A Fantastic First-Time Finish
October 15, 2012
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Give Mariah Fuqua credit for trying something many others would not.
Throwers – who toss the shot and discus during the spring track and field season – are not the ones who usually cross over into cross country during the fall.
It’s not that it can’t happen. It just doesn’t. Mention to most the idea of running 3.1 miles for fun, on top of a few hundred miles during training, and the response will probably be a laugh – if not a strange look.
“I was going to do it freshman year, and I talked my mom out of it so I could do basketball conditioning instead,” Fuqua said. “I thought (cross country) would be the hardest thing I’d ever have to do in my life.”
But Fuqua, a junior at Dearborn Divine Child, had a plan when she came out as a sophomore. She thought of it as another way to get in shape for hoops – and was so pleased with her improvement in fitness that she came out for cross country again this fall, although she is no longer playing basketball and never made it more than a mile and a half last season without stopping to walk.
Fuqua has continued to make strides this season, but heading into the Sept. 22 Detroit Catholic Central Invitational hadn’t strode over the finish line.
“The toughest part is convincing yourself,” Fuqua said. “It takes a lot to bring yourself to even think you’ll be running 3.1 miles, running non-stop.”
The DCC course at hilly Cass Benton Park is one of the toughest in the state, so that wasn’t going to be the day. She figured she’d run through a mile and a half and be done.
But as she neared one of those hills, she saw a runner from Ann Arbor Huron cheering her on from the top.
'You can do it!'
Alexandria Cell has been a distance runner since she was 9. The Ann Arbor Huron junior was an individual qualifier at last season’s MHSAA Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway, and she finished a solid 67th of 238 runners with a time of 19 minutes, 21 seconds.
If running comes naturally to her, so does being a good teammate. And that’s why it made perfect sense that Cell – who finished runner-up in the long-finished varsity race – was still on the course cheering on her junior varsity teammates during the open run that finished off the meet.
Cell considers herself “definitely a hyper person.” But that’s not why Fuqua recognized her coming down the hill near the halfway point.
Instead, it was the color of Cell’s hooded sweatshirt after seeing her also cheering everyone on at the starting line.
Now, Cell was yelling directly to Fuqua, “Good job! You can do it! Keep going!”
Building toward a fantastic finish
Divine Child girls cross country coach Tony Mifsud and his staff emphasize running as a lifestyle. All are welcome. He and his assistants talk to new runners one-on-one to find out their goals for being part of the team – be they competition, fitness or social-focused.
Fuqua’s goal last season was to run one mile at a time. “We started with five minutes, 10 minutes … and she had a great attitude,” Mifsud said. “But this year, we had a different mindset: to finish. Our goal with her, number one, was to forget about time. Fifteen minutes or 55, whatever (to finish), we’ll get you there.”
Assistant coach Jack Benitez set up a plan specific to Fuqua, who embraced it. She continued to improve. On the tough DCC course, Fuqua was looking good to make it two miles on the fly.
“I’m so happy she made it to a mile and a half, and it’s a loop course, so you do it twice,” Mifsud said. “I’m saying, ‘Mariah, Mariah, run like the wind. Sing like the wind. Sing a song if you’re tired, in your mind. Say a poem, something that will change the focus on pain (to) on the finish line.’
“I can see it developing in my mind that this is going to be great, and of all places at probably one of the toughest courses in the state to run,” Mifsud added. “And lo and behold, we see this young lady out of nowhere running with her. And I’m thinking, this is even better.”
That's just Allie
As Fuqua approached that hill at the 1½-mile mark, Cell ran down it and toward her.
At first, Cell ran around Fuqua a few times, willing her forward. Then she started running with her, and soon Fuqua mentioned she’d never finished a race.
Fuqua told Cell she wanted to stop at two miles. Cell convinced her she could keep going. So they did. They didn’t see a two-mile mark, but ran past two of Fuqua’s coaches, who told her she’d already run past it and might as well keep going.
That, in itself, was something Fuqua never thought she could do. Together, she and Cell moved through the final mile.
“When our team saw it, we thought, ‘That’s just Allie.’ With Allie, it doesn’t matter if you’re the slowest person or just started (running), she wants to cheer you on,” Huron coach Tim Williams said. “Her thought is everybody should be cheered on, no matter what.”
The boys open race had begun, and some of those runners had caught up with Fuqua and Cell. They too cheered on the pair as they passed them by.
“I told her thank you, and that I was going to give her a hug. Because when we were running up to the finish line, it was really emotional,” Fuqua said. “She said, ‘I’d really like a hug, but we can do it after.’”
“Here she comes up the hill at the finish line. And I don’t know what made people stay that late, but hundreds of them are at the finish line,” Mifsud said. “Maybe they sensed something. There was all this vibe, all this noise. And then it was Allie and Mariah, and it was just beautiful. They hugged each other and started crying, and we were crying. It was amazing.”
