Talk about grit, man. Jefferson’s boys cross country team just snagged the championship trophy at the 42nd annual Jefferson Invitational, and get this: their No. 1 runner, Mason Tulik, had to pull out after two miles because of a rolled ankle! Winning under those circumstances? That’s legendary stuff. The Bears put up 51 points, tying with Grosse Ile in the boys Division 2 race, but clinched the title on the fifth-runner tiebreaker rule. What a way to win at Sterling State Park on Saturday.
Bears Show True Heart at Home
Coach Josh Ludwick was pumped, saying they usually take home a trophy but he couldn’t remember the last time they actually won it. You can bet this one feels extra sweet, right? Carter Lee and Gabe Busen were absolute machines, finishing 2-3 to set the pace. Jonah Busen (10th), Maddex Shotwell (16th), and Maxwell Burt (20th) backed them up big time to seal that tiebreaker victory. Meanwhile, Dundee snagged third with 56 points, led by Alex Tremonti (5th) and Miles Fritzler (6th). Colin Ost ran 11th and Mason Edelbrock 15th for the Vikings. Ida took fourth with 102 points, seeing Laundon Gauer (11th), Cameron Cogan (18th), and Jude Myers (19th) put in solid work. Flat Rock’s Brayden Brodie had a great run too, finishing seventh.
Ida Girls Dominate, Claire Miller Shines Bright
Not to be outdone, Ida’s girls absolutely crushed the Division 2 race, scoring 44 points. That’s a whopping 7 points better than runner-up Grosse Ile, putting six girls in the top 18! Coach Laurie Bayles said the girls did “really awesome,” and emphasized that “This is the point in the season where you really want to see PRs and drops.” Sounds like they’re hitting their stride at exactly the right time. Lana Benware was the runner-up, leading the charge with huge help from Camilla Mommerency (7th), Brynn Lusky (8th), Ava Lowrie (14th), Zoey McCain (18th), and Adilyn Stotz (20th).
And let’s talk about Jefferson’s Claire Miller. She straight-up won the race individually with a time of 20:18.7! Coach Ludwick called her his “ultimate team leader for boys or girls” and said she makes him the “absolute happiest” because “she just puts her head down and does the work.” That’s the kind of dedication you love to see. Jefferson’s girls also placed third as a team, with Randee Mulherin coming in third overall, plus 15th, 17th, and 23rd finishes from Katelyn Steinhour, Kinsley Wilburn, and Jessie Cole. Dundee was fourth, with Addy Ringbloom placing sixth. Flat Rock rounded out the top five with Gwen Dalton (13th) and Avery Wilde (19th).
What a Saturday for cross country in the Monroe County Region! With these kinds of performances early on, especially winning against adversity or dominating the field, these teams are definitely building some serious momentum. We also saw some incredible individual efforts with Erie Mason’s Porter Ravary, Caleb Healey, and Weston Albright finishing 4-5-6 at the Pittsford Invitational, and Jack Dunwoody and Wyatt DelValle from Gibraltar Carlson both running personal bests under 16 minutes at the Jackson Invitational. Plus, New Boston Huron’s Cameron Crane snagged runner-up in the Purple Division there with a time of 16:03.1. Looks like the season is officially heating up for everyone out on the course.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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