Logan Youngman claimed his fourth win of the season and third straight on the Hillsdale schedule with a 15:51.2 finish at the Stockbridge Invitational, leading Hillsdale boys cross country to three top-50 finishes in a competitive field. Youngman edged out Williamston’s Duncan Palmer by seven seconds to take the gold medal.
His younger brother Bryce Youngman secured eighth place overall with a time of 17:00.7, marking his fourth top-10 finish this season. Junior Payton Belisle rounded out Hillsdale’s medalists by placing 40th with a season-best 18:44.4, narrowly beating Jackson Northwest’s Adam Whitney in the closing stretch of the two-lap race. Freshman Kolby Youngman, the youngest of the trio of brothers, came just outside the medals in 51st place with a 19:00.0 time.
The girls team also posted strong performances despite fierce competition. Junior Emily York set a season-best 22:56.3 to finish 53rd, closely followed by senior Kiely Kroa, who ran 22:56.8 to take 54th. Junior Olivia Wages and sophomore Jenna Grunden both recorded personal bests, finishing 100th and 108th with times of 26:10.9 and 27:24.8 respectively.
Hillsdale will next compete at the Portage Invitational on October 10, known for fast times and personal bests. The team aims to improve on their strong showing at Stockbridge.
Meanwhile, Hillsdale Academy captured the top spot at a jamboree in Colon, with the boys team placing five runners in the top seven. Junior Peter Winn won the race in 17:36.8, followed by teammate Stephen Holm in third (17:52.1). John Birzer finished fourth (18:39.6), Henry Rorick fifth (18:42.4), and Ryan Miller seventh (19:26.3). Ian Gaebler and William Schlueter rounded out the top 10 for the Colts.
Other county runners at Colon included Will Carleton Academy’s Asher Church, who placed 13th with a 20:13.5, and Camden-Frontier’s Nathan Rodgers in 27th (23:03.1). Waldron’s Maverick Masters took 32nd (23:47.1), while Camden-Frontier’s Aiden Brankovich placed 34th (24:22.8). Pittsford’s Z Carpenter finished 37th with 25:05.7.
On the girls’ side at Colon, Hillsdale Academy almost swept the top 10, led by senior Evelyn Meyer’s first-place time of 21:59.1. The Colts filled spots two through eight with Heather Morris (22:03.7), Eliza Roberts (22:09.9), Norah Tracy (22:42.2), Moira Beier (22:44.0), Lorelei Stemme (22:47.1), Kathryn Meyer (22:59.5), and Verona Young (23:10.6). Allie Miller completed the top 10 at 23:14.0.
Pittsford runners filled much of the remainder of the top 30, led by senior Lillian Jagielski in 13th with 24:23.6. Danaja Williams recorded a season-best 27:00.8 for 22nd place. Jordyn Slovacek and Sidonie Fedorenko took 24th and 26th respectively, with times of 28:41.4 and 31:08.4. Camden-Frontier’s Teegan March ran a personal best 26:11.8 to finish 20th, while Waldron’s Lillyana Burleson placed 28th with 35:05.2.
Jonesville competed at the Shepard Bluejay Invitational, one of the state’s largest meets. The girls team finished fifth out of 21 teams, earning two medals. Rhylee McNair led with an 18th-place finish and a personal best of 20:51. Senior Kendahl Drake took 21st with a personal best 20:52. Sophia Morgan placed 46th in 22:04, with Savannah Nye and Brynleigh Griffiths close behind.
Jonesville’s boys team placed third out of 24 teams, with five athletes medaling. Caleb Blonde recorded fifth place with a 16:13 finish. Collin Fucile was ninth with a season-best 16:27, and Ashton Potwin ran a personal best 16:46 to place 18th. Briggs Baker’s personal best 16:54 earned him 20th, and Channing Rougeau’s 17:00 placed him 23rd. Jacob Gray also set a personal best with 17:59 for 52nd place.
Reading took part in the Springport jamboree, with boys’ runners Dylan McCallister and Jack Hughes placing 19th and 22nd with times of 20:09.1 and 20:23.8. Isaac Hyde and Kaden Ervans finished further back. Sophomore Elizabeth Falater led the girls with a 25th-place run at 26:33.9, while freshman Kendall Osburn placed 38th.
Several teams, including Hillsdale, Jonesville, and Reading, will compete at the Portage Invitational on October 10, where athletes hope to improve on their recent personal bests.
According to Yahoo Sports.
