LocalSportsJournal.com
In a race that came down to the wire, Ludington’s girls cross country ream nosed out Western Michigan Christian at the Lakes 8 Activities Conference Championships.
The meet was Tuesday at West Shore Community College campus.
The Orioles took the second and third individual spots behind WMC senior standout Abby Vanderkooi. Ludington’s team led them to a 28-32 victory on an unseasonably mild, fall afternoon.
Ludington freshman Summer Bower
Western Michigan Christian senior Abby Vanderkooi
Ludington freshman Nadia Grierson
Manistee edged Muskegon Catholic, 82-83 for the third spot and Muskegon Orchard View was fifth with 148.
Vanderkooi breezed to an easy win, finishing in a time of 19:14.20. The next girl to finish was Ludington freshman Summer Brower in 21:17.89.
Also finishing in the top 10 were Ludington freshman Nadia Grierson, who was third in 21:44.99, WMC junior Brianna Zuidema fourth in 21:55.81 and WMC senior Ava Rotman fifth in 22:13.22.
Rounding out the top 10 were Ludington freshman Autumn Brower sixth in 22:27.14, Ludington sophomore Mackenzie Keillor eighth in 22:52.51, Ludington sophomore Anna Burton ninth in 23:01.96 and WMC sophomore Eleanor Kingshott was 10th in 23:15.71.
The boys’ race wasn’t nearly as close, with Ludington ending up 10 points behind Manistee, 29-39. WM Christian was third with 66, Muskegon Catholic fourth with 103 and Orchard View fifth with 149.
Ludington also had second place in the individual competition, with sophomore Trey Keson finishing second to Manistee senior Caiden Cudney in 18:25.40.
Western Michigan Christian junior Jonathan Clausing
Ludington sophomore Trey Keson
Other area runners in the top 10 included WMC junior Jonathan Clausing fifth in 19:12.52, Ludington freshman David Reisterer sixth in 19:15.44 and Ludington senior Evan Bennett seventh in 19:33.68.
WMC freshman Matthias Morse finished eighth in 19:36.15, followed by Ludington sophomore Nevin Slater 10th in 19:39.79.
(Photos/Greg Gielczyk)
