Performance: Rockford's Ericka VanderLende
October 12, 2018
Ericka VanderLende
Rockford senior – Cross County
After spending Saturday morning taking the SAT, the reigning Lower Peninsula Division 1 champion ran the second-fastest time of the day at the prestigious Portage Invitational, besting the field by 45 seconds with a 17:33 to earn the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.” Her 16:55.9 at the Allendale Invitational on Sept. 29 is the fastest girls time in the state this season, especially impressive since earlier this fall she missed a month between meets with a knee injury.
VanderLende’s is an incredible story of finding a niche. She had never run farther than a mile at a time before high school, and only joined cross country at the cajoling of her parents. She finished 81st at the LPD1 Final her first season and 99th as a sophomore in 2016, although her personal record (PR) that fall was more than a minute faster than her best time as a freshman. She cut another full minute off her PR as a junior, when she won every race she ran but two – and claimed the MHSAA title by nearly 14 seconds at 17:16.8, the eighth-fastest time in Finals history. She’s won all five races she’s run this fall, and the victory at Portage ended a progression that saw her come in 75th as a freshman, 11th as a sophomore and third as a junior before taking first last weekend.
Rockford as a team finished fifth against a Portage Division 1 field that included seven of the top 11-placing teams from last year’s MHSAA Final. The Rams took third at Michigan International Speedway last season, but graduated three of their top four from that team – although VanderLende again gives them an accomplished and experienced pace-setter at the top. She led the Rockford girls track & field team to a second-place Finals finish in the spring, winning the 1,600 in a PR 4:45.17 and taking second in the 3,200, where her PR is 10:05.01. She is undecided on where and what she'll study, but VanderLende would like to run collegiately and carries a 4.04 grade-point average.
Coach Ben Watson said: “Ericka has really bought into and understands what it takes to be a great distance runner. Being good at distance running takes a consistent and patient approach to improving with a lot of attention to details, and this is why Ericka has really excelled. She sets lofty, long-term goals and puts herself to the task of doing what it takes to achieve those far-off dreams each and every day. She does what we call ‘all the little things’ that over time lead up to great outcomes. She is incredibly motivated to do her very best and matches that with a fierce competitive spirit during competition, where she wants to do her very best!”
Performance Point: “Going into the race, I wasn’t expecting to run super fast because I’d taken the SAT right before that, so I wasn’t really mentally prepared for the race,” VanderLende said of the Portage win. “I was just going to go with however I felt that day. On the SAT, I tried to not think about the race, and on the race I tried to forget that I even took the SAT. I would’ve liked to have run a little faster, but I knew it wasn’t really that important to get a fast time that day. I was just happy that I could run that race, because earlier in the year I had to take some time off for an injury and I didn’t really know when I would be back. I was just happy that I could get a good time and build off of it. … I’m happy with my times (this season). I obviously would’ve liked to have run a little bit faster based on my goals I set earlier in the year. But how I was able to come back from taking time off, I’m pretty happy with how I’ve been able to handle it.”
Comeback trail: “My goals were to take a lot of time off of my PR like I’ve been able to do the last couple of years – probably not a full minute like I’ve done in the past, but I would’ve liked to be under 17 so I was happy I was able to do that a couple of weeks ago. I’m not running every day of the week yet. I’m still building up, and I would like to run well at the state meet, and still building through that my goal is to run fast at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional and then hopefully move on to nationals after that as well.”
Getting on the right track: “I didn’t really want to do cross country in the first place, but my parents thought I’d be good at it, so they wanted me to try it. I gave it a shot. I always enjoyed running when I was younger, but not like to the extent where I wanted to do it for fun every day. (Now) I never really want to go a day without it. … At first I really didn’t like it. I was pretty slow. I think everyone on the team was faster than me. I didn’t really try that much. Then the first meet (in 2015) I was the top freshman on our team, and I wasn’t supposed to be. That motivated me to start trying throughout the year.”
Trust the process: “I don’t think anyone ever expected me to be good at running or any sport in general, so a lot of people are surprised. It kind’ve surprised me, because I wasn’t very good to start, so to get to this level, it just seems unreal. … Rockford’s program is good at having all of their runners improve gradually. The runners before that have run pretty fast here consistently dropped a lot of time too. So just knowing if they could drop a lot of time, I could do that too – but I didn’t think I’d drop as much time as I have.”
Be the example: “Last year we definitely graduated a lot of our top runners. It was fun being ranked number one in the state going into the state meet. Our goal is to win conference this year, and I think we can do that. And obviously place well at state, but we’re not really sure what we’re capable of yet – we’re a pretty young team. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. … (I) just let the girls know you can do more than you think you can.”
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2018-19 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Past 2018-19 honorees
October 4: Kobe Clark, Schoolcraft football - Read
September 27: Jonathan Kliewer, Grand Rapids Forest Hills Northern soccer - Read
September 20: Kiera Lasky, Bronson volleyball - Read
September 13: Judy Rector, Hanover-Horton cross country - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Rockford’s Ericka VanderLende leads the pack during the Division 1 race at Saturday’s Portage Invitational. (Middle) VanderLende, third from left, with her teammates after their Allendale Invitational win. (Photos courtesy of the Rockford girls cross country program.)
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.)