Preview: Forecast Calls for New Favorites
November 5, 2020
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
With apologies to Division 2 favorite Fremont, this weekend’s Lower Peninsula Boys Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway could be in store for wholesale changes atop the team standings.
Fremont is the only reigning champion or 2019 runner-up ranked among the top three in its division heading into this weekend’s championship races.
A change in format also will switch things up a bit. To limit the number of participants in each race, the four divisions will be run over two days – Friday and Saturday – with each gender in each division spread over two races. Third-place teams and individual qualifiers from Regionals will run first, and first and second-place Regional finishers will run second.
Watching this year’s Finals at MIS also will be different. Attendance is limited due to COVID-19 precautions, but opportunities to watch off-site are available again via MHSAA.tv. Coverage will be enhanced this year with an additional camera on the back of the course to better capture the first 800 meters, 1.5-mile and 2.25-mile marks of the race. The traditional Finish Line camera also will cover the action, with commentary from a crew of announcers.
Here’s the schedule, with links to broadcasts of each race:
Friday – Nov. 6
Division 1 Finals - Boys at 9:30 and 10 a.m. - Girls at 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Division 2 Finals - Boys at 1:30 and 2 p.m. - Girls at 3 and 3:30 p.m.
Saturday – Nov. 7
Division 3 Finals - Boys at 9:30 and 10 a.m. - Girls at 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Division 4 Finals - Boys at 1:30 and 2 p.m. - Girls at 3 and 3:30 p.m.
Come back both Friday and Saturday for coverage of all four meets on Second Half, and see below for teams and individuals who should be in the running. References to a list of fastest times per division this fall includes only the top time for each runner and can be found with the Finals program and much more information on or linked to MHSAA.com.
Division 1
Reigning champion: Brighton
2019 runner-up: Dexter
2020 top-ranked: 1. Romeo, 2. Caledonia, 3. Rockford
This season’s favorites are a mix of everything, with Romeo seeking its first championship, Caledonia its first since 1996 and Rockford a traditional power hoping to add a fifth championship with its most recent in 2014 and 2015. Romeo finished seventh last season and graduated four of its top seven, but the three runners back this weekend – seniors Zander Cobb and Joseph Rinke and junior Jack Kelke – are positioned to finished among the top 22 based on their fastest times this season. Caledonia is looking to jump from 10th last season returning its top four placers from that team and with senior Jamin Thompson and junior Josh Oom posting the 24th and 25th-fastest season bests in Division 1 this fall. Rockford did finish second to Caledonia in the Ottawa-Kent Conference Red championship race but might have the fastest individual of this bunch in senior Jude Parks, whose 15:30.88 is the eighth-fastest time in the division.
Individuals: Hartland senior Riley Hough finished seventh a year ago and has won all but one of his races this fall, with a 14:48.40 personal record that is the fastest time in Division 1. That one loss came in August against Ann Arbor Skyline to senior Hobbs Kessler, who finished sixth last season, has the division’s second-fastest time of 14:53.30 and is undefeated this fall. Traverse City Central senior Drew Seabase and Plymouth senior Patrick Byrnes rank third and fourth, respectively, for fastest times this season after finishing 17th and fifth at the 2019 Final. Jenison senior Connor Vachon (12th), Milford senior Kazuma Bowring (14th) and Farmington senior Peter Baracco (19th) also are back from last year’s top 20, and Richland Gull Lake senior Koby Fraaza was fifth in Division 2. Salem senior Talha Syed and Utica senior Carson Nicoletti have been among the fastest this fall and should be in the mix.
Division 2
Reigning champion: Fremont
2019 runner-up: Otsego
2020 top-ranked: 1. Fremont, 2. St. Johns, 3. Pinckney
Fremont broke Chelsea’s two-year hold on the Division 2 championship last season by finishing significantly ahead of the field and with only one senior. A year later, senior Nathan Walker will attempt to move up from fourth individually and has the fastest season-best time in Division 2 (14:56.46) by more than 34 seconds. The second-fastest time belongs to junior teammate Conor Somers (15:30.62), who was eighth at the 2019 Final, while now-seniors Adam Ward and Ben Paige also finished among the top 20. St. Johns has five of its seven back from last season’s eighth-place team, and they form an impressive pack – all five have season-best times between 15:56 and 16:31. The Redwings are seeking their first title. Pinckney, seeking its first since 2007, qualified two individuals for last year’s Division 1 Final, and senior Gavin White could make a move after coming in 20th in that field. His season best ranks seventh in Division 2 and junior teammate Caleb Jerema’s (15:32.30) ranks fourth.
