MIDLAND - Sep. 8, 2007 - Ogemaw Heights ran its second cross country race of the season Saturday at Midland's Stratford Run in a meet hosted by Bullock Creek. The Falcon boys earned a fifth-place finish overall, while the girls finished seventh.
In the boys race, the Falcons were led by Tim LeForce's 15th-place finish with a time of 17:20.4, an improvement of more than 30 seconds off his time at the Rau Invitational on Aug. 30. Mike Lentz finished 23rd, with his 17:46.5 sporting an improvement of nearly a minute. Also scoring for the Falcons were Martin Nelkie (24th, 17:53.3), Pete VanOosten (28th, 18:12.7) and Bobby Brent (31st, 18:23.6). Two of the Falcons' top 10 runners -- George Farmer (flu) and Erik VanOosten (blisters) sat out the meet.
"We ran very well," said Falcon boys coach Doug Grezeszak. "Almost everyone improved their best times."
Saginaw Heritage (54 points) won the team meet, followed by Alma (78), Bay City Western (83), Midland (88), the Falcons (112), Midland Dow (118) and John Glenn (166). Twelve teams provided more than 160 runners.
The Ogemaw girls (213 points) finished in seventh place behind winner Bay City Western (48), Midland (77), Dow (80), Heritage (88), Alma (110), and Garber (125) but ahead of Chesaning (280) and Bullock Creek (289).
Heather Villarreal was the Falcons' lone medalist with a 19th-place finish in 22:05.2.
"It is still early in the season and we are still getting into shape," said Ogemaw girls coach Rick Frank. "As a team we need to work on beginning to 'race' and become more competitive rather than just run the 5k distance. I think this will begin to come as the girls get more experience and gain more confidence in their abilities."
The rest of the Falcons' top five were Colleen Wren (39th place, 23:17.8), Jorie Diehl (71st, 25:06.2), Brianne Price (75th, 25:21.6), and Amber Lovett (76th, 25:21.8).
The Falcons next run at the first NEMC jamboree meet at Oscoda on Tuesday, Sept. 18.
All Falcon finishers:
Ogemaw boys: Tim LeForce (15th, 17:20.4); Mike Lentz (23rd, 17:46.5); Martin Nelkie (24th, 17:53.3); Pete VanOosten (28th, 18:12.7); Bobby Brent (31st, 18:23.6); Casey Taylor (31st, 18:34.3); Brian Valley (36th, 18:34.9); Mike Morris (67th, 19:34.1); Steven Wysocki (73rd, 19:48.7); Garret Benjamin (77th, 19:57.8); Reuben Nelkie (78th, 19:58.2); Allen Good (124th, 7:07.44); Alex Jones (147th, 7:53.69); Mike Connolly (156th, 27:52.4); James Davidson (158th, 28:20.70); Ian McKindles (164th, 31:00.8).
Ogemaw girls: Heather Villarreal (19th, 22:05.2); Colleen Wren (39th, 23:17.8); Jorie Diehl (71st, 25:06.2); Brianne Price (75th, 25:21.6); Amber Lovett (76th, 25:21.8); Trista Keezer (79th, 25:40.4); Hannah LeForce (86th, 26:19.20); Morgan Stansberry (102nd, 27:10.8); Ashley Thompson (106th, 27:26.4); Lindsay Maser (115th, 28:15.2); Kaitlyn Bertram (120th, 28:39.7); Ariel Miles (127th, 29:37.0); Danielle Miller (138th, 31:07.9); Ganae Zettle (139th, 31:08.3); Lauren Steinhurst (140th, 31:25.6).
