MIDLAND - Sep. 23, 2006 - Most local cross country teams competed Saturday at the Delta College Al Kayner Invitational, with the Ogemaw Heights girls leading the pack with a second-place division in the Division 1 and 2 race.
The Delta course is just two miles in length, as opposed to the usual 3.1 (5 kilometers).
The Falcon girls had five in the top 25, with 83 runners competing. Holly Mester finished fourth overall with a time of 12:21, followed by Chelsea LeForce (7th, 12:37), Noelle Mester (15th, 12:50), Lindsay VanOosten (16th, 12:53) and Heather Villarreal (23rd, 13:05).
The Falcons' 65 team points were second to Gaylord's 51 as the Blue Devils took first, second and fifth overall.
"WE could not compete with those top three places at this time," said Ogemaw coach Rick Frank. "I felt the girls ran nice hard races for this time of the season.
"This was our second loss of the season and now must face East Lansing (ranked no. 4 in Div. 2) and many other top Division 1 and 2 teams at the Midland Invitational next Saturday. We are beginning the second phase of our training."
In Division 3 & 4 competition, Tawas Area placed seventh overall, led by Sandy Brandt's seventh-place finish (13:09). Standish-Sterling took 14th, with Noelle Lentz (17th, 13:38.2) leading the way.
Emily Podgorniak led Pinconning with a 48th place finish (14:37). Emily Schwedler led Oscoda with a 59th place finish in 14:58.
Hale's Ashley Malin led her team with a 36th place finish (14:15).
On the boys side, Tawas Area led area teams with a sixth-place finish in Division3 & 4 competition. Tyler Bischoff finished ninth with a time of 10:49 to lead the Braves, followed by K.C. Kaiser (35th, 11:38).
Standish-Sterling (21st) was led by Derek Welmers, who placed second overall (10:24) in the field of 147 runners.
Hale was led by Ethan Parent (58th, 12:12), Justin Frey led Pinconning (63rd, 12:17) and David Wood topped Oscoda's contingent (72nd, 12:24).
The Ogemaw Heights boys took 12th in the Division 1 & 2 race. Erik VanOosten (38th, 11:24) and Mike Lentz (43rd, 11:28) led the Falcons, who had a balanced effort with Zach Lynch (55th, 11:47), James Padden (62nd, 11:58.9), Mike MOrris (68th, 12:16) and Martin Nelkie (76th, 12:48) following.
