Local cross country runners shine at CM meet

John Raffel
Sports Editor

STANTON - Saturday was a record-setting day for area cross country runners in the annual Hornet Run at Central Montcalm.

Along with the host Green Hornets, other local schools participating in the nonscoring, grade-level meet included Belding, Greenville, Montabella and Vestaburg.

"The weather was perfect for running and for setting a course record," said Central Montcalm Coach Mike Noll. "The previous record held by Katherine McCarthy of Kenowa Hills of 19:18 was smashed by 27 seconds when sophomore Melinda Palinkas of Saranac completed the course in 18:51.

"For this course it was an exceptional time," he said. "The top finisher for the boys was sophomore Reed Kamyszek of Kenowa Hills" in 16:21.

"With the cooler temperatures the Central Montcalm runners all had personal bests of the season," Noll noted. "Juniors Mike Judge (19:20), Nick Bogue (19:32), Ethan Porter (19:37) and Brandon Wheeler (20:27), along with freshman Brendan O'Brien (20:09), were the top runners for Central Montcalm."

Seniors Madison Anderson (23:58), Rebekah Hudson (26:44) and freshmen Amelia Hudson (25:28), Rebecca Mezquitic (26:23), and Nikki Loomis (27:44) led the Hornet girls.

Belding Coach John Carlson also was pleased with his team's performance.

"We had 15 of 16 runners run their best time of the season today," Carlson said. "Ethan Jonker ran his career best time (17:57). He was honorable mention all-(O-K Blue) conference in 10th grade and he looks to be in great form as we approach our (O-K Silver) conference schedule.

"Coach Noll and all their volunteers do a great job putting on the meet," he said. "We will always come back.

"Freshman Tara VanWagoner ran her best time ever," said Carlson. "She dropped 30 seconds from last week."

Greenville's girls featured Shelby Harris in the second spot in 21:07 in the 11th-grade race.

"We had eight athletes compete and all had season-best performances," said Yellow Jacket Coach Amanda Gerhardt. "The smallest improvement was 44 seconds but we had six of the eight improvements over one minute and a half.

"The team enjoyed the flatter course and cooler weather," she said. "We look to work hard this week and see more improvements as we race at Sparta on Saturday morning against many large Division 1 schools."

Greenville's boys were paced by Blake Bitner, who came home No. 1 among the ninth-graders in 18:07.

"Every one of our boys PR'ed today," Jacket Coach Nick Springsteen said of a bevy of Greenville personal records. "We're pleased with the effort the boys put together."

Vestaburg's Joy Caris finished seventh in the 11th-grade girls race in 22:48.

Montabella's Nichole McGillis wound up fourth in the 12th-grade race in 22:47.