By C.J. Carnacchio
Leader Editor
Like a proud father beaming with optimism, Coach Ray Sutherland speaks very highly of his varsity cross country teams this year.
Of his girls team, Sutherland said, ‘This is probably our best team since we used to win regionals fairly consistently back in the early 1990s.?
How fast are they?
‘I think we’ve got 12 (runners) faster than our top five from last year ? that’s how much better we are this year,? Sutherland said.
Not that last year was anything to sneeze at.
‘Last year was probably our best team in about 10 years. They did a good job and were third in the league,? Sutherland said. ‘Last year, we probably had five to seven (runners) faster than our top three from the year before.?
Sutherland’s goal for the girls this year is to have the top seven runners be able to run 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) in under 22 minutes.
‘It’s a heck of a goal, but I don’t set goals unless I think they can do it,? he said. ‘I think we can all be in the 21s.?
Based on the first two tournaments of the season, it appears the top runners among the girls are seniors Liz Hazelwood and Jacque Magdaleno (captain), juniors Kathryn Burt, Ellen Darnell and Ashley Hansen (captain), sophomores Taylor Dewey and Danielle Kelley, and freshmen Kate Wolanin, Chelsea Kessler and Keeona Ives.
The girls finished 8th out 9 teams in the Adams Invitational Aug. 31. This low finish isn’t a reflection on the girls, it’s indicative of how competitive the teams have become thanks to ‘better coaching? and ‘stronger girls,? according to Sutherland.
Coach said it used to be a time of 21 minutes in the 5km run was ‘fast,? 20 minutes was ‘exceptional? and 19 minutes ‘you didn’t see too much.?
‘Now, they’re running in the 17s,? he said. ‘It’s amazing how tough the girls competition is.?
The girls placed 5th out of 12 in the Brother Rice/West Bloomfield tournament Sept. 9 with the top seven runners ? Hazelwood, Magdaleno, Dewey, Darnell, Ives, Kelley and Burt ? all receiving medals.
Dewey, Ives and Hazelwood also received individual medals for placing 21st, 29th and 32nd, respectively. The top 35 were awarded individual medals.
Sutherland was also proud of Kessler, Wolanin and Hansen for finishing 12th, 13th and 18th out of 200 runners in the junior varsity competition.
Of the boys, Sutherland said they’re a ‘very young team? with only one senior running in the top seven along with two freshmen.
Based on the first two tournaments of the season, it appears the top runners are captains juniors Adam Heskitt and Ben Cole along with senior Greg White, juniors Andy Stein, Mike Brendel, Matt Deighton and Andy VerSteeg, and freshmen Kevin Jeckling and Eric Jorgens.
Heskitt and Cole medaled in both tournaments. ‘We expect them to consistently medal like that,? Sutherland said.
Heskitt finished 29th in the Adams Invitational with a time of 18:32 and 31st at the Brother Rice/West Bloomfield tournament with a 18:39. Cole finished 20th at Adams with a time of 18:14.8 and 12th at Brother Rice/West Bloomfield 17:54.
Overall, the boys team finished 8th out 9 teams at Adams and 10th out of 13 at Brother Rice/West Bloomfield.
Sutherland noted competition among boys cross country teams has also stiffened over the last decade.
‘In the 1990s, we had a couple of state champions. They wouldn’t even be in the top 10 now,? he said. ‘That’s how much people have improved.?
Running aside, Sutherland is proud of the overall ‘caliber of student? he’s had the pleasure of coaching. ‘In the 25 years I’ve been coaching I’ve never had a kid smoke, drink or use drugs and not too many people can say that,? he said.
Sutherland’s also pleased with both the boys and girls high grade point averages.
‘We really believe in being student-athletes,? he said.
With the philosophy that class comes before practice, the teams? overall GPA usually averages within a tenth of 3.5.
‘We usually have about 10 4.0s in a season every year,? Sutherland said. ‘Other coaches kid our team that they have to be on the honor roll or else they’re ineligible.?