XC Roundup: Union City travels to Kzoo Comet Invite; Quincy runs at Little Guys Invite

KALAMAZOO, MI. — The Union City Chargers traveled to Kalamazoo Christian Elementary School this past Saturday to compete in the Kalamazoo Christian Comet Cross Country Invitational.

In the women’s portion of the day, the newly crowned Big 8 Conference Champions finished sixth overall in a very competitive field, finishing with 144 points. Grand Rapids South Christian brought home the championship with 41 points, followed by Sparta in second place with 79 points. Kalamazoo Homeschool finished in third, followed by Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo Christian, Union City, Grand Rapids Covenant Christian, Kalamazoo Hackett, Bridgman, Watervliet, Delton Kellogg, White Pigeon, and Grand Rapids Union.

Union City had three medalists on the day, led by sophomore Skyler Fraley who finished in sixteenth place overall in a time of 21 minutes, 3.00 seconds. Also bringing home medals for the Chargers were sophomore Alissa Skirka in twentieth place in a time of 21 minutes, 33.19 seconds and freshman Murcie Wallen who finished in twenty-first place in a time of 21 minutes, 34.63 seconds. Rounding out the Charger effort was Elizabeth Arlt in forty-fifth place in a time of 22 minutes, 29.82 seconds and Kyla Burdick in sixty-third place in a time of 23 minutes, 27.85 seconds.

Taking home the individual victory was Amber Koole of Grand Rapids Covenant Christian who won in a time of 18 minutes, 51.75 seconds, just head of Sparta’s Emma Janesak who finished with runner-up honors in a time of 18 minutes, 52.80 seconds.

In the men’s race it was the Union City Chargers finishing in seventh place overall with a score of 192 points. Sparta took home the championship with a score of 55 points, followed by Grand Rapids Covenant Christian in second place with 90 points. Grand Rapids South Christian finished in third, followed by Kalamazoo Homeschool, Delton Kellogg, Bridgman, Union City, Kalamazoo Hackett, Kalamazoo Christian, Grand Rapids Union, Watervliet, Schoolcraft, Berrien County Youth Track, Byron Center Zion Christian, White Pigeon and Lawton.

Union City had two runners finish in the top 10, paced by freshman Ben Gautsche who broke into the 16 minute realm for the first time in his young career, finishing in seventh place with a personal best time of 16 minutes, 56.90 seconds. Not far behind was teammate Jason Shoop who also set a new personal best in his eighth place finish, crossing the line in a time of 17 minutes, 0.87 seconds.

Rounding out the Union City scoring was Malachi Payne in sixtieth place in a time of 19 minutes, 18.00 seconds; Aidan Taylor in sixty-fifth place in a time of 19 minutes, 24.12 seconds; and Mason Hawthorne in seventy-fifth place in a time of 19 minutes, 46.96 seconds. Rounding out the Union City effort was Cohen Burdick in eightieth place; Maddox Miller in eighty-eighth place; Montana Connell in ninetieth place; Max Bigelow in one hundred and forty-seventh place; and Cal Bigelow in one hundred and seventy-seventh place.

Taking home the individual victory was Sparta’s Gregory Janesak who won the race in a time of 16 minutes, 17.36 seconds.

Union City will next see action on Friday when they travel to Ella Sharp Park in Jackson for the D3 Cross Country Regional.

Quincy XC caps off regular season at Little Guys Invite

GOBLES, MI. — The Quincy Orioles traveled to Gobles on Saturday to compete in the Little Guys Invitational.

In the girls portion of the day it was Quincy finishing in fifth place overall with 120 points.

Quincy’s effort was led by junior Sadie Miller who finished in eighth place overall in a time of 22 minutes, 45.13 seconds. Also finishing in the top 20 for the Quincy effort was Charlotte Crabbs who finished in fifteenth place in a time of 23 minutes, 37.57 seconds. Rounding out the Orioles scoring was Elizabeth Craig in thirty-sixth place in a time of 25 minutes, 48.37 seconds; Kaylyn Brenner in thirty-eighth place in a time of 25 minutes, 55.85 seconds; and Brooke McVicker in forty-sixth place in a time of 26 minutes, 43.13 seconds. Finishing up the Quincy effort was Libby Butchart in fiftieth place; Kailey Allman in fifty-second place; Abby Miller in seventieth place; and Taylor Cole in seventy-second place.

In the men’s portion of the race the Orioles could not field a full team and did not qualify for the team score, however several runners had solid days.

Leading the way for Quincy was senior Jacob Reif who finished in fifth place overall in a superb time of 18 minutes 36.60 seconds. Rounding out the Orioles effort was Caden Troxtle in twenty-eighth place in a time of 20 minutes, 56.37 seconds; and Nathan Richer in fifty-seventh place in a time of 22 minutes, 50.99 seconds.

Quincy will next see action on Friday when they travel to Napoleon for the MHSAA Division Three Regional Tournament.

This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: XC Roundup: Union City and Quincy finish off regular season