West Michigan made its presence felt at this year’s cross country championships, with powerhouse performances and breakout moments from schools across Muskegon, Ottawa, and Oceana counties. From Whitehall’s blazing finish to Hart’s tradition of excellence, area programs proved once again that this region produces some of the state’s toughest runners.
Division I
Jenison captured the boys’ title with a commanding team effort, while Hudsonville edged Jenison by just two points to take home the girls’ crown.
- Local standouts: The Muskegon Mona Shores boys placed eighth as a team, showing steady improvement from midseason, while Muskegon Reeths-Puffer and Muskegon also represented well in one of the toughest divisions in the state.
- Individual leader: Caden Livermore (Grandville) took top honors in 15:13, but area runners like Mona Shores’ Hayden Fox and Reeths-Puffer’s Dylan Sturr battled through a deep field with gutsy efforts.
Division II
It was a deep and fast field — and Whitehall’s Robert Jazwinski III stole the show, clocking 15:07 to claim the individual state title. His dominant performance highlighted an impressive day for the Vikings and gave West Michigan its first gold medal of the meet.
- Team champions: Flint Powers Catholic (Boys) and Holland Christian (Girls)
- Other highlights: Fruitport, Spring Lake, and Oakridge runners continued their upward trend this season, setting personal bests and keeping pace with some of the top programs in Michigan.
Division III
A familiar name led the charge once again — Hart continued its legacy as one of the region’s premier distance programs, finishing sixth in the girls’ team standings. The Pirates’ balanced roster placed multiple runners in the top 50, a testament to their ongoing depth and culture of success.
- Top honors: Lansing Catholic (Girls) and Charlevoix (Boys)
- Notable performances: Runners from Montague, Hesperia, and Shelby posted strong finishes, representing West Michigan proudly in a field dominated by traditional powerhouses.
- Ludington’s Eliza Schwass also made waves, finishing third overall in the Division II girls race (17:44), earning one of the highest placements of any runner from the lakeshore region.
Division IV
In the small-school showdown, Holland Calvary Christian (Boys) and Whitmore Lake (Girls) earned top team honors, but West Michigan’s smaller programs showed plenty of heart.
- Hart’s neighboring rivals, including Holton, North Muskegon, Ravenna, and Orchard View, may not have had full rosters at state, but several runners turned in season-best times and brought hometown pride to the start line.
- Manistee’s young core impressed as well — a sign of more to come in future seasons.
A Region on the Rise
From the shoreline of Ludington to the city streets of Muskegon, cross country running continues to thrive in West Michigan. Programs like Whitehall, Hart, and Ludington are already recognized at the state level, but the growing strength of Fruitport, Mona Shores, Reeths-Puffer, and Oakridge is closing the gap fast.
As the season ends, one thing is clear: West Michigan runners don’t just compete — they contend.
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