Runners were in high spirits as they won their medals and held onto their champion title when they won the Cavalier Classic at Carman-Ainsworth High School on Wednesday.
‘It was a good performance. It was similar to how we did last year,? said Boys Cross Country Coach Mike Taylor. ‘It was a good first effort for the beginning of the season. The grouping was pretty good. The middle runners were able to hold up really well. They broke off at the end in the last mile.?
The team scored 34 points against eight schools and had five runners place in the top 12.
Sophomore Adam Bruderick led the team and finished in third place, 17:09.
‘He did pretty good,? said Taylor. ‘He played hockey during the summer and didn’t run as much as the other guys. So I thought that was a really good job on his part.?
Three seniors placed really high – Eric Nordquist in fifth, 17:21; Michael Inch in sixth, 17:25; Branton Dennis in eighth, 17:36.
‘Nordquist had his best finish in an invitational so far,? said Taylor.
Sophomore Daniel Byrne finished 17:46 in 12th place.
‘It wasn’t a personal best, but still he did a good job coming through,? said Taylor.
He noted a few schools like Grand Blanc and Lakeland didn’t run their full squad and the boys didn’t have the challenge they expected to see.
‘That’s okay,? he admitted. ‘We will be challenged in upcoming meets. Some meets will be more than a challenge. I am optimistic.?
We have a few things we can work on and do a bit better. Taylor pointed out the reserve runners would have won their race if the reserve race was scored.
The boys head to West Bloomfield/Brother Rice on Saturday where they will be able to take a look at the competition at the schools in their league.
‘It’s a tougher competition. It’s teams from a wider area and 20 teams,? said Taylor. ‘They give rewards to the top five teams and our goal is to be in the top five teams.?
Taylor is optimistic in his solid squad and has expectations to win the league and return to the state meet.
‘For this time of year we are in good shape and we are running well as a team.?