The weather shifted significantly for Tuesday’s BWAC Cross Country Championships at Goodells County Park. Still, one thing remained unchanged: junior Julian Walker (Algonac) and senior Eva Thompson (Cros-Lex) extended their unbeaten streaks in league competition, winning their third conference jamboree. Walker won the boys’ race in 17:10 and Thompson took the victory for the girls in 19:13. Despite the windy, cold conditions, many athletes set season or personal bests as championship racing kicked into high gear.
“It was cold,” Walker agreed. “My body hurt. Even my brain hurt. But I pushed through and got it done.” Walker was the first athlete from Algonac to win the BWAC title in many years, and he pushed from the start and never relinquished his lead, despite late-race pressure from Yale’s Wyatt Murtos, who finished seven seconds behind (17:17). Owen Beindit took third in a PR of 17:23 to place two Algonac Muskrats in the top three. After that, it was all Yale, from Ted Rutkofske in fourth (17:28) down to ninth place. The Bulldogs won the team title handily for the eighth consecutive year with 24 points to runner-up Algonac’s 83. Connor Pepin was the only other runner in the top ten not from Algonac or Yale, placing tenth in 18:03.
“I was really pleased yesterday with how the guys ran,” Yale head coach Jared Shutko said. “We stuck to our strength of running in a pack and we did a great job getting all seven varsity guys All-BWAC first team. I can’t say enough about our underclassmen as well. Most of them came away with big PRs and continue to amaze me every race. The guys have been working really hard and have put in some great workouts. For the most part, everyone is healthy and I couldn’t think of a better way to start the championship season!”
In the girls’ race, Eva Thompson implemented the same front-running style as Walker, taking the lead early and running unchallenged. "It was cold, but I felt good," Thompson stated. She won her second league MVP honor (she was the champion in 2023) by 50 seconds over Armada’s Brooklyn Khon (20:03). Khon was followed by another Cros-Lex senior, Brynn Hurley, in 20:45. The only freshman in the top five was Saige Cole of Yale, who finished fourth in 20:48, and will return next fall as the highest finisher in the BWAC, as the top three graduate. The Armada Tigers took the team title for the first time since 2017 with 42 points over Yale and Cros-Lex, who tied for second with 52 each. Cros-Lex was ultimately declared the overall runner-up based on previous league jamboree team finishes.
“This is my favorite BWAC title in either track and field or cross country because I didn’t see it coming," Armada coach Rob Blume stated. “Cros-Lex has been running so well lately, and the Macomb County Championships have really drained us for this meet the last few years. But at the mile mark, it looked like we were capable of running over water…I hadn’t seen anything that smooth and effortless from them all year, and we got some outstanding performances from Addy (Noteboom) and Allison (Mansfield) that coupled well with what we have been seeing from Brooklyn (Khon), Abby (Denoyer) and Lanie (Reiff).” It is worth noting that Mansfield’s PR prior to this league jamboree was a 25:09 and she ran a 22:37 to help the Tigers claim the team win.
Blume added, “When Brooklyn hit the two-mile, I was elated to see the joy on her face because it had been a tough couple of years for her. Emma (Buckland) made sure we were in a good position should the tie-breaker have been necessary. I’m really blown away by what I saw this evening. I’m so incredibly proud of them”.
BWAC seniors were also recognized along with the All-Conference team medalists and the BWAC Coaches of the Year: Jared Shutko of Yale and Rob Blume of Armada. Regional competition for local athletes begins the weekend of Oct. 25.
Official Team Results - Boys | Official Team Results - Girls |
Yale 24 Algonac 83 Armada 102 Richmond 112 Almont 130 North Branch 148 Croswell-Lexington 150 Imlay City 184 | Armada 42 Yale 52 Croswell-Lexington 52 Imlay City 95 Algonac 142 Almont 144 |
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