Cross country runners continued to take top positions during their weekend meets.
The boys team took first place competing against 13 schools at the Hansons Invitational meet at Delia Park in Sterling Height.
‘I was really happy,? said Boys Cross Country coach Mike Taylor. ‘They were focused and did what they needed to do. There were a lot of fast times.?
Five of the boys placed in the top 15. Christian Bonzhelin ran into third place (16:28) followed by Jeff Kuhl at fifth, Adam Bruderick in tenth, Branton Dennis in 12th, and Michael Inch in 14th.
It was the second meet this season the boys took first place. They won the 2008 Bauman-Cavalier Classic Invitational held at Carman-Ainsworth High School on August 27.
‘We are right where we need to be,? said Taylor. ‘The bad note was one runner was injured, but he will be back.?
Last week the boys ran in their second OAA Jamboree and placed in third against Lake Orion, Rochester Adams, Rochester, Stoney Creek, Troy, Troy Athens, Bloomfield Hills Lahser, and Birmingham Seaholm.
Lake Orion took first place with 28 points, Adams was second with 76, and Clarkston followed with 85 points.
‘We closed the gap between us and Adams,? said Taylor. ‘They beat us last time by 20 points.?
Ryan Ziolko from Lake Orion took first with a time of 16:24.
The Wolves ran against 85 runners from nine schools and took three of the top 20 spots.
Bonzheim placed in tenth for Clarkston at 17:16 followed by Dennis (12th), and Bruderick (14th).
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The girls team placed third in Saturday’s Midwest Meet of Champions in Ohio.
They were only two points away from being second.
Kristen Smith broke the course record by 15 seconds in a cross country personal record 17:59.
More personal records were set by Natalie Smith and Mende Gleiss. Natalie ran in 18:38 and Gleiss in 19:52.
Girls coach Mike Franko said Tiffany Kincaid, Olivia Allen, Andrea Butler and Lindsey Fahtin all ran typically solid races.
The girls took third place behind Troy and Adams during their OAA Jamboree after scoring 64 points as a team.
Kristen Smith led the team by taking third, running 19:03.
Three more runners rounded off the top 20. Tiffany Kincaid finished seventh, Olivia Allen was 17th, and Andrea Butler in 18th.
The boys and girls teams head to the Oakland County meet this Saturday at Kensington Metro Park.
‘We have to prepare against a tougher course, tougher teams and more teams,? said Taylor.
The boys will see the eight schools they competed against at the OAA Jamboree plus a few more.
‘Milford and Lakeland will be there. They are both tough. It will be interesting,? said Taylor.