Saugatuck Girls’ cross country team places third in Portage
Allegan News Online
Girls’ cross country team places third in Portage
By Walt Kaechele
Senior correspondent
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 1:49 PM EDT
PORTAGE—The Portage Invitational brings in the top-rated schools from around the state to compete in an event that in some ways rivals the state meet. The runners face some fierce competition and the Saugatuck girls’ team would bring the test to many of the other schools entered in the race.
Being ranked fifth among the top teams in Division IV, Saugatuck had a good chance to see how well they would do against other ranked teams.
Competing in a field of 33 teams and 151 runners, the team, in order to stay among the elite, would have to bring their best and run some personal best times. And they did not disappoint their coach Angelina Bauer as several runners posted their best times of the year.
Bauer said, “The ladies had a great day, bringing home a third-place trophy and six individual medals.
“Sophomore Heather Price had a fantastic day, leading the way for Saugatuck and earning an impressive fifth place medal with a personal best time of 20:01.
“Following her was sophomore Allison Jenkins who ran a tremendous race to earn a 15th place medal and a personal best time of 21:05.
“Sophomore Jane Wiley also used a personal best time of 21:28 to grab a 25th place medal, while senior Madeline Peterson’s 21:39 was good for a 35th place medal.
“Freshman Jade Murzyn ran a personal best 21:50 and earned a 43rd place medal. Senior Katrina Phillips posted a 22:00 good for a 48th place medal.”
The boys’ team also had a good outing as they faced 33 teams and 188 runners and came in 11th place overall in Division IV.
The team was led by their steady and consistent senior Ethan Lievense whose 16:29 was good for sixth place and a medal.
Freshman Sean Kelly had another good outing with a 17:19 and a 21st place finish.
Junior Sig Steiger ran a personal best time of 18:38 to be the team’s number three scoring runner with James Broe and Josh Bird rounding out the team with times of 19:21 and 19:22.