Be the example
Give Alexandria Cell credit. She thinks what she did was nothing to fuss over. Anyone else would’ve done the same, given that opportunity.
She’s used to running lots of miles. She was already on the course. She needed a cool-down anyway.
“It was easy on my part. It was just fun to be able to support her,” Cell said. “Oh my gosh, she was amazing! I’m glad she got the support from her team and friends. It’s enough to drive people to do things they’ve never done before.”
And give Mariah Fuqua credit for finishing something many wouldn’t start.
Before, she convinced herself to keep running because when she was done, she wouldn’t have to run again for a few days.
Now, she tells herself to keep going so she can see how much she’s improved.
Her time that day in Northville was 49:37. She’s finished four more races since that afternoon.
And she’s going to run cross country again next season. She’s always loved the practices. The team is like another family. And now, the meets are more fun too.
“It’s really weird. I never thought I’d be in this situation to where I’d have to talk about it when people ask me or congratulate me, or people cheer for me when I’m running because they’ve heard about this race,” Fuqua said. “I didn’t think too much about it at the time. I had just finished the race and I was proud of myself for that. I didn’t think I’d be such a big inspiration at the time.
“Then my parents and coaches told me I’m doing something a lot of people can’t do, and I actually finished it. So that shows a lot of people, who will look up to you for this, it proves that throwers or someone with the same build can do this sport.”
PHOTOS: (Top) Ann Arbor Huron junior Alexandria Cell and Divine Child junior Mariah Fuqua turn toward the finish at the Detroit Catholic Central Invitational. (Middle) Fuqua and Cell celebrate Fuqua's first completed race. (Photos courtesy of Dearborn Divine Child.)
Preview: Senior Stars Enter Final Stretch
November 1, 2018
By Geoff Kimmerly
Second Half editor
Michigan International Speedway will showcase Saturday the last MHSAA Finals for a pair of the most successful champions all-time in this state.
Hart’s Adelyn Ackley will run for her third individual championship while attempting to lead her team to a repeat in Lower Peninsula Division 3. Rockford’s Ericka VanderLende won last season’s Division 1 individual title with one of the fastest 5K times in Finals history, and she enters this weekend with the state’s fastest time this fall.
A total of 958 runners will take to the course at MIS for the girls races, which begin with Division 4 at 10:50 a.m. – the boys start the day with their Division 4 at 9:30. Below are some of the teams to watch and a glance at each of the individual fields as well. Click for all Finals qualifiers, a map of the course and links to buy tickets and watch the Finish Line camera on MHSAA.tv, and come back to Second Half later Saturday for coverage of all four meets. (NOTE: “Rankings” of individual runners below are based on data at Athletic.net, which orders runners based on the single fastest times they’ve run this season.)
Division 1
Reigning champion: Troy
2017 runner-up: Northville
2018 top-ranked: 1. Northville, 2. Clarkston, 3. Ann Arbor Pioneer.
Troy held off Northville by five points to claim last season’s championship, but the Mustangs have six of their seven runners back including sophomore Yasmine Mansi (ninth in 2017) and senior Nicole Cybul (18th). Those two rank ninth and 11th, respectively, among runners regardless of division this fall. All five scorers are back from the Clarkston team that finished eighth a year ago, and Ann Arbor Pioneer brings back four of its top six from the team that finished fourth. Junior Zofia Dudek placed 20th individually for the Pioneers last fall, and freshman Sarah Forsyth ranks 16th regardless of division among this season’s best.
Individuals: Rockford’s VanderLende owns the state’s fastest time this fall by 14 seconds after winning her Regional in 16:43.3. But the returning crew accompanying her is also strong. Waterford Mott senior Rylee Robinson (third), West Bloomfield senior Kyla Christopher-Moody (fourth), Grand Haven senior Gabby Hentemann (eighth) and White Lake Lakeland senior Madeline Rehm (10th) joined VanderLende and Mansi in the top 10 in 2017. Farmington senior Abby Inch (11th), Highland Milford senior Victoria Heiligenthal (12th), Fenton junior Alexa Keiser (13th), Portage Northern senior Peyton Witt (16th), Midland Dow senior Anastasia Tucker (17th) and Romeo junior Madelyn Malczewski (19th) make it 14 of last year’s top 20 coming back to MIS.
Division 2
Reigning champion: Lansing Catholic
2017 runner-up: Grand Rapids Christian
2018 top-ranked: 1. East Grand Rapids, 2. Petoskey, 3. DeWitt.
