Caro Star Repeats, but Comets Prevail
November 4, 2017
Second Half reports
BROOKLYN — There’s more than one way to be a champion in a sport like cross country.
Caro junior Yami Albrecht had already experienced becoming an individual title winner last year at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 3 Final.
It was obvious which championship would mean the most to him after he repeated Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
“Did you see the team score?” he asked reporters a few minutes after he finished.
Caro was ranked No. 2 in the state, looking for its first MHSAA championship since 1980, but had to settle for second place by six points behind top-ranked Hanover-Horton. Hanover-Horton scored 122 points to win its first MHSAA title after finishing a program-best third in 2014 and 2016.
“I’d rather win as a team than by myself, to be honest,” Albrecht said. “It’s just a lot more fun. The whole team can celebrate about it.”
The Tigers will have to settle for celebrating another individual title by Albrecht and their best finish since winning Class B 37 years ago. It also was the first time Caro, which didn’t run a senior Saturday, had made the top five in back-to-back years.
Albrecht, who didn’t begin cross country until his freshman year, finished in 15:44.7 to hold off a late charge by Harbor Springs junior Jeremy Kloss. Kloss, last year’s Division 4 runner-up, took second in 15:47.1.
“When I first started running, I never really imagined this,” Albrecht said. “It’s amazing, the team we have. All of the guys work together every day and are committed. Our coaches run with us every single day; you can’t always have that where the coach can actually be there with you.”
Albrecht broke away from a pack of four or five runners late in the race. One of those runners was Kloss, who had never faced Albrecht before Saturday.
“I knew if I wanted to get what I wanted, I’d have to stick with him and stay right on his tail,” Kloss said. “It was real helpful with a tough group of guys up front. We all swapped. One person would go first, then another one. It was real helpful. I owe it to them. Last year’s state champ, Yami, is impressive. He’s a real tough kid.”
Senior Landon Melling was third in 15:54.8 and senior Bo Shepherd was ninth in 16:20.9 to lead Hanover-Horton. Completing the scoring were Andy Swihart (42nd, 16:57.7), Bradley Guenther (47th, 17:03.9) and Donovan Kennedy (70th, 17:15.4).
Holland Black River was third with 149 points.
PHOTOS: (Top) Caro’s Yami Albrecht (415), Harbor Springs’ Jeremy Kloss (466) and Hanover-Horton’s Landon Melling (460) push each other late in Saturday’s Division 3 Final. (Middle) Hanover-Horton’s Bo Shepherd (462) leads Saugatuck’s Nik Pettinga (553) and Holland Black River’s Sam Sharnas (484) down the final stretch. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)
Litzner Sets UP Finals Record, Jeffers Reigns Again & Engadine for 1st Time
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
October 19, 2024
MUNISING — It was a cross country race for the ages here Saturday as nine boys runners broke 16:30 at the Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals.
Sault Ste. Marie junior Gabe Litzner set the U.P. Finals all-class/division record, covering the 3.1-mile course in 15:14.4. He was followed by Marquette seniors Seppi Camilli (15:34.7) and James Barch (15:57.8).
“I came into this race very nervous,” Litzner said. “I knew Seppi was going to give me a good race. I felt the way to beat him was to stick with him in the first mile. I didn’t want to wait until the last mile or 800 meters. He’s very fast. I knew he would kick it in during the last mile.
“Adrenalin got me through the whole race, especially today. I knew it was going to be hard. It’s exciting to be part of U.P. history. It feels really great. I love running with these guys.”
Marquette captured its sixth consecutive title with 20 points, followed by Sault with 56 and Houghton with 89.
“We had a great season as a team,” Litzner said. “Marquette is just a great team. They’re real tough to beat. They’re one of the best in the state. I’ll never forget this U.P. Finals. It was a great time.”
Camilli’s time was the second-best in U.P. history, and Barch finished with the third best.
“I wish it would have been a little more exciting (individually),” Camilli said. “It was close through the first mile. I ran a 4:45, and I think it caught up with me in the end. It’s a little disappointing in a way, but it was still a good race. I was six seconds off my PR (personal record) at two miles and fell off a little in the third.
“Winning as a team was exciting for sure. It’s high pressure and exciting.”
Division 2
Painesdale Jeffers collected its fourth-straight Division 2 championship with 33 points, followed by Rudyard’s 81 and Ironwood’s 84.
Munising senior Dan Goss earned the top individual honor at 16:43. He was followed by Jeffers’ junior Cameron Anderson (16:55.2) and Rudyard junior Steven Kirschner (17:23.4) on a sunny and mild day at the Pictured Rocks Golf Course.
“Winning on our home course is awesome,” Goss said. “I definitely had special motivation. There was a lot of pressure, but our coaches are very supportive. We couldn’t ask for better.
“This happened to be my mom’s birthday, which also motivated me. I didn’t want to let her down. We had plenty of community support, which we appreciate.”
Ironwood senior Zach Smith was fourth (17:26) and Jeffers junior Landon Larson took fifth (17:30.9).
“The race was pretty good, but my legs weren’t feeling up to snuff,” Larson said. “It felt awesome to win as a team. We were going for a four-peat. I just ran fast and hard. Training during the summer helps. We came into the season in good shape.
“We have no seniors this year. We have a lot to look forward to.”
Division 3
Engadine was crowned U.P. Division 3 champion for the first time with 62 points, followed by Stephenson with 82 and 2023 champ Dollar Bay at 106.
“It’s pretty awesome,” Engadine coach Tracy Germain said. “As we were coming through the line, I knew we had it. There’s always little bit of doubt until it happens. This is a real boost for our program. We put a lot of work into it. It’s not a given.”
Chassell senior Kalvin Kytta earned his second U.P. individual title at 16:10.2.
“That was close to a PR,” he said. “I’m pleased with how the race went. I knew it would be a battle with myself for time and set goals for my split times. I fell off a little in the last mile, but I’m still pleased. When the gun went off for the Division 1 race, I got more excited for my race.”
Engadine senior Dakota Taylor was runner-up (17:22.2), with Ewen-Trout Creek freshman Brody Majurin third (17:28).
“We’re very grateful,” Taylor said. “It’s rewarding, and we feel very accomplished. I’m thankful to Tracy for everything she does. It’s so hard to get that first one.
“Last year we had a small group. It’s good to reach personal goals, but it’s even better with a great group of guys. I think Kalvin had 4:57 in the first mile. He ran a great race.”
PHOTOS (Top) Marquette's Seppi Camilli (227) and Sault Ste. Marie's Gabe Litzner (361) run together during the Division 1 Final on Saturday. (Middle) Rudyard's Steven Kirschner (347) and Jeffers' Cameron Anderson (288) are in the second and third position, respectively, after about one-third of the Division 2 race. (Below) Chassell's Kalvin Kytta crosses the finish line first in the Division 3 race at Pictured Rocks Golf Course in Munising. (Click for more from Cara Kamps/RunMichigan.com.)