LocalSportsJournal.com
 
SPARTA – The Western Michigan Christian girls cross country team is having a solid season thus far.
 
On Saturday, the girls won the Sparta Invitational’s Silver Division with a narrow victory over Pewamo-Westphalia. The Division included Division 3 and 4 schools.
 
The WMC boys finished in third behind Pewamo-Westphalia and Holland Calvary.
 
For the girls, WMC finished with 44 points, followed by Pewamo-Westphalia (46), Grandville Calvin Christian (87), Kent City (98), Saranac (124), Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (145) and Holland Black River (158).
The Warriors, ranked sixth in Division 4, were led by junior Grace Vanderkooi, who won the individual title with a personal-best time of 18:28.29. In fact, nearly all of the WMC girls set personal bests in the event.
 

Freshman Leah Sneller finished seventh in 20:18.66 and senior Eleanor Kingshott was ninth at 20:37.87. Freshman Kaylie Riksen was 13th in 21:18.44 and senior Grace Folkema was 16th in 21:30.19.

“With a week between races the team was able to get in a high intensity mid-week workout and that gave them some confidence coming into today,” WMC coach Greg Gould said. “Add in the moderate, overcast conditions, and good competition and the stage was set to perform at a high level and the girls executed today.”

Pewamo-Westphalia won the boys race with 54 points, followed by Holland Calvary with 108 and Western Michigan Christian with 109. Kent City came in at 121, followed by Saranac at 139, Leroy Pine River (142), Tri-unity Christian (168), Holland Black River (170), Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian (177) and Grandville Calvin Christian (248).

Junior Matthias Morse was the top WMC runner with a third place in 16:45.84. He was followed by Graeson Lawrence in 20th at 17:46.97, Reuben Anderson in 26th place at 18:04.78, Alexander Lawrence in 31st place in 18:16.93 and freshman Owen Sytsema in 37th at 18:34.01.

The Warriors came into the race ranked No. 10 in Division 4.

 
“The boys made a huge jump in performance today.” Gould said. “While we still have a few areas we can improve upon, it was a big step in the direction we want to go.”