Dudek's Dominance Paces Pioneer Title Run
November 2, 2019
Second Half reports
BROOKLYN – Zofia Dudek wasn’t on anyone’s radar as a potential MHSAA champion cross country runner during her freshman year.
She not only wasn’t running in Michigan, she wasn’t running in the United States.
Dudek was in her homeland of Poland when she was in ninth grade after two years in Florida and one year in Indiana because of her father’s job as a visiting professor of economics.
When Maciej Dudek was hired at the University of Michigan, Dudek enrolled at Ann Arbor Pioneer for her sophomore year.
From a school that has produced some of the top distance runners in Michigan history, Dudek may be the best of them all.
She won the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 championship Saturday with a time of 17:00.4, the fourth-fastest time by a girl at Michigan International Speedway.
Dudek had the fastest time in the state this year, a 16:46.9 performance on Oct. 11 in Ypsilanti, but the muddy conditions at MIS made it a tough day for chasing personal records.
“It was mostly just going for place and trying to do my best out there,” Dudek said.
Dudek proved to be a solid addition to the Pioneer team two years ago when she placed 20th at MIS in 18:13.0. She improved to third last year in 17:59.8.
“My sophomore year when I got 20th place, I thought that was amazing,” Dudek said. “I thought I could never be one of the top five runners. Now it just feels amazing to be able to do this.”
The potential successors to Dudek’s throne made their presence known Saturday, as the next five places were taken by a freshman, two sophomores and two juniors.
It was the freshman, Arianne Olson of Holland West Ottawa, who took runner-up to Dudek with a time of 17:53.0. Olson had no intention of trying to chase Dudek when runners took off from the start line.
“Not really, because I saw her times were a lot faster than mine, so I was just going to run my own race,” Olson said.
Dudek’s victory led Pioneer to its first championship since 1997 and fourth overall. The Pioneers scored 80 points to finish 33 ahead of Traverse City Central.
Pioneer had been second twice and fourth once in the last three years before ending its championship drought.
“It definitely helped a lot having people to push me in workouts and racing,” Dudek said. “It’s just amazing and helps me a lot.”
Sophomore Sarah Forsyth was ninth in 18:14.4, sophomore Cookie Baugh was 32nd in 18:50.2, senior Anna Vogel was 36th in 19:01.2 and sophomore Charlotte Batra was 39th in 19:07.9 to round out Pioneer’s scoring.
PHOTOS: (Top) Ann Arbor Pioneer’s Zofia Dudek charges down the stretch at MIS on Saturday, well ahead of the rest of the Division 1 field. (Middle) Pioneer’s Sarah Forsyth (1106) leads another pack, just ahead of Grand Rapids Ottawa Hills’ Adit Dau (1973). (Photos by Matt Yacoub/RunMichigan.com.)
Fure Completes Comeback, Rudyard Sweeps & L'Anse Claims 1st Finals Win
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
October 18, 2025
MUNISING — A few months ago, Ella Fure wasn’t sure she’d be able to run cross country this fall.
The Marquette High School senior had mononucleosis this summer and missed a lot of time from training and a few early-season meets.
She made up for lost time and regained her Upper Peninsula Division 1 title here Saturday by covering the 3.1 miles on the Pictured Rocks Golf Course in 18:53.3 – the fourth-fastest time in UP Division 1 Finals history.
“That was my goal,” she said. “I ran in God’s name more than in my own, and that’s why I think I was successful. It was also my goal to run as hard as I can. This was my last high school cross country meet. I just left it all on the course.”
This marked the fourth straight team title for Marquette, which scored 39 points. The Sentinels were followed by Sault Ste. Marie with 53 and Houghton with 63.
“I’m really excited,” Fure said. “I’m going to the MITCA meet in Mount Pleasant in two weeks and will be going downstate for indoor meets. I’m proud of all the girls. They really showed up today. I’m really proud of Emma (Ziegler), who’s a freshman. We worked so hard for this.”
Kingsford sophomore Maria Murvich placed second (20:25.5), followed by Negaunee junior Keira Waterman (20:33) and Houghton sophomores Holly Cooke (20:39.4) and Sela Niska (20:41.1).
“I tried to keep Ella within my sight,” Murvich said. “I’m so proud of her. She has come a long way.
“I’m very happy with my season. I have something to build on. It was a little warm out there, but a good day for a run. This is awesome.”
Houghton senior Tessa Rautiola, who was crowned champion two of the past three years, ran for the first time in six weeks due to a stress fracture. She placed 18th this time in 22:05.8
Division 2
Rudyard edged four-time reigning champion Hancock 28-32 for its first title in 14 years. Third-place Ironwood scored 67 points.
“The girls worked their tails off all year,” Rudyard coach Mike Kirschner said. “We have a group of girls who worked all summer long. They (Hancock) were injury-riddled this season, but really poured it on toward the end.
“We have a young group. I’m just so proud of the way they performed. We should be stronger next year.”
Rudyard freshman Melissa Kirschner won in 21:56.6. She was followed by Munising sophomore Addie Bowerman at 21:58.4, Hancock senior Jill Berg (22:05.1), Painesdale Jeffers sophomore Remi Coponen (22:37.7) and Hancock senior Lydia Pelli (22:49.3).
“I just wanted to get out there and run my race and have a big kick,” Kirschner said. “It really helps having everyone on different parts of the course and cheering me on. It was nice having somebody at the mile mark calling out my time. This is a big motivator to keep me running and pushing hard.”
Division 3
This marked what is believed to be the first U.P. Finals team title for L’Anse, which scored 51 points. The Purple Hornets were followed by last year’s champion Ewen-Trout Creek with 99 and Stephenson at 112.
Pickford senior Talya Schreiber claimed the Division 3 individual race at 18:31.6, followed by Newberry senior Samantha Taylor (18:48.7), junior Abby Taylor (20:29.3) and freshman Molly McNamara (20:52.5), and L’Anse sophomore Lily Froese (21:02.1).
Schreiber had broken 18 minutes twice this season. She ran a 17:46 at Shepherd on Sept. 27 and 17:54 in the final leg of the Eastern U.P. Conference jamborees at her home course Monday.
“I felt really good (Monday),” she said. “That may have taken a little out of me for today, but it’s pretty amazing. I will probably run in some indoor meets this winter. I’m hoping track season will be pretty good.”
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette's Ella Fure leads and eventually wins the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Girls Final at Picture Rocks Golf Course in Munising. (Middle) As Rudyard's Melissa Kirschner approaches the finish line, Munising's Addie Bowernman challenges. (Below) L'Anse's Lily Froese is close behind Ewen-Trout Creek's Bree Besonen. (Photos by Cara Kamps.)