Cedar Springs' Weiler Takes Next Step
November 2, 2013
By Bill Khan
Special to Second Half
BROOKLYN — Kenzie Weiler was satisfied with being the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 2 cross country runner-up the last two years.
She knew as well as anyone that nobody was going to challenge two-time champion Julia Bos of Grand Rapids Christian.
With Bos now in college, that left a wide-open race for this season’s Division 2 individual title.
This time, Weiler wasn't going to be content with second place.
The Cedar Springs junior made one final surge with fewer than 100 yards to go, passing Detroit Country Day junior Jackie Bredenberg just before the finish line to win by 0.8 seconds with a time of 17:55.1 on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
Weiler finished 18.7 seconds behind Bos last year and 10.4 seconds behind her in 2011. Weiler's times were faster the last two years (17:35.1 in 2011, 17:49.1 in 2012), but a mud-slicked course limited runners' ability to produce personal records Saturday.
"I've gotten runner-up two years in a row," Weiler said. "I really wanted one more (place) this year. I was staying mentally strong. It was a really great day. I'm really happy."
Weiler could appreciate her championship even more after missing track and field season with an injury.
"I decided after missing out on a whole season, I'm just so thankful to run, so thankful to be in the state meet," she said. "I was staying mentally strong. I haven't had a physical change. It's been more mental to be a stronger person."
A pack of four runners reached the two-mile mark in 11:30 before Weiler and Bredenberg began to separate themselves. Bredenberg held a slight lead as the two sprinted down the long straightaway at MIS. Just when it appeared Bredenberg would hold on, Weiler found another gear and made the decisive pass.
"I was hoping I didn't start too late," Weiler said. "I trusted myself. It came over me, and I was like, 'I'm not done yet.' It was exciting."
Such a close loss might be difficult to take, but Bredenberg was in good spirits immediately following the race. She didn't come into it figuring to be in the mix for the title.
"I definitely did not expect this," she said. "I've been running since sixth grade. I never would've thought I would come this close. It's definitely motivating to do that extra pool workout every weekend. I could hear her and I was thinking, 'That girl has an amazing sprint.' It was really exciting."
The top six finishers were juniors, with St. Johns' Karrigan Smith in the hunt until late, finishing third in 18:04.0.
Grand Rapids Christian overcame the graduation of Bos to improve upon last year's third-place finish, winning its fifth MHSAA championship and fourth in the last nine years. The Eagles have been in the top five for 12 straight years.
Grand Rapids Christian scored 109 points to win by 96 over Spring Lake. The battle for the runner-up trophy was considerably closer, with 21 points separating second through sixth places.
The Eagles should be favored to repeat, with no seniors among their top six. Junior Rachel Warners led the team, placing sixth among team runners in 19:01.2. Junior Katie Verhulst (12th, 19:15.8), sophomore Claire Brouwer (19th, 19:38.3), junior Lindsey Fox (27th, 19:45.9) and sophomore Leah Bishop (45th, 20:00.8) rounded out the scoring.
PHOTO: Cedar Springs' Kenzie Weiler (262), Detroit Country Day's Jackie Bredenberg (291) and St. Johns' Karrigan Smith (476) lead at the 1.5-mile point during Saturday's LP Division 2 Final at MIS. (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)
Match Race Makes for Intriguing Change, but Favorites Still Find Ways to Front
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
September 17, 2025
HOUGHTON — After following the traditional format for several years, organizers of the Bill Fezzey Memorial Invitational cross county meet decided to do something a little bit different for their races Sept. 4.
They elected to host a match race, formerly known as fox and hounds, on the cloudy and cool day in the Copper Country.
“We decided to make it different this year,” Houghton coach Traci Welch said. “Our kids were really upset about it at first. Although they were apprehensive, I think this brought out the best in them. Some of them ran significantly better times.
"This was the first perfect score ever for our girls. I was a little worried about the boys because we knew (Painesdale) Jeffers was going to be tough.”
The Houghton girls grabbed the top five places in their race and scored 15 points, followed by L’Anse with 49 and Calumet at 74. Jeffers squeezed past the Gremlins 27-28 for the boys title, and third-place Dollar Bay scored 88 points.
Runners followed a 20-second stagger, starting with the No. 7 runners from each school and working their way toward the top. The first one to cross the finish line in each race was the winner regardless of starting position.
Houghton senior Tessa Rautiola was clocked at 22:14.1 in winning the girls race.
“I’ve never done a race like this before,” she said. “All varsity runners go out at once in other races. It’s just a matter of getting into a good mindset.
“This is a learning curve for me. I should be happy I’m still running. I was just trying to catch other people during the race, which added to the intensity somewhat.”
Houghton sophomore Sela Niska was runner-up (22:23.4), and senior teammate Jovie Williams took third (22:38.8).
Jeffers senior Cameron Anderson was the boys winner at 18:33.4, followed by Houghton sophomore Xavier Hutchinson (19:08.3) and freshman Cole Ceane (19:08.8).
“Cam started last and came in first,” Jets coach Sam Kilpela said. “We had him timed at 16:31. It’s so easy to start out fast, which in a way is the hardest part. Once the guys settled in, they knew their job and got it done. This is a big win for us.”
Anderson said he didn’t mind the new format.
“It wasn’t bad,” he added. “I wouldn’t mind doing it again. It made me push myself and want to catch the other guys. You had to make sure you held your pace.”
Hancock senior Lydia Pelli took 18th (24:12.9) among the girls.
“(The match race format) gives the people who are usually first more of a challenge,” she said. “I think I like the regular races better because I’m more familiar with them. You have a better idea of what to expect.”
Ironwood senior Jaelyn Novasconi previously played volleyball but decided to go out for cross country this year. She finished 37th (27:48.8).
“This was a hard choice because I love volleyball,” she said. “I also love basketball, and this will get me in better shape.
“This was my (second) meet since middle school. This is also a great opportunity to compete with kids from other schools. The start was definitely different, but I ran faster than in my first meet.”
John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
PHOTOS (Top) Houghton senior Tessa Rautiola runs to the Upper Peninsula Division 2 Finals championship last season. (Middle) Painesdale Jeffers’ Cameron Anderson moves toward the front of the lead pack at last year’s UPD2 Final. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)