Pioneer's Ronfeldt Outpaces Fast Field Again, Jenison Claims Historic Win
By
Paul Costanzo
Special for MHSAA.com
November 7, 2026
BROOKLYN – Kamari Ronfeldt ran the second-fastest time in MHSAA Boys Cross Country Finals history Saturday to claim his second-straight Lower Peninsula Division 1 title.
The Ann Arbor Pioneer senior conquered the 5K course at Michigan International Speedway in 14 minutes, 45.9 seconds, winning a highly-competitive race that saw five runners finish under 15 minutes and best the previous year when four accomplished the impressive feat.
“I knew it was going to be like this,” Ronfeldt said. “Last year we had the most sub-15s ever in state history at this course. This year looked just as strong. Caden (Livermore of Grandville, who finished second) got me at Portage. He has an amazing kick, so I had to dig deep in that last 200.”
Livermore’s runner-up time of 14:48.6 was the fourth-fastest ever run at MIS, and Northville’s Brandon Cloud also made the top 10 in taking third at 14:51.2.
Kalamazoo Central’s Samuel Baker was fourth at 14:54, while Macomb L’Anse Creuse North’s Xavier Solgot was fifth at 14:59.4.
A massive pack ran at the front of the race through the first two miles, and it wasn’t until the final 200 meters that Ronfeldt took control.
“I know (Livermore) has a great kick,” Ronfeldt said. “I really didn’t think I had it in me until I started closing on him a little bit. He made a move early, like pretty much as soon as we entered (the final stretch in the stadium), so I knew I had to try to keep up with him.”
While history was being made at the front of the race, Jenison made some of its own, claiming the first team title in program history.
The Wildcats finished the day with 101 points, well ahead of second-place Ann Arbor Skyline at 168.
Both teams had strong packs, but Jenison’s was simply closer to the front, as Ethan Burks (15:30.9), Carter Cooke (15:31.5), Caleb Conner (15:32.2) and Chase Sherman (15:40.5) finished 19th, 20th, 21st and 30th overall, and 12th, 13th, 14th and 21st in the team standings.
“When I say we’re a family outside of this, we’re a family when we’re running,” said Burks, the lone senior in Jenison’s lineup. “We are always together in a group, and we are always working together. We are a team all through it. When I turned around and saw that we were all together, I was like, ‘What does this mean? What does this mean?’ We have been so consistent from the start. We have always been together.”
Hans Templeton finished 61st overall and 41st in the team standings to round out the scoring for Jenison with a time of 15:59.7.
The win for Wildcats also ended Northville’s dominance in the division, as the Mustangs had won the past four Division 1 Finals titles. Northville finished 13th.
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Kamari Ronfeldt (6) and Grandville’s Caden Livermore sprint toward the finish line Saturday at MIS. (Middle) Jenison’s Ethan Burks (65), Carter Cooke (67) and Caleb Conner (far left) charge through the final stretch. (Click for more from Dave McCauley/RunMichigan.com.)
Freshman leads Sault Ste. Marie to Win
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
October 20, 2012
MUNISING — Sault Ste. Marie freshman Parker Scott had been setting school records quite regularly throughout this cross country season.
Although his 16-minute, 50.5-second clocking on the 3.1-mile course at Pictured Rocks Golf & Country Club during Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals wasn’t a school record, it was good enough to earn the Division 1 title.
“The weather was great, but the course was a little wet” said Scott, this year’s Straits Conference champ who also won the Rudyard Invitational in a school-record 16:12 on Oct. 13. “The slippery footing slowed everyone down. I felt good in the beginning, then I tweaked my hip and it disrupted my rhythm. Although, I think it will be all right. I’m good at adapting to changes. It really didn’t affect me that much.”
The victory enabled Scott to finish this season undefeated.
“Winning any race is awesome,” said Scott, who also won on the Pictured Rocks course in 16:15 on Sept. 25. “The win at Rudyard was definitely a good achievement. That course is flat and fast, similar to this one.”
Scott’s effort also helped the Blue Devils gain their first U.P. title in 11 years with 65 points. Runner-up Escanaba scored 72 and Kingsford took third with 101.
Kingsford senior Dan Kulas took second (16:58.6), edging Houghton sophomore Jacob Colling by a step on this sunny and seasonably cool day.
“I really wanted to at least get runner-up,” said Kulas, who’s considering going out for cross country at Michigan Tech next year. “Parker is a great runner. I’m pleased I could stay that close (within 8.1 seconds) to him. There were lot of potholes and they slowed us up a little. The footing wasn’t the best (due to the recent rainfall).”
Kulas became two-time Great Northern Conference champ on Oct. 11, and Colling was crowned West-Pac Conference champion for the first time on the same day.
“Dan and I were going at it the last quarter-mile,” Colling said. “I was kind of shooting for the top three or top five, somewhere in that range. It was close. This was a real good race for me. I’m very excited about what I did here today. This is a great way to end the season. All the potholes made it a little interesting, but we had beautiful weather. I think running in the first race today may have been a good thing because the course probably got more chewed up as the day went on.”
Division 2
Stephenson captured its third consecutive Division 2 title with 52 points, followed by Norway with 67 and Hancock’s 76.
The Eagles were led by sophomore Connor Cappaert, who gained his first U.P. championship in 17:25.7. He was followed by Ironwood sophomore Jared Joki (17:43.4) and Manistique senior and Tyler Pomeroy (18:13.2). Joki was crowned Indianhead Conference champion last week and Pomeroy was two-time Mid-Peninsula Conference champ.
“Winning here was definitely a goal,” said Cappaert. “It was a dream come true. I’m also so happy our team came away as U.P. champion. All of our runners gave it their all today. Goals were set for all of us and we met those. We peaked at the best time possible. This has been a fun year for us.”
Division 3
Munising retained its Division 3 title with 55 points, followed by Cedarville with 72 and St. Ignace with 90.
Freshman Brett Hannah won on his home course in 17:55, followed by Cedarville’s Josh Hester (18:00.3) and Munising’s Izaak Mahoski (18:00.8).
“I’m pretty happy to win it here with all the hometown support,” said Hannah, who also earned the Central U.P./Skyline Conference title on Oct. 10. “We ran this course a couple times this year and were comfortable with it. We knew there were quite a few potholes, and we knew where they were at. I’m glad I could contribute to us keeping the trophy at home. I think this gives us a little confidence going into next year.”
Sophomore Zack Mazurek became the first Bessemer athlete to medal in the U.P. Cross Country Finals, placing fourth in Division 3 (18:09.2).
“It took me a little while to learn the pacing and where I needed to be,” Mazurek said. “I ran against some of these guys in my freshman year (in track) and felt I could be in contention. But I think their experience probably paid off in the end.”
PHOTO: Runners work to lead a pack at the Division 1 race at Saturday's Upper Peninsula Finals at Munising (Photo courtesy of RunMichigan.com/Paul Gerard).