Ithaca's Bloom Gets Her Title, Hart Ties LP Finals Team Record
November 6, 2021
BROOKLYN — A year ago, Lani Bloom of Ithaca was in first place with a decisive lead, less than 100 meters from the finish line at Michigan International Speedway.
But then she fell and was reduced to a slow crawl.
As she desperately tried to reach the line on her hands and knees, three runners passed her. It was the second year in a row that Bloom led coming down the stretch at MIS, only to experience a catastrophe. She was 18th in 2019 after leading with 800 yards remaining, collapsing after crossing the line.
So, that fist pump she gave when she crossed the line at MIS on Saturday was almost as much for the fact she finished upright as it was for winning the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 individual championship.
There would be no drama awaiting Bloom on the home stretch this year, as she cruised through the finish line in 17:29.69, winning by 30 seconds ahead of Hart sophomore Alyson Enns.
“I was in the same position last year,” Bloom said. “I was ahead by quite a bit. I just fell. This year, I made a conscious effort, I got to that point and I said, ‘You have never run this part of the course. You have crawled it for the past three years. It’s time to run it. It’s time to finish it.’”
Perhaps because of her past issues at MIS, Bloom showed empathy for fellow runners who were struggling after crossing the line.
She helped sixth-place Mylie Kelly of Benzie Central get back to her feet and moving, then helped hold up two teammates who were completely spent after racing 3.1 miles.
“Usually if I’m feeling good enough to stand up on my own, I’m feeling good enough to help people,” Bloom said. “The girls I went back for are girls I’ve competed against, ran with forever now. It seems they’ve given me so much respect that the least I could do is hold them up at the end.”
Bloom went through the mile mark in 5:38.1, holding a 7.8-second lead over Hart freshman Jessica Jazwinski. The lead stretched to 19.2 seconds when Bloom reached two miles in 11:17.3.
“I was expecting them to hang on to me for a little longer,” Bloom said. “I was reading these Michigan Speed Ratings. He said these girls get out hard and dare the field to hang on. I said, ‘I’m going to do that. I’m going to see who is ready to race today.’”
Following Bloom across the line were three Hart runners who took places two through four. Alyson Enns was second in 17:59.67, Jazwinski was third in 18:00.59 and senior Audrianna Enns was fourth in 18:32.27.
Hart’s strength up front was able to offset more consistent top-five finishes by the other contenders. Hart scored 143 points to win its fifth consecutive Division 3 championship by 36 points over Kent City.
The fifth-straight Finals title tied Rockford’s run in Class A/Division 1 from 1998-2002 for longest championship streak in Lower Peninsula girls cross country history.
Kent City’s top five runners were in the top 72 overall and top 53 among team runners, while Hart counted a runner who was 159th overall and 111th in the team race.
Lexie Beth Nienhuis was 31st in 19:36.65 for Hart, while Abigail Pretty completed the team score by taking 159th in 21:47.49.
PHOTOS (Top) Ithaca’s Lani Bloom approaches the finish line on the way to winning the LPD3 individual championship. (Middle) Hart’s Alyson Enns (255) and Jessica Jazwinski (257) lead the way as their team wins a record-tying fifth-straight title. (Click for more from 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.)