One More Shot at No. 1
December 16, 2011
Nervousness is part of Spencer Nousain's pre-race preparation.
“I’m scared I’m going to lose,” he said earlier this week, just days before his final high school cross country race -- Saturday's MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 4 Final at Michigan International Speedway.
And it seems a little odd, considering his resume.
The Concord senior has never finished lower than 10th at an MHSAA Finals. So far this fall, he's placed first in every race but one – Michigan State’s Spartan Invitational, where he was seventh in the “Elite” race against many of the state’s best from all divisions.
But if Nousain is first to cross the finish line for the Division 4 Final, he won’t celebrate right away. Instead, he’ll turn around and wait.
There’s definitely a pressure in having one last chance to win an MHSAA title. But Nousain has poured that into his team, which he is focused on leading to its second team championship in three seasons.
“I think the team relaxes me. If I focus on helping my teammates, that takes the pressure off of me,” Nousain said. “That’s the one thing I have changed. I’m a little more concerned about team this year.”
The Yellow Jackets have followed their leader to a spotless team record so far, including a Regional win without him. Concord is ranked No. 1 in Division 4 by MichiganCrossCountry.com’s coaches panel.
Nousain is fresh off his second-straight championship at the Jensen Memorial meet, which pits all of the Jackson-area cross country teams. He crushed the field in 16:05.7, 35 seconds faster than the runner-up. It's been that kind of fall, coming off last year’s state final when Nousain ran a 15:51.7.
Leading and following is nothing new for him. He’s the seventh of nine children in a running family. All but one of the first six ran high school cross country, and three of his siblings have gone on to run at the college level.
Unintentionally, Nousain’s sitting out the Regional allowed younger brother Mason, a sophomore, to place as Concord’s fifth runner that day. Mason has been the recipient of some of Spencer’s best lessons.
Starting in seventh grade, Nousain began training hard during the winter even as some of Concord’s high school runners were a little less serious, Yellow Jackets coach David Jordon said. Nousain has imparted that work ethic on his younger brother, and also become a target for some of the team’s younger runners to chase during practices.
“He wants to go out and run a great race, and everybody would love to win. But more of his focus is on how his teammates do,” Jordon said. “He’s definitely matured and seen the bigger picture. It’s exciting to win, but when the team wins, it’s more exciting.”
That might add some of the anxiety Nousain feels of late. Family, friends and others in the community expect him to lead Concord to another MHSAA team championship. But when Saturday’s starting gun goes off, he’ll only be able to control his race – and use the lessons he learned himself during the two near-misses.
The first time Nousain took second at an MHSAA Final, he was excited. The only runner to cross the finish line ahead of him was teammate Kyle Stacks, and their Concord team had just won the 2009 overall championship.
The second time Nousain finished second – a year ago this weekend – Nousain was a little disappointed. He’d expected to be first. He didn’t feel like he improved at all.
On Saturday, he has one more chance. And only one way to get better individually, although he’ll still celebrate coming in second if his team comes in first. He’ll race as he has all fall – start smart, close hard in the last mile, and then watch for more purple coming soon after.
“It’s going to be amazing. I love watching not just Mason, but my teammates improve,” Spencer said.
“In the sense of watching them be happy, when we win as a team, I’ll be happy. It makes me proud to say I helped them.”
One race, two champions, more contenders
The most competitive of Saturday’s races could be the Division 2 girls final. The field includes reigning individual champion Rachele Schulist of Zeeland West, last season’s third place finisher Megan O’Neil of Remus Chippewa Hills and fourth-place Julia Bos of Grand Rapids Christian.
Also in Division 2 this time is Allendale and Ali Wiersma, last season’s Division 3 MHSAA champion. Bos (17:43.2), Wiersma (17:59) and Schulist (18:19) were the top three, respectively, at last Saturday’s Regional at Allendale.
O’Neil (18:03.55) was third at the Benzie Central Regional behind two more runners who could break into the top group this weekend, including the possible favorite: Cedar Springs freshman Kenzie Weiler won that Regional in 17:13.07, and her junior sister Katie was runner-up in 17:57.55.
Final countdown
Also in Division 2, in the boys race, Chelsea senior Bryce Bradley will try to finish with a championship after improving from 20th as a freshman to 10th and then to runner-up last season.
At last year's final, he finished less than a second ahead of Dearborn Divine Child’s Nicholas Soter, who also will be back at MIS. They'll both might have to fend off Mason Tanner Hinkle, who beat Bradley by 19 seconds in their Regional.
Fast start
Only 15 girls have won at least three MHSAA cross country individual championships. But Breckenridge sophomore Kirsten Olling has lots of time – and at least a few opportunities.
