The cross country teams ran at home at the Kalkaska Invitational on Tuesday, September 19 at Twin Birch Golf Club. Allie Nowak of Johannesburg-Lewiston took first in the girl's race with a time of 19:29. The Elk Rapids girls team won the meet. Jeremiah Witt of Johannesburg-Lewiston led his team to victory in the boys race. Witt took first with a time of 16:42

The girls team placed 3rd overall. There were 78 runners, and 10 scoring teams. Myah Little was first Blazer in taking 11th place in 22:11. Courtney Borden in 21st, 23:32, Keria Curneal in 22nd, 23:49, a season record, Anna Martin in 29th, 24:34.6, and Kara Olds in 31st, 24:54, scored for the Blazers. Abby Minion set a new personal record of 26:12, taking 42nd place. Ava Ivkovich was 48th, 27:21, Kylee Reust was 55th, 28:32, Jenna Rabourn was 65th, 32:33, and newcomer from Spain, Angela Rodriguez was 70th, 35:23. 

The boys team also placed 3rd overall. There were 63 runners and 7 teams scored. Gavin Guggemos led the Blazer boys taking 2nd place in 16:47. Adam Williams in 7th, 18:02, Camden Moore in 13th, 18:26, Coltrane Paryani in 16th, 18:48, and Tripp Wagner in 23rd, 19:52, scored for the Blazers. Ephreim Conway was 33rd in 20:27, a new PR. Gabe Buyze-Prieto was 38th, 21:07, Issaic Fischer was 60th, 25:44, and Mason Doehring was 63rd, 27:16. 

Both middle school teams finished in 2nd Place and brought home some trophies. Benzie won the girl's race and Grayling won the boy's. Avery Kelly of Benzie took first for the girls in 12:41. Owen Lewicki of Grayling won the boy's race in 11:45. 

Aalijah Hillier, Kylie Jenkins, Izzy Wegener, Brynn Foerster, and Payton Bonofiglio scored for the girls, placing 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 16th, and 17th, and Owen McGlone, Kaden Fischer, Alex Lopez, Griffin Anderson, and Kennen TenHopen scored for the boy's team after taking 2nd, 8th, 13th, 21st, and 22nd places. 

On a side note, in a competition between Elk Rapids and Kalkaska going back to 2019, the two teams faced off for the Maplehurst Trophies. The Elk's high school boys and girls captured two of these wooden monstrosities. The Blazer boy and girl middle school teams would have won two for themselves, but the middle school trophies were thrown out. So, we'll just have to make some new ones!

Our elementary runners were out in force. Great to see so many younger kids running. They are the future of the program. Thanks for participating, you're doing amazing!

Thank you to Twin Birch Golf Club for letting us use miles of their beautiful course, and to the cheer team and soccer team, who came out to support us. Also, thank you to the Senior parents for selling goodies.  Thanks to those who took photos, and to the scores of people who supported our amazing Blazer runners, from 12th grade to 4th grade and anyone who ran the open race. 

The Blazers race again Saturday in Petoskey!