The Rockford boys cross country team put on a strong performance at the Division 1 state finals.
The Rams had two all-state runners in Austin Benoit and Drew Wonick in the November 3 race at the Michigan International Speedway.
But their fifth runner, Isaac Harding, was 55th, and that was the deciding factor that helped the Rams sneak past Romeo into third place with 186 points, while Romeo had 189. Milford, with the No. 1 runner, Brian Kettle in 15:07.3, won the team race, and Waterford Mott, led by second-place Nathan Burnand in 15:14.8, was second.
For Rockford, Benoit was 15th in 15:42.65 and Wozniak 21st in 15:44.9. They were 22nd and 29th among all runners.
Casey Aman was 42nd in 16:05.9 and Chris Coles 53rd in 16:14.4.
“It’s what we expected going in; we were going to be around there,” Benoit said of Rockford’s third-place finish. “We knew Waterford and Milford had good teams. We’re pleased with how we did. It was one of our best years in awhile.”
Grand Ledge was 21st with 494 points among the 28 teams that ran. Nathan Megge came in 16th in 15:43.2 and was 23rd overall.
The girls’ race was won by Birmingham Seaholm with 69 points. Erin Flinn of West Bloomfield was the race winner in 17:07.9.
The Rockford girls took 10th place and were led by Morgan Harney and Morgan Benoit, who were 39th and 50th in 18:51.2 and 18:59.8
Midland Dow was 17th, led by Kallie Dent who was 29th in 18:38.6. Grand Ledge was 18th, paced by Krista Magness, who was 45th in 18:57.3.
East Lansing was 22nd and led by Sara Goble, 28th in 18:33.3.
The top 30 participants received all-state honors.