Benzie Central High School, August 24, 2024 — The Benzie Pete Moss Invitational saw a competitive field of cross-country runners from across Michigan, with athletes competing in both Big School and Small School divisions. The meet, held at Benzie Central High School, featured separate races for men’s and women’s teams in each division, making for an exciting day of high-caliber racing.
Benzie Pete Moss Invitational Small School Men’s Division
The Small School men’s race was highlighted by a standout performance from Alex Tyndall, a senior from Mason County Eastern, who claimed first place with an impressive time of 15:44.4. Kyle Redman of Mesick, a sophomore, was close behind, finishing second at 15:51.8. The top five was rounded out by Colebrook Sutherland of Maple City Glen Lake (15:56.3), Mason Sinke of Bear Lake-Onekama (15:58.1), and Ty Redman of Mesick (16:42.2).
Team Results:
- Benzie Central – 72 points
- Hart – 100 points
- Mason County Eastern – 129 points
- Maple City Glen Lake – 133 points
- Lake City – 190 points
Benzie Pete Moss Invitational Small School Women’s Division
Kamryn Salladay of Lakeview, a sophomore, dominated the Small School women’s race, crossing the finish line in 18:35.3. Avery Kelly, a freshman from Benzie Central, took second place with a time of 19:36.4, while Caelyn Torry of McBain secured third with a 19:49.3 finish.
Team Results:
- Benzie Central – 54 points
- Hart – 81 points
- McBain – 92 points
- Grand Traverse Academy – 143 points
- Lake City – 145 points
Benzie Pete Moss Invitational Big School Men’s Division
In the Big School men’s race, Jenison’s Seth Conner, a senior, set the pace with a winning time of 15:28.9. Following him were Simon Triezenberg of Grand Rapids Christian (15:38.1) and Elijah Christensen of Gladwin (15:42.8).
Team Results:
- Jenison – 43 points
- Grand Rapids Christian – 54 points
- Traverse City St. Francis – 87 points
- Traverse City West – 122 points
- Frankenmuth – 132 points
Benzie Pete Moss Invitational Big School Women’s Division
The Big School women’s race was fiercely contested, with Gaylord’s junior, Katie Berkshire, taking first place in 18:20.8. She was followed by Traverse City St. Francis senior, Betsy Skendzel (18:30.9), and Frankenmuth’s Natalie Foltz (18:33.7).
Team Results:
- Traverse City West – 60 points
- Grand Rapids Christian – 97 points
- Goodrich – 100 points
- Ann Arbor Pioneer – 102 points
- Traverse City St. Francis – 153 points
West Michigan Conference and Muskegon Area Schools Summary
Ludington: The Ludington cross-country teams turned in solid performances at the invitational. Sophomore Gabe Grierson led the men’s team with clocking in at 17:34.2. On the women’s side, sophomore Annabelle Lowman took 6th place with a time of 18:57.4, followed closely by senior Nadia Grierson, who secured 11th place with a time of 19:11.1. Both athletes’ performances were crucial in helping the Ludington women secure a 9th place team finish.
Hart: The Hart Pirates made a strong showing in the Small School division. The men’s team, led by sophomore Silas Ackley, who finished 12th with a time of 17:29.8, placed 12th overall. Junior Jack Slotman also contributed significantly, coming in 16th at 17:46.6. For the women, sophomore Natalie Rosema led the way with a 9th-place finish, crossing the line in 20:59.2, while freshman Alaina Schaner placed 11th in 21:06.5, helping the team secure second place in the overall standings.
Manistee: Senior Audrey Huizinga led the way for the Manistee girls, finishing 15th in the Small School women’s race with a time of 21:23.9. Her teammate, senior Kate Somsel, also performed well, finishing 33rd with a time of 22:37.8. Their efforts helped the Manistee women secure a 6th place team finish. On the men’s side, junior Kaden Worch was the top performer for Manistee, finishing 30th with a time of 18:09.0, contributing to their 10th place team finish.
Montague: Montague’s boys’ team had a solid outing, finishing 6th in the Small School division. Freshman Nolan Kessler was the standout performer for the Wildcats, finishing 31st with a time of 18:12.1. On the girls’ side, senior Grace Torsch led the Wildcats with a time of 21:59 and junior Erica Hansen chipped in, finishing 67th with a time of 24:05.1, contributing to the team’s overall finish.
Hesperia: The Hesperia men’s team faced a tough field, finishing 14th in the Small School division. Sophomore Nate Ruhstorfer was the top finisher for Hesperia, coming in 51st with a time of 18:47.8. In the women’s race, senior Kennedy Mey led Hesperia with a 78th-place finish, clocking in at 25:17.4.
Shelby: Shelby’s cross-country teams faced stiff competition in the Small School division. The girls’ team was led by sophomore Lydia Soelberg, who finished 13th with a time of 21:11.0, helping the team secure a 7th place finish. The boys’ team, led by junior Iziquiel Picon, who finished 49th with a time of 18:43.5, placed 17th overall.
Mason County Central: Mason County Central had notable performances in both the men’s and women’s races. Sophomore Maylan Sanders led the Spartan women, finishing 8th with a time of 20:54.4, while junior Adison Thorne finished 42nd with a time of 22:59.5. The women’s team placed 8th overall. For the men, freshman Kollin Spyker was the top finisher, placing 66th with a time of 19:23.0.
Other Muskegon Area Schools
Spring Lake: Spring Lake’s cross-country teams performed well in the Big School division. Senior Parker Woodwyk led the men’s team with a 22nd place finish, clocking in at 16:47.1, helping the Lakers secure a 7th place team finish. On the women’s side, junior Alexis Kotkowicz finished 22nd with a time of 20:04.1, while junior Meghan Guczwa was close behind in 26th place, finishing in 20:14.4. These performances contributed to Spring Lake’s 6th place finish in the women’s team standings.
The Benzie Pete Moss Invitational was a showcase of cross-country talent, with athletes from across Michigan demonstrating their speed and endurance on a challenging course. These performances set the stage for what promises to be an exciting year in Michigan high school cross-country.
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