Individuals: The Fremont crew makes up 40 percent of runners back from last season’s top 20, with Walker the highest-placing returnee and Somers second on the list. Otsego senior Colin Mulder was ninth last season and has the third-fastest time this fall (15:31.22), while St. Clair senior Jack Pennewell was 83rd a year ago but is unbeaten this season and has the fifth-fastest time (15:39.60). Ada Forest Hills Eastern senior Ben Clason (12th), Freeland sophomore Braydon Honsinger (13th), Holland Christian junior Parker Lambers (14th), Yale senior Matthew McClelland (15th) and Dearborn Divine Child sophomore Michael Hegarty (19th) also are back from the top 20.
Division 3
Reigning champion: Hanover-Horton
2019 runner-up: Grandville Calvin Christian
2020 top-ranked: 1. Hart, 2. St. Louis, 3. Traverse City St. Francis
The theme among the favorites is experienced lineups. Hart finished fifth last season with only one senior and is favored to claim its first championship Saturday. Senior Alex Enns finished sixth individually last season and has the seventh-fastest season-best time in Division 4. St. Louis is seeking its first championship since 2005 after finishing sixth in 2019 also with only one senior. Junior Nate March was 21st last season. St. Francis also is running for its first championship, coming off a fourth place in 2019 earned with only one senior. Junior Thomas Richards was 13th last season and has the team’s fastest time this fall.
Individuals: Benzie Central sophomore Hunter Jones won last year’s championship by nearly 29 seconds, and his fastest time this fall (14:56) is nearly 35 seconds faster than the field. New Lothrop senior Carson Hersch has the second-fastest 2020 season best (15:30.80) after finishing third last season. Ithaca senior Braxton Lamey is next this season (15:42.70) and the next-highest returning finisher after coming in seventh in 2019. Seven more who finished 10-20th last season will run again this weekend – Hanover-Horton senior Dean Reynolds (10th), Grandville Calvin Christian senior Luke Witvliet (14th), Homer senior Alec Shaw (16th), Parchment junior Garrett Winter (17th), Memphis senior Tyler Carlson (18th), Potterville senior Zach Wright (19th) and Bloomingdale senior Joe Furlan (20th). Dansville senior Jalen Nelson was 10th in Division 4 last season and Saranac senior Grayson Rasmus was 13th; both are running in Division 3 this weekend.
Division 4
Reigning champion: Breckenridge
2019 runner-up: Unionville-Sebewaing
2020 top-ranked: 1. Saugatuck, 2. Carson City-Crystal, 3. Webberville
Saugatuck frequently moves between Division 3 and 4 and last season was 10th in Divisions 3 with now-junior Max Sharnas coming in 27th and now-senior Nik Pettinga 29th. Pettinga was third and Sharnas 15th when Saugatuck won Division 4 in 2018. Carson City-Crystal is seeking its first title since 1994, and Webberville is running for its first ever. The Eagles bring back six runners from last year’s fourth-place finisher, with senior Coleman Clark hoping to take the next step after finishing second last year and junior Ashton Keiffer back after finishing 17th. Webberville returns four of its top five from last year’s 10th-place team, with Nathan Lott another individual contender coming back from a third-place finish. Pettinga has the fastest time in Division 4 this fall (15:52.03), Lott’s season best is third (15:53.48), Sharnas’ fourth (15:55.29) and Clark’s sixth (16:06.17).
Individuals: Breckenridge junior Mason Sumner is the reigning champion and has the second-fastest season best at 15:53.40. He’s one of 12 runners back from last year’s top 20 – six from the top eight and six more who placed 12-20th. Also back this weekend are Concord junior Jonathan Mikovits (4th in 2019), Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart senior Matthew Nowak (6th) Mayville senior Wyatt Emmons (8th), Breckenridge senior Colttion Vine (12th), Morrice senior Caleb Rivers (14th), Breckenridge junior Trent Carter (18th), Mendon senior Charlie Newburry (19th) and Sacred Heart junior Brock Lynch (20th).
