Clarkston runners finished the season at the MHSAA Cross Country State Finals at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday.
The Lady Wolves finished in eighth place out of 27 teams with 272 points.
Senior Lynsie Gram led the team with her tenth place finish at 18:16.1. Junior Nicole Hanson was next in 16th place, finishing at 18:23.2. Junior Audrey Huhtasaari finished in the top 50 taking the 38th spot in 18:59.9
Freshman Michelle Bolini finished a few second after at 20:00.3 for 86th place. Freshman Hailey Catania took 122th place, 20:35.8; junior Kaitlyn Cavallo, 126th place, 20:38.7; and sophomore Alex Gladding, 161st place, 21:16.4.
Birmingham Seaholm, who is in the OAA Red division with Clarkston, were state champions of the race as they finished in first place with 88 points. The boys finished in 18th place out of 27 teams with 397 points.
“It was bittersweet,” said senior Tyler Dunn. “It was my last race. We didn’t run as well as we wanted to. We ran exceptional at regions. We didn’t expect to qualify at regionals. We ended up beating four teams and taking third place.”
He added the cold and the wind last Saturday throughout the day was a big factor for him and his teammates.
“Everyone ran slow,” he said. “We had big expectations for ourselves but we didn’t live up to them.”
Dunn led the Wolves, finishing at 16:17.8 in 39th place, which he added was the first time he finished first on the varsity squad.
Junior Grant Henley finished in 42nd place at 16:21.8. Senior Daniel Billette was the third fastest for the Wolves finishing in 66th place, 16:33.6
Sophomore Luke Oldford finished in 119th place, 17:06.2; sophomore Mike Juuhl, 131st place, 17:10.6; junior Eric Smith, 152nd place, 17:24.8; and senior Richard Johnson, 161st place, 17:32.5.
Dunn added, “we beat Lake Orion, that was a bright spot.”
The Dragons finished in 19th place, 18 points shy of Clarkston.Rockford finished as state champions, scoring 140 points for the first place spot.