Sault Schools Cross Country Teