Performance: Lansing Catholic's Olivia Theis
September 21, 2017
Olivia Theis
Lansing Catholic senior – Cross Country
After missing out on winning her first Finals championship last fall by less than a second, Theis is undefeated at the 5K distance this fall. On Friday, she outpaced the toughest field the state has seen this season to date – running a personal record 16:59 to win the Spartan Invitational “elite” race at Michigan State University and earn the Michigan Army National Guard “Performance of the Week.”
Theis crossed the line first ahead of Hart junior Adelyn Ackley, who edged her to win last year’s Lower Peninsula Division 3 race at Michigan International Speedway. Also in the “elite” field were reigning LP Division 1 runner-up Anne Forsyth of Ann Arbor Pioneer, reigning LP Division 2 runner-up Anna Fischer of St. Joseph and a combined nine others who finished among the top 10 in either LP Division 1, 3 or 4 including sophomore sister Jaden. Lansing Catholic, which moved to LP Division 2 this season after finishing runner-up last year at MIS in Division 3, came in fourth at MSU on Friday behind two Division 1 teams and Hart.
Olivia did get her first Finals championships last school year, winning the 1,600 and 3,200 meters at the LP Division 3 Track & Field meet. Her 16:59 on Friday made her one of four girls who have broken 17 minutes this fall (Forysth, Ackley, and Traverse City Central’s Sielle Kearney – who came in fifth at the Spartan – are the others) after no one broke 17 in 2016. Theis is exploring her college options and carries a 4.0 grade-point average, with interests in becoming an occupational or physical therapist. Lansing Catholic is ranked No. 2 in LP Division 2 this week and seeking its first team MHSAA Finals championship in girls cross country to go with last year’s runner-up finish and another from 2000.
Coach Tim Simpson said: “She has the talent and then adds in a desire to work as hard as she has to. We are lucky because we have a few girls who will do whatever it takes. Olivia is tireless in her work and very conscientious about it. I literally have to reign in her training. The fact that she ran track has now given her well over a year of continuous training for running; she has stayed injury free as well. In that year of running she has earned her way onto big stages like the FootLocker Nationals and New Balance Track Nationals. In those meets she has done extremely well and pushed her times to new heights as well as her confidence in her abilities. Track season showed everyone including her just how talented she was, and it wasn't just cross country. She has broken records of many of the best runners ever from Michigan and even though she doesn't pay a lot of attention to that, she knows what it means. But she takes everything seriously, never overlooks anyone and is diligent about being prepared.”
Performance Point: “I know that the original plan was to go out and stay with the lead pack, and that’s what Jaden and I did, essentially,” Theis said. “Not even halfway in, a girl started breaking away, so I was like, I’ll go with her. And eventually I just ended up being able to break away from her – Adelyn Ackley, she beat me at states last year. I didn’t want her to be close enough to me where she could out-sprint me again. So I just wanted to keep going, and eventually I realized I could break 17. I had no idea what time I was going to be at, and then in the straightaway I saw it and was like, ‘Oh, I can do this.’ It’s definitely a huge accomplishment. I was definitely hoping to do that at MSU. I knew the competition would be really good, but I had no idea how I’d be feeling. I felt really good, and I’m really happy I took advantage of that level of competition. “
Division 3 to 2: “I think it’s going to be a lot more challenging team-wise. There’s a lot of teams in D2 that have a lot of pack runners. So they have a lot of girls not necessarily individually that are fast, but groups that are fast. I feel like that will be challenging for us as a team.”
Speedy sisters: “It’s really nice, because I can train with (Jaden) at home. It’s someone to push me. A lot of times you don’t want your sibling beating you, especially when she’s younger than you, so it’s pretty motivational. Sometimes it’s hard because we’re siblings, but sometimes we just have to use each other as competition. It’s great. I love having her on the team. I think (eventually) she’ll beat me easily. She already almost beat my (personal record) from last year; she’s a sophomore. I want her to beat all my times, and I think she can do it.”
Born to run: “I like how it makes me feel, and I like how it’s hard. I like challenging myself. I like knowing the people I’m racing, because I know I can talk to them afterward and be like ‘good job’ no matter what happens. I think running has allowed me to get to know a lot more people.”
Also born to help: The human body interests me, and I want to help people. (Occupational therapists) help you get back from injury, back into normal life, from illness back into real life, so I think it would be really cool to be able to help people do that.”
- Geoff Kimmerly, Second Half editor
Every week during the 2017-18 school year, Second Half and the Michigan Army National Guard will recognize a “Performance of the Week" from among the MHSAA's 750 member high schools.
The Michigan Army National Guard provides trained and ready forces in support of the National Military Strategy, and responds as needed to state, local, and regional emergencies to ensure peace, order, and public safety. The Guard adds value to our communities through continuous interaction. National Guard soldiers are part of the local community. Guardsmen typically train one weekend per month and two weeks in the summer. This training maintains readiness when needed, be it either to defend our nation's freedom or protect lives and property of Michigan citizens during a local natural disaster.