Olling won last season’s Division 4 championship in 18:09.8. Fast forward to last weekend’s regional at Harbor Beach, which she won in 17:17 – more than 2 minutes faster than the runner-up.
Click for Saturday's schedule and race information, all Lower Peninsula finalists and links to regional results, and check back Saturday for coverage from MIS. Go online to FoxSportsDetroit.com for live coverage via the Finish Line Camera and live audio commentary throughout the race from reporters around the course.
PHOTOS
(Top) Concord's Spencer Nousain will attempt to win his first MHSAA championship after finishing runner-up in Division 2 the last two seasons (Photo courtesy of Concord cross country program).
(Middle) Zeeland West's Rachele Schulist (1001) emerged from the pack -- including Grand Rapids Christian's Julia Bos (829) to claim last season's Division 2 championship.
(Bottom): Breckenridge's Kirsten Olling won last season's Division 4 championship as a freshman.
Preview: Pair of Reigning Champions Racing to Extend Successful Streaks
By
Geoff Kimmerly
MHSAA.com senior editor
October 31, 2025
A pair of two-time reigning champions will attempt to join an even more exclusive list of title winners at Saturday’s Lower Peninsula Girls Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway.
Romeo in Division 1 and Whitmore Lake in Division 4 will enter their championship races both seeking to become the 10th and/or 11th Lower Peninsula teams to win at least three straight Finals championships.
Whitmore Lake also is led by Kaylie Livingston, who is joined by St. Johns’ Ava Schafer as returning individual champions seeking to repeat.
See below for several more team and individual contenders. The "season bests" list referred to frequently is a ranking list of every runner's best time this season, maintained by Athletic.net. The first girls race, in Division 4, begins at 9:30 a.m.; click here for the full schedule and ticket information.
Additionally, all eight races Saturday at MIS will be streamed live and viewable with subscription on the NFHS Network: Divisions 1 & 2 | Divisions 3 & 4.
Division 1
Reigning champion: Romeo
2024 runner-up: Saline
2025 top-ranked: 1. Ann Arbor Pioneer, 2. Brighton, 3. Romeo.
Romeo is seeking to become the 10th Lower Peninsula program to win at least three straight Finals championships and will return to MIS with four racers from last year’s top seven including sixth-place senior Natalia Guaresimo and 11th-place junior Annie Hrabovsky. Pioneer is forecast to win its first title since claiming three straight from 2019-21, and after finishing sixth last season but returning four of their top five from that race including third-place sophomore Natasza Dudek and 15th-place sophomore Sienna Klemmer. Brighton finished fifth last year with only one senior, and four of its top six placers will run again this weekend after the team won a Regional that also included No. 6 Ann Arbor Skyline and No. 11 Okemos.
Individuals: Dudek is the highest returning placer as four of the top five last season graduated, and she has the fastest 5K time in the state this fall (16:11.2) across either peninsula and all divisions. Hrabovsky ranks second on the Division 1 list of season-best times this fall, and Okemos sophomore Rachel Smith has the third-fastest on that list after finishing 10th at last year’s Final. Total, 10 of last season’s top 20 will be back this weekend, including as well Rockford seventh-place junior Daisy Cox, Midland Dow eighth-place sophomore Emilia Garces, Ann Arbor Skyline 12th-place sophomore Lucia Llanes, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek 13th-place junior Leah Corby and Rochester 19th-place senior Ella Abraham. Pioneer freshman Keira Von Blon also has run one of the top 10 times in Division 1 this fall, and Zeeland East sophomore Adalyn Raab finished 11th in Division 2 in 2024.
Division 2
Reigning champion: Goodrich
2024 runner-up: Zeeland East
2025 top-ranked: 1. Otsego, 2. Grand Rapids South Christian, 3. Grand Rapids Christian.
Goodrich last season won its first championship in nearly two decades, and is ranked No. 5 heading into this weekend. Otsego finished fifth a year ago but is the favorite after also finishing second in 2023 and most recently winning the title in 2022. Three of last season’s top four are back this weekend for the Bulldogs – including the reigning runner-up, senior Emma Hoffman – and they are bolstered by four freshmen including three whose top times this fall rank among the top 40 on the Division 2 season bests list. South Christian is expected to make a jump from 13th a year ago as it pursues its first Finals team title after previously finishing a program-best second in 2005. The Sailors return three runners from last year’s lineup as well, with four freshmen providing a boost. Grand Rapids Christian is another regular in this conversation, finishing fourth with no seniors a year ago after winning the title in 2023. Five of last year’s seven Finals racers are back for the Eagles this weekend.
