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.)
Farrell, Milford Finish Incredible Runs
November 5, 2016
Second Half reports
BROOKLYN – When everyone packed up and left Michigan International Speedway last year, cross country gurus inclined to predict the 2016 MHSAA Division 1 girls cross country race had no shortage of candidates for the individual championship.
Of the top 17 finishers, 13 were non-seniors, headlined by two sophomores at the top of the podium.
It’s safe to say nobody dug deep enough into the results to pull out Maggie Farrell’s name as a leading contender.
Farrell had just completed her second straight middle-of-the-pack showing, taking 97th in 19:29.9 after placing 92nd in 19:28.8 as a sophomore. She certainly had consistency going for her.
But she wanted to accomplish so much more, so she put in the hard work to make her dreams come true.
“I changed my schedule a little bit and worked with a trainer,” Farrell said. “My goal this year was top 15; I thought that would be tough.”
Her goals were revised as she got into the season and won almost everything in sight. She claimed the ultimate prize Saturday by winning the Division 1 title with a time of 17:25.6.
Ann Arbor Pioneer junior Anne Forsyth was second in 17:35.0. Farrell made a move at the two-mile mark, but could never feel comfortable until she experienced the relief of hitting the finish line.
“I’ve just got to go,” were Farrell’s thoughts during the final stretch. “I know the girl behind me wants it as much as I do.”
Farrell won 13 of her 14 races this season. The only time she lost was when she took third place at the Portage Invitational on Oct. 8. Forsyth was first in that race, followed by Traverse City Central junior Sielle Kearney. Kearney was seventh in 18:16.5 on Saturday.
“In that race, I ran the same way,” Forsyth said. “I just run from the front. I tried to pull ahead, and I felt good. Today, she kind of did the same thing to me.
“I’m happy. I haven’t been running as well in the big meets in the past, so I’m happy I ran well today.”
In the team race, Milford pulled off an upset by winning its first MHSAA girls cross country championship. The Mavericks, ranked 10th in the state, scored 150 points to beat Pioneer by 22.
Northville finished in the top eight for the sixth straight year, placing third with 178 points. Top-ranked Birmingham Seaholm, winner of three of the last four MHSAA titles, was fourth with 188.
Senior Mallory Barrett led Milford by placing ninth overall and sixth among team runners in 18:16.5. Sophomore Victoria Heiligenthal was 14th overall and 10th in the team race in 18:26.6.
Also scoring for Milford were junior Nicole Grindling (33rd, 19:21.3), sophomore Natalie Black (43rd, 19:32.1) and junior Regan Lobodzinski (58th, 19:47.5).
Milford’s previous best finishes were second-place showings in 1984 and 2000. The Mavericks were third last year.
The MHSAA Cross Country Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
PHOTOS: (Top) Battle Creek Lakeview’s Maggie Farrell (right) stays just a few paces ahead of Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Anne Forsyth. (Middle) Milford’s Natalie Black (1049) pushes toward the finish with Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern’s Emily Fredette (1200). (Click to see more from RunMichigan.com.)