran average,? Coach Jamie Labrosse said. ‘Average doesn’t win championships.?
Labrosse gave credit to the Highlanders? preparation.
‘Adams ran phenomenal. They had a nice plan and they followed it.
‘We learned a lot yesterday. Adams showed us how to run with a plan, to pack-up and run together,? he added.
Clarkston’s inability to stick together was its downfall, Labrosse said.
‘I don’t mind if things spread apart at the last quarter-mile, but at two miles, we were all over the place.?
Inexperience could have been another factor in the race. Kristen Smith was the only runner for the Wolves with league-meet experience, while Adams has nearly 15 years experience between its runners, Labrosse said.
Smith was the first finisher for the Wolves in 19:14.2, and Olivia Allen was second, finishing at 19:33.0.
Katie Vondette (19:40.6), Tiffany Kincaid (19:43.4) and Bailee Braunreuther (20:14.3) rounded out the top five for the girls.
On the boys? side of the event, the Bloomfield Hills Lahser Knights took a tight victory with a score of 91. Troy Athens (93) and Rochester (94) were right behind.
The Wolves boys runners placed ninth with 229 points.
Jeff Kuhl finished first for the Wolves with a time of 17:06.3 and Andrew Chaffee second with a 17:37.1. Forbes Dever (18:00.4), Eric Nordquist (18:24.1) and Evan Lesenthien (18:24.5) were the other top-five finishers for the boys. Chaffee, Nordquist and Lesenthien marked personal best times at the meet.
Coach Mike Taylor was proud of the team’s performance.
‘We’re a young team. I was worried how they would respond,? he said.
‘They did more than just show up, they showed heart class and character’I’m glad to see these guys out competing and doing their best and not throw in the towel.?
Both the boys and girls teams will go to the cross country regionals at Clintonwood Park in Independence Township on Oct. 28. The top three teams from that competition will go on to the state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich. on Nov. 3.
Taylor said the team still has a chance to qualify for the state finals despite its record.
‘We are definitely a dark-dark horse, but it could happen.?