PHOTO: Hartland’s Riley Hough (87) and Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Hobbs Kessler charge toward the finish line during last season’s Division 1 Final. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)
Ronfeldt Makes Most of Finals Return, Northville Makes History with 4th-Straight Title
November 1, 2025
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Kamari Ronfeldt of Ann Arbor Pioneer came to Michigan International Speedway last year with dreams of winning a championship and left after receiving medical attention on the course.
Ronfeldt was among the contenders to win the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Finals championship as a sophomore last season, having set a freshman record of 15:08.6 while placing fourth in 2023.
The race was going according to plan when he hit the mile with the lead pack in 4:51.6. But he experienced breathing issues after that and had to drop out before reaching the two-mile mark.
The 2025 season has been a redemption tour for Ronfeldt, who broke the school record for a tradition-rich program and ran the fastest time in Michigan this season by going 14:47.9 at the Jackson Invitational.
The coronation came Saturday when he won a kick to the finish just ahead of Northville junior Brandon Cloud, taking the championship with a time of 14 minutes, 50.6 seconds. It’s the fifth-fastest time ever at MIS.
“I’m just so happy I was able to push through today,” Ronfeldt said. “Last year I had a rough run. At two miles, I couldn’t breathe and dropped out. I took care of that, so I’m happy I won.
“It was kind of cold-induced asthma. I started taking inhalers before races now, and it seems to work pretty well.”
Ronfeldt and senior teammate Beckett Crooks are the first runners in Pioneer history to break 15 minutes. The previous school record of 15:03.1 was set by Nick Foster in 2018.
Crooks finished fourth Saturday in 14:59.0, making he and Ronfeldt the only teammates to break 15 minutes at MIS. The previous fastest duo was Rockford’s Jason Hartmann and Dathan Ritzenhein, who ran 14:51 and 15:11, respectively, in 1998. Ritzenhein went on to be a three-time Olympian, and Hartmann was a four-time U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier.
“I’m only here right now because of him,” Ronfeldt said of Crooks. “Every day the practices are just amazing. I couldn’t be more thankful for him.”
As for breaking Foster’s record, Ronfeldt said: “I have so much respect for him. He was a great runner, who ran for Michigan, a crazy miler. That’s my motivation for getting to where I am.”
It was expected that Crooks would be Ronfeldt’s greatest competition for the individual title, but it was Cloud who was neck-and-neck with him as the finish line approached. Cloud’s time of 14:52.8 shattered his personal best of 15:24.6, which he ran while winning the Regional meet.
“I did not think I was going to be anywhere near him in this race,” Cloud said. “I was like, ‘I’m here. I’m going to try to take it’ with 200 out. He had more than I did.”
Cloud came away with the championship he and his teammates have been pursuing all season, as Northville won a fourth consecutive Division 1 team title by a 125-134 margin over Pioneer.
The Mustangs are the first boys team to win four consecutive championships in the MHSAA’s largest classification since Kalamazoo Central won four in a row in the open division and Class A from 1925-28.
Only four other teams have won three championships in a row in Class A or Division 1.
Cloud and senior Ben Hartigan have been part of Northville’s last three championships. Hartigan came to MIS as an alternate but didn’t run as a freshman.
“Even in middle school, people see the success the program has,” Cloud said. “People come up and they’re like, ‘Oh, Northville’s good at cross country.’ It encourages people to get into cross country in middle school. They want to be part of a state championship, too.”
Northville offset Pioneer’s firepower up front with some star power of its own. Following Cloud across the line were Hartigan in eighth place (15:12.8), Ryan Stojov in 10th (15:17.6), Ethan Hertza in 61st (16:00.7) and Emmanuel Coates in 103rd (16:18.7).
PHOTOS (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Kamari Ronfeldt pulls away from Northville’s Brandon Cloud at the front of Saturday’s Division 1 championship race. (Middle) Northville’s Ben Hartigan (312) stays a pace ahead of Kalamazoo Loy Norrix’s Jackson Lam. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)