Preview: New Contenders Emerge
October 21, 2016
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Boys Cross Country Finals are guaranteed to crown three first-time individual champions, and one of last season’s team title-winners is expected to be replaced as well at Beauchamp Cross Country Course.
Two-time reigning Division 3 champion Chassell comes into this weekend tied for only the No. 2 ranking in its division, with Brimley and behind favorite Stephenson, which is seeking its first championship since winning Division 2 in 2012.
Races begin Saturday with the Division 1 boys at 11 a.m. and finish with the Division 3 girls at 2 p.m. Check back Saturday evening for coverage of all six Upper Peninsula Finals, and see below for more teams and individuals to watch. The MHSAA Cross Country Finals are sponsored by the Michigan National Guard.
DIVISION 1
Reigning champion: Negaunee
2015 runner-up: Sault Ste. Marie
2016 top three: 1. Negaunee, 2. Houghton, 3. Marquette.
Negaunee remains the favorite this weekend returning five of last season’s seven runners including four who finished among the top 14 – reigning runner-up and junior Colton Yesney, and seniors Ethan Wallner (seventh), Thomas Ziegler (ninth) and Mitchell La Belle (14th). Houghton is expected to move up from fourth last season also returning five of their seven runners – junior Seth Helman led the way coming in eighth individually a year ago. Marquette won in 2013 and 2014 but slipped to third last fall; the Redmen return only two from last fall’s line-up but won their fourth straight Great Northern Conference title on the strength of individual champion Luke Rambo, a junior, and junior runner-up Garrett Rudden.
Individuals: Total, nine of last season’s top 15 are back this weekend and looking to follow graduated Marquette champion Lance Rambo. In addition to those mentioned above, Calumet senior Mitchell Delong was 10th in 2015, and Sault Ste. Marie seniors Aaron Kinsella (12th), Andrew Farlow (13th) and Ryan Sanderson (15th) helped their team to a runner-up finish.
DIVISION 2
Reigning champion: Ishpeming
2015 runner-up: Gogebic
2016 top three: 1. Ishpeming, 2. Munising, 3. Newberry.
The Hematites return three from a lineup that placed all seven runners last season among the top 15 in Division 2. Sophomore Spencer Giroux came in second, seven seconds back, and was followed by now-junior Kyle Pruett (seventh) and Kadin Fox (13th). Munising was fourth in Division 3 last season and graduated that race’s individual champion, Brett Hannah, but brings back its next three finishers led by junior T.J. Wing (10th in Division 3 in 2015). Newberry also ran in Division 3 a year ago, finishing sixth, but brings back four of its seven from that race including sixth-place now-senior Kindred Griffis.
Individuals: This could be the day’s best individual race, with Giroux working to fend off Ironwood sophomore Nick Niemi, who came in third last year, and four more non-teammates who are back from the top 15. Gogebic sophomores Cade Mazzon and Devon Byers were 12th and 15th last season, respectively, while Powers North Central junior Connor Robinson and senior Seth Polfus came in ninth and 13th.
DIVISION 3
Reigning champion: Chassell
2015 runner-up: Dollar Bay
2016 top three: 1. Stephenson, T-2. Brimley, T-2. Chassell.
Chassell has won the last two Division 3 titles but could be chasing Stephenson, which finished fifth in 2015 but has back five of last season’s six runners including junior Ethan Brown (eighth) and senior Mark Cappaert (11th). Chassell does bring back five of last season’s top seven, however, led by senior Hunter Rautiola (fifth) and sophomore Ben Tuomi (seventh). Brimley didn’t run at the Final as a team last season but returns one of four individuals who raced.
Individuals: The individual title could be wide open with the top three from last season not in this race. The highest returning placer is Dollar Bay sophomore Brendan LeClaire, who came in fourth – and only five total of the top 15 are back.
PHOTO: Runners take off during the start of the 2014 Upper Peninsula Division 3 Final.
Gladstone Ace Shaving Seconds, Stacking Wins in Building Memorable Run
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
October 7, 2021
GLADSTONE — Drew Hughes has been piling up victories throughout this cross country season.
The Gladstone High School junior won for the ninth time in as many races Tuesday, finishing first at the Gladstone Invitational at Richer's farmhouse.
That victory came three days after earning top honors at the Sault Ste. Marie Elks Invitational by covering the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 35 seconds. At Munising on Sept. 28, he ran a personal-best 16:22.4 in the El Harger Memorial Invitational at Pictured Rocks Golf & Country Club, shaving seven seconds off his previous best at the Holly Invitational on Sept. 18 at Davisburg.
What has made him so successful?
“It’s probably the training I did this summer,” said Hughes, who averages 20 miles a week. “I ran with a lot of my friends, and they pushed me a lot. Although, most days I was running by myself. After a meet when I get a good time, I just want to keep getting better.”
Hughes has finished under 17 minutes in his last five races, including the John Prokos Memorial Invitational in Escanaba where he was clocked at 16:47 on Sept. 25. He also ran a 16:47 on Tuesday.
After the Holly Invite, he was selected the Athlete of the Meet for Division 3-4-5 after becoming the first male runner from the Upper Peninsula to take top individual honors in the meet’s 53-year history.
“I thought that was real cool,” said Hughes, who ran a 5:10 split in his first mile. “After the first mile, I wanted to keep that pace. I also wanted to make sure I didn’t burn out. I slowed down slightly in the second mile, but not too much. Coach (Gary Whitmer) told me my two-mile split. At that point, I wanted to go for under 17.”
Gladstone placed third at Sault Ste. Marie with 84 points. South Lyon won at 27, followed by the host Blue Devils with 51.
“My teammates and coaches have been very helpful, and they’ve been helpful and respectful to other teams,” said Hughes. “We’re a real good small team.”
On race day, he enjoys the competition and camaraderie with other runners.
“Marquette is real solid and fun to race against,” he said. “Houghton is doing well, and Sault is fun to race against. They have a nice course up there.
“My girlfriend and whole family come to the meets when they can. They’re also very supportive even when they can’t make it to the meets.”
Hughes started running in third grade under former coach Dan Paul.
“I just loved running,” he said. “My brother Luke was among the best runners in middle school, and that really motivated me. He had a lot of speed and height. In second grade, I started getting interested in running by watching him. They had a lot of people there. That was awesome.
“Our coach would treat us to ice cream after some practices. He and my grandfather came with us and rode their bikes while we were running.”
Hughes hopes to retain his Great Northern Conference title at Menominee on Oct. 14 and Mid-Peninsula Conference crown in Ishpeming on Oct. 18.
The season ends with the Upper Peninsula Finals on Oct. 23 at Gentz Golf Course in Chocolay Township (near Marquette). Hughes finished 12th in the Division 1 race in 2020.
John Vrancic has covered high school sports in the Upper Peninsula since joining the Escanaba Daily Press staff in 1985. He is known most prominently across the peninsula for his extensive coverage of cross country and track & field that frequently appears in newspapers from the Wisconsin border to Lake Huron. He received the James Trethewey Award for Distinguished Service in 2015 from the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association.
PHOTO Gladstone's Drew Hughes leads and wins the Dale Phillips Invitational on Sept. 3 at Presque Isle Park. (Photo by Cara Kamps.)