East Grand Rapids has finished runner-up twice (2015 and 2016) since last winning the championship in 2011, and is back in Division 2 after placing 13th in Division 1 last fall. The top three finishers from that team return, and six runners rank among the top 29 in Division 2. Petoskey finished 19th last season but without a senior; five returnees are joined by two freshmen, and sophomore Emma Squires ranks seventh in the division. DeWitt has three runners ranked among the top 35 and returns four from the team that finished third last season, led by senior Ashley Shipps (13th individually in 2017).
Individuals: Division 2 graduated two of the state’s top runners this decade this spring, and the field still is loaded. Lansing Catholic’s Jaden Theis (sixth in 2017) and Lauren Cleary (third) have broken 18 minutes, Theis’ 17:07.3 on Sept. 29 ranking her fourth regardless of division as she looks to follow up her sister Olivia’s individual title last season. Mason also has two returning top-20 finishers – runner-up and now-senior Cecilia Stalzer and junior Lucy Petee (20th), while Plainwell junior Makenna Veen (fifth), Goodrich senior Jillian Lange (seventh) and Big Rapids senior Meghan Langworthy (10th) also are back from the top 10. St. Johns junior Taryn Chapko (11th), Wayland junior Rylee Cronkright (12th), Pontiac Notre Dame Prep junior Jennifer Ohlsson (14th) and Paw Paw senior Molly Thompson (18th), along with DeWitt’s Shipps, give the division 12 returning top-20 placers from a year ago.
Division 3
Reigning champion: Hart
2017 runner-up: Benzie Central
2018 top-ranked: 1. Hart, 2. Grandville Calvin Christian, 3. Clare.
Hart has ranked among the top teams in the state regardless of division the last two seasons, keyed in part by a number of members of the Ackley family. Adelyn Ackley will attempt to become the 26th three-time girls Finals champion, and her top time of 17:00.6 ranks her third in the state regardless of division. Total, five of Hart’s top six from last season are back including as well sophomores Savannah Ackley (sixth place individually) and cousin Lynae Ackley (20th). Calvin Christian is seeking its first championship in this sport after finishing third a year ago, and returns four of the top five runners from that team. Clare was fifth last season without a senior; senior Lainey Veenkant (12th individually) leads five returnees and two freshmen heading to MIS.
Individuals: Juniors took the top five places last season; the fifth-place runner is in Division 4 this fall, but Ackley will again be part of a chase with Shepherd senior Amber Gall (second), Kent City senior Lauren Freeland (third) and McBain senior Klaudia O’Malley (fourth). North Muskegon junior Isabella Lindsay (eighth) and Hanover-Horton senior Judy Rector (10th) also are back from the top 10. Rounding out returnees from the top 20 are Bad Axe junior Jelena Prescott (13th), Manton junior Paige Swiriduk (15th), Benzie Central junior Paige Johnston (17th) and Traverse City St. Francis senior Katelyn Duffing (19th) – making for 13 of the top 20 total.
Division 4
Reigning champion: Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart
2017 runner-up: Ubly
2018 top-ranked: 1. Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart, 2. Saugatuck, 3. Pittsford.
The Irish have won the last three Division 4 championships, last year by 99 points – but they’re in for perhaps the toughest race of this run against Saugatuck, which edged Sacred Heart to win the Division 4 race at the Oct. 6 Portage Invitational (although Sacred Heart was missing its fifth runner). The Irish have five of their seven runners back from last year’s championship team, with senior Scout Nelson coming in third individually in 2017, junior Desiree McConnell eighth and senior Lauren MacDonald 19th. Total, Sacred Heart has four of the top 19 ranked runners in Division 4. Saugatuck has three of the top 13, including senior Thea Johnson, who finished fifth in Division 3 in 2017. The Indians as a team last season finished fourth in Division 3 without a senior; the five scoring runners are back. Pittsford was 10th in Division 4 last season with just one senior, and five of the top six runners from that team will run this weekend led by senior Renee Osborne (16th individually in 2017).
Individuals: Four freshmen finished among the top 18 last season – led by Lansing Christian now-sophomore Madison Volz in fifth – and a freshman could be the story Saturday. Muskegon Western Michigan Christian’s Abby VanderKooi joins Rockford’s VanderLende as the only runners to clear 17 minutes this season, and VanderKooi’s best time of 16:57.3 is nearly 1:13 faster then Volz’s best as the second-ranked runner in Division 4. VanderKooi will work to outpace 12 top-20 returnees. In addition to those already mentioned, the following also are back: Hudsonsville Libertas Christian senior Anna Mason (sixth), Ubly senior Haili Gusa (seventh), Western Michigan Christian senior Josie Aardema (12th), Lansing Christian sophomore Lexi Kinnas (13th), Concord sophomore Skylar Thompson (14th), Royal Oak Shrine junior Ellie Kendell (15th) and Mayville sophomore Haley Rowbotham (18th).
PHOTO: Hart’s Adelyn Ackley charges down the final stretch on the way to winning her second straight Division 3 championship last fall at MIS. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)