VanderKooi Repeats, Bridgman Wins 1st Title

November 2, 2019

Second Half reports

BROOKLYN – Abby VanderKooi wasn’t being cocky.

She was merely stating the obvious.

“I don’t normally have competition anywhere, so it’s really tough,” the Muskegon Western Michigan Christian sophomore said.

Being one of the nation’s top runners and competing in the smallest division at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula cross country championships only accentuates the gap between VanderKooi and her competition.

The Division 4 girls race Saturday at Michigan International Speedway was a battle for second place as VanderKooi ran solo up front to repeat as champion by 1 minute, 11.7 seconds with a time of 18:11.0.

Last year, she won by a margin of 1:15.6 in 17:47.3.

So, how does VanderKooi maintain her focus in races when there is nobody else around to push her?

“I try to recite Bible verses, and that helps sometimes,” she said.

Her favorite, she said, is Philippians 4:13.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” she said. “I like that one a lot.”

VanderKooi followed up her Division 4 championship last year by placing third in the Foot Locker National Championship in San Diego. She plans to run the Midwest Regional on Nov. 30 in Kenosha, Wis., to qualify for the national meet Dec. 14.

VanderKooi had a gap on the pack by the end of the 700-meter opening straightaway. Riley Ford of Marlette was in second place, but had no delusions of trying to catch VanderKooi.

“I just ignore that she’s there,” Ford said. “I know she’s at a way higher level than I am. I try to do what I can do. My goal was to get second, and it happened.”

Ford held second place the entire race, holding off a brief challenge from 2018 runner-up Madison Volz of Lansing Christian at the two-mile mark. Ford finished in 19:22.7. Volz was third in 19:30.2.

“Last year I got fifth,” Ford said. “I was holding second, then I got passed at the two mile and kept getting passed and couldn’t hold it. The last two weeks, I’ve been doing a lot of kilometer repeats at race pace. My pace was ingrained in my head, and it really helped. I just wanted it really bad. I haven’t had the best season.”

In the team competition, Bridgman ended Mount Pleasant Sacred Heart’s four-year run as champion by scoring 132 points. Sacred Heart was second with 148, and Kalamazoo Christian was third with 174.

Karsyn Stewart was sixth overall and third among team runners in 19:38.8, while Arie Hackett was 11th overall and sixth among team runners in 19:58.2 to lead Bridgman. The Bees’ previous best finish at an MHSAA Final was fifth in Class D in 1985. They didn’t qualify again until 2015, but have since made it four of the last five years.

Summer Fast was 39th (20:59.3), Jane Kaspar 68th (21:43.1) and Mikaela Owen 81st (21:55.8) to complete Bridgman’s scoring.

Click for full results.

PHOTOS: (Top) WMC’s Abby VanderKooi builds a big lead during Saturday’s Division 4 Final. (Middle) Bridgman’s Karsyn Stewart (1702) follows Maple City Glen Lake’s Makenna Scott through a curve. (Photos by Dave McCauley/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.”

Ishpeming cross countryIn 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.

Newberry cross country“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.)