Two place at Class “D” state championship meet, regionals today

by Angie Asam-Staff Writer

The Onaway cross country team traveled to the Maple Creek golf course in Shepherd Saturday for the 2014 Class “D” State Championship meet hosted by Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart and sponsored by the class D coaches association.

It was a great day for the Cardinals as they had two boys earn all-state honors by finishing in the top 30.

ALL-STATE RUNNERS Joe Traynham (right) and Morgan McLean (left) have been leading the way for their team all season long. Today at the MIchigan High School Athletic Association regional meet they will look to qualify for the state finals in Division 4. Saturday Trayhham was fourth and McLean was 21st at the Class “D” State Championships in Shepherd where the boys’ team was sixth of nearly 40 teams. (Photo by Angie Asam)

 

Senior Joe Traynham finished fourth at 17:01 and junior Morgan McLean was 21st at 17:51 to earn all-state honors.

“It was an amazing day for our kids and our program. Joe’s finish is the highest ever for an Onaway athlete,” said coach Marty Mix.

All of the boys’ team members ran career best times as the team finished sixth out of a field of nearly 40 teams.

Sophomore Seth Satchwell was 46th at 18:44, junior Preston Badgero was 87th at 19:48 and sophomore Cameron Horn was 95th at 20:04.

The race featured 171 runners.

“To see our times continue to drop is a testament to their hard work and dedication throughout the season. We are very excited to perform at regionals in Central Lake,” said coach Mix.

The girls’ team was unable to score as a team with only two runners part

icipating.

Sophomore Clare Bastian was 31st at 21:48, just five seconds out of the top 30.

Freshman Summer Harmon-Cooksey was 66th at 24:11.

NEXT UP for the Cardinals is the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) regional meet today (Friday) at Central Lake with the boys’ race at 3 p.m. and the girls at 3:45 p.m.

The Cardinals are familiar with the course they will be running today as they look to place in the top three teams or top 15 runners to qualify for the MHSAA state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn Nov. 1.

“It has been a great season for these athletes and we hope to qualify a number of them to the MHSAA finals,” said coach Mix.