Kreft?s final race at state

IT WAS NO small accomplishment getting to state, or getting to the finish line at the Michigan High School Athletic Association state finals.

(Photo by Peter Jakey) Managing Editor

It was a fitting finish for one of Rogers City High School?s most determined athletes to ever wear a Huron cross country uniform. Appearing in her third state finals race at the Michigan International Speedway last Saturday, senior Kaylee Kreft, took 71st with a time of 21:00.2.

Where she finished wasn?t as important as getting to the finish line. Kreft has made it to the state finals three of four years. S

he was injured her sophomore season. ?It is a feeling of achievement and happiness to make it,? said Kreft, who not only was battling shin splints, but had a cold as well.

?I THINK IT is quite impressive,? said head coach Rob Kortman. ?She came out strong at the beginning of the year and it looked like we were going to have a repeat of her freshman year. The injury just flared up and we battled that all year, and just trying to control the pain the best we could so she could run.?

Junior Bridget Bennett of Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart out kicked the entire Division IV field with a time of 18:36.7.

Kreft was a state runner-up as a freshman with a time of 18:36.6 and 55th last year (20:40.6). Kreft admitted to running with pain with each stride. ?This was my last one,? said Kreft. ?Even though it hurt, it gives you a feeling of accomplishment.? Kreft?s final race brings a close to the Kreft era. Kaylee?s older sisters excelled on cross country courses in northern Michigan, as well as at Brooklyn. She was the only Huron runner at state this year. The entire Huron girls? team qualified in 2007.

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