Previous 2017-18 honorees:
September 14: Maddy Chinn, Pontiac Notre Dame Prep volleyball - Read
PHOTOS: (Top) Lansing Catholic's Olivia Theis pushes toward the finish line during Friday's Spartan Invitational "elite" race. (Middle) Theis comes down the stretch with the clock telling her how close she is to breaking 17 minutes. (Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)
1st-Time Individual Champs, Perennial Team Powers Rule UP Girls Finals
By
John Vrancic
Special for MHSAA.com
October 23, 2021
MARQUETTE — Houghton and Hancock often see each other during the course of a cross country season.
It was a happy ending for the girls teams from both schools as they were crowned champions during the Upper Peninsula Finals here Saturday.
Houghton retained its Division 1 title with 52 points, followed by Marquette with 69, Negaunee 83 and Sault Ste. Marie 99.
Hancock won Division 2 for the third time in four years with 43 points, followed by Ishpeming with 54 and Ironwood 72.
“This was our best performance all year,” said Hancock coach Jennifer Smith. “The girls peaked today, which is exactly what they needed to do. We were runners-up by one point to St. Ignace last year and really wanted to take (the title) back. We needed everybody at the top of her game.
“I hope the girls continue to run. I also hope the middle school runners keep running, too.”
In Division 1, Houghton senior Ingrid Seagren earned her first individual title, covering the 3.1-mile course at Gentz’s Homestead Golf Course in Chocolay Township in 20 minutes, 51.7 seconds. She was followed by Sault Ste. Marie junior Cassandra Gallagher (21:05.8) and Houghton junior Claire Filpus (21:11.2).
“This has been my goal for a long time,” said Seagren. “There was a lot of pressure on us to win again, and we pushed each other real hard all year. I’m super proud of Paige (Sleeman) and Claire. You always want to peak for this race, but it’s really hard.”
Houghton senior and 2020 individual champion Paige Sleeman finished eighth this time (21:23.3), marking the fifth straight Finals she placed in the top 10 and was part of a U.P. championship team.
“It’s exciting and unbelievable,” said Sleeman, who was part of three championship teams at Chassell and now two at Houghton. “I never thought I’d be part of this many U.P. championship teams. I just developed a run for this sport, and the girls I ran with are amazing. Ingrid ran great. I knew it was going to be close race among the top four teams. For me, I just wanted to get the team win.”
Houghton coach Traci Welch had similar thoughts.
“They really wanted to give it their all,” she said. “Paige battled some illness, and she just went out and did what she needed to do. Claire missed last year (due to COVID), but now she’s healthy and very motivated. Our fourth and fifth runners (freshman Kiira Niska and junior Jewel Laux) were so important to the team. Jewel had COVID and came back and did great. All the teams ran hard. It boiled down to who had the best race today.”
Ishpeming sophomore Lola Korpi gained her first U.P. title in a season-best 20:04.9 to win Division 2. She was followed by Ironwood freshman Aubrey Smith (21:41.1) and Gogebic (Bessemer) junior Natalie Stone (21:56.8).
“I just gave it my all because it was the last race this year,” said Korpi. “I’m a little surprised by the margin of victory. The Ironwood girl is a good runner. We got two more runners at the last minute and we’re just so happy about that. I’m so proud of them for coming out of their comfort zone.”
Munising, which placed four in the top 10, repeated as Division 3 champion with 31 points, followed by Dollar Bay with 71 and Eben Junction Superior Central with 99.
“It’s exciting to win it again,” said senior Jenna Matson, who placed sixth (22:43.2). “That wasn’t one of my better times, although we won as a team which is all that matters. We’re a pretty tight group. I was shooting for under 22, but I’m okay with that.
“Our No. 5 runner (freshman Kate Mattson) didn’t place, yet we wouldn’t have won if it wasn’t for her. I felt there was a little more pressure on us this time, but our coach (Mark Kinnunen) kept us together and got what we needed.”
Newberry sophomore Kaylen Clark won her first Finals championship at 20:50.4. She was followed by Rock Mid Peninsula senior Landry Koski (21:37.9) and Munising junior Monique Brisson (21:51).
“The course was more challenging than I expected,” said Clark. “We had one hill before you turn into the last stretch that was real challenging. I had to go out strong because I knew the Mid Pen girl was a good runner, and she had a great race. This was a good showing for our team.”
Koski, who won on this course as a sophomore two years ago, was happy with her runner-up finish.
“I knew coming in the Newberry girl was fast,” she said. “She took off real fast. I knew after the first mile I wasn’t going to be able to catch her. I didn’t know what to expect from her because I hadn’t run against her all season.”
Brisson said her strategy was to keep up with Koski.
“Landry is a very strong runner,” she added. “Kaylen ran a real good race. I was surprised by her time.
“We’re all friends. It’s friendly competition. I’m real happy for Landry with this being her senior year. I’m so proud of our team. Jenna pushed me real hard all year.”
Click for full results: Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3.
PHOTOS (Top) Houghton's Claire Filpus (91), Ingrid Seagren (95), and Paige Sleeman (97) pull into the lead near the start of the Division 1 race. (Middle) Ishpeming’s Lola Korpi sets the pace for the lead pack during the Division 2 Final. (Below) Newberry’s Kaylen Clark builds her lead on the way to winning the Division 3 championship. (Photos by Cara Kamps. Click for more from RunMichigan.com.)