Individuals: Only five of last season’s top 20 were seniors, and St. Johns junior Ava Schafer is running for a repeat after winning last year’s race by 10 seconds. Hoffman has the fastest time in Division 2 this season (16:20.6), with Gaylord senior Katie Berkshire’s season best (16:32.0) ranking second in Division 2 after she placed third at last year’s Final. The other 11 non-seniors from last season’s top 20 (with Raab running in Division 1) all will be back as well, including Holland Christian fourth-place sophomore Avery Engbers, Freeland sixth-place junior Clara Kaczor, Ludington eighth-place junior Annabelle Lowman and Frankenmuth ninth-place senior Natalie Foltz. Pinckney junior Jaelyn Ray finished 12th last season and has the third-fastest top time in Division 2 this season, and Ludington freshman Eliza Schwass has posted the fourth-fastest top time in the division.
Division 3
Reigning champion: Lansing Catholic
2024 runner-up: Pewamo-Westphalia
2025 top-ranked: 1. Lansing Catholic, 2. Pewamo-Westphalia, 3. Jackson Lumen Christi.
The top two from last season are predicted to finish that way again, with Lansing Catholic returning its top six runners from last year’s championship lineup and P-W four of its seven – with both teams also featuring one of the fastest freshmen in the division. Pirates junior Alyssa Kramer finished 14th individually a year ago and has the second-fastest top time this fall in Division 3, with Cougars junior Grace Wonch and sophomore Josie Bishop (20th last season) also ranking among the top seven on the division’s top times list. Lumen Christi finished ninth a year ago led by now-junior Samantha Schroeder, who finished eighth individually. She’s one of three runners back from last season’s Finals lineup and has the third-fastest top time in Division 3 this fall.
Individuals: The top five and eight of last season’s top 11 graduated, with Leslie senior Hailey Creisher the highest returning placer at sixth a year ago and also entering with the fastest time in Division 3 this season at 17:51.9. Following her and Schroeder among returning placers is Lakeview junior Kamryn Salladay, who was 10th and is back as an individual qualifier. Blissfield senior Hope Miller (12th), Grand Rapids Covenant Christian junior Shelby Kuiper (13th), Kramer (14th), McBain sophomore Caelyn Torry (16th), Kent City sophomore Elliana Max (18th) and Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central senior Bella LaFountain (19th) also are back from the 2024 top 20. Expect some new names as well: Six of the top 23 top times run in Division 3 this season have been run by freshmen.
Division 4
Reigning champion: Whitmore Lake
2024 runner-up: Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
2025 top-ranked: 1. Whitmore Lake, 2. Buckley, 3. Maple City Glen Lake.
Whitmore Lake also is running to become the 10th Lower Peninsula girls program to win three straight Finals titles, and the Trojans are once again paced by junior Kaylie Livingston – last year’s individual champion and holder of the fastest time in Division 4 this fall at 17:45.0. Total, Whitmore Lake returns six racers from last year’s title-winning lineup, with senior Carina Burchi finishing 11th individually a year ago and senior Elodie Weaver back after placing 24th. Buckley impressively placed 11th as a team last year after graduating two-time individual champion Aiden Harrand and without a senior. The Bears return four of their top six racers from 2024. Glen Lake didn’t run at the Finals as a team last season, but now-sophomore Carmella Julian placed 20th as an individual qualifier and is back as the Lakers pursue their first team title since 2000. Glen Lake will run three freshmen, three sophomores and a junior after finishing second at its Regional to Buckley.
Individuals: Livingston and Gobles third-place junior Libby Smith are the only two from last year’s top seven racing again, and they could make this a classic. Although Livingston won last year’s race by 14 seconds and finished 20 ahead of Smith, Smith’s top time this fall (17:46.8) is just two seconds off Livingston’s division-best pace. Harbor Springs junior Stefi Reskevics (eighth), Onekama sophomore Callie Sinke (ninth), Burchi (11th), Breckenridge senior Ally Schmitz (14th), Grand Traverse Academy junior Amelia McKinney (15th), Ubly senior Katie Sweeney (16th) and Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic Prep senior Emma Riker (18th) also are back from the top 20, and three freshmen and an eighth grader have run top times among the top 17 in Division 4 this fall. Leland sophomore Sophia Grinage finished 51st in her Finals debut last year, but has run the third-fastest top time in the division.
PHOTO Several teams, including this weekend's expected Division 2 contender Grand Rapids South Christian, take their opening strides during the Otsego Invitational Division 2 race on Sept. 27. (Photo by Gary Shook.)