Sophomore Austin Mann setting a new PR of 17:20

After 10 days off from racing and looking a little rusty, the Cedar Springs boys won their third OK Conference meet at Greenville, coming in first over second place Forest Hills Central with a score of 43 to 53. This meet took place on October 3 at Brookside Golf Course, and there were seven schools competing.

The team’s top three runners all finished further back than they have been in the previous league races, though only by a couple of spots. Corey Bowers finished 2nd overall in 16:31, just barely getting out-kicked in the final 100m by the top runner from Forest Hills Central. Dilan Sargent and Jaydon Moleski started off further back than they typically do, but managed to still finish 6th and 7th overall in times of 17:02 and 17:18. Austin Mann stepped up and set a personal record on the course, the only boy to do this at this meet. Mann finished 8th overall, his best conference finish of the season, with a time of 17:20. Mann’s finish in the top 10 was what was needed in order to get the win.

Freshman Carter Moleski finished inside the top five runners for the first time this season and 26th overall in a time of 18:14. He was closely followed by Gavin Braciak in 27th overall in a time of 18:19. Daniel Vermulm was 39^th (19:06), Gabe White 43rd (19:09), Cayden Steinebach 46^th (19:15), Justin Voskuil 69^th (20:23), Alex Nylaan 72nd (20:32), Caleb Menefee 83rd (20:48), Sam Kleynenberg 92nd (21:23), Gabe Minnich 94^th (21:26), and Logan Douglas 102nd (21:51).

The girls placed 6th overall as a team. Sophomore Maggie Prins ran her lifetime personal best of 21:44 placing 23rd, the only Red Hawk girl to PR for the day. Isabel VanDusen placed 46th with a time of 23:43 and Lily Howland placed 54th with a time of 24:25. Tonya Tepin helped close the gap placing 55th with a time of 24:27 and Marjorie Hosking placed 61st running a time of 24:48. Antonia Eigemann placed 70th (25:37), Paige Marsman placed 78th (26:04), Madison Golliver 94th (30:06), and Hannah Helton placed 101 overall (36:49).

“I was proud of our girls. Temperatures were warmer than usual and with the course still being soft, we ran well as a group. Times weren’t fast, but I didn’t want them to focus on that. The goal was to just keep moving up and helping their teammates fill that gap,” said Coach Melinda Stressman.

The Varsity Girls Track Team had a very successful week of competition. They defeated Wyoming 89 to 42 in the OK conference opener on Wednesday, April 15 and ran their dual record to 3 and 0. On Saturday, April 18, they went to Sparta for the Tri Level Classic. The 9-10 grade team won 8 of the 16 events and took first place with 120 points. In the 11-12 grade division, the team scored 78 points and placed 4th. Combining their scores with the Middle School, who took first place, the overall place in the meet for the teams was second—the highest place they have ever finished at this meet.

Earning first place medals at the Spartan Tri-Level Classic in the 11-12 division was Kenzie Weiler (1600 and 3200 meter runs), and Ellie Ovokaitys (800 meter run). Earning first place in the 9-10 division was Rachel Crystal (long jump), Tara Tepin (100 and 300 hurdles), Faith Peacock (100 and 200 meter dashes), Hannah Heintzelman (800 meter run), the 400-relay team of Kaley Louck, Rachel Bowers, Rachel Crystal, and Faith Peacock, and the 1600 meter relay team of Hannah Heintzelman, Mackenzie Rugg, Rachel Bowers, and Tara Tepin.

Placing second in the 11-12 division was Allyson Marvel (Pole Vault and 100 meter hurdles); and in the 9-10 division was Rachel Bowers (long jump).

Placing third in the 11-12 division was Ellie Ovokaitys (1600 meter run), Mathilda Stocke (200 meter dash), the 400-meter relay team of Emily Shaft, Allyson Marvel, Kaylee Mihlethaler, and Mathilda Stocke, and the 1600-meter relay team of Kaley Louck, Allyson Marvel, Mathilda Stocke, and Emily Shaft. Finishing third in the 9-10 division was Jenna Zoeman (100 meter dash), Hannah Heintzelman (1600 meter run), and Mackenzie Rugg (400 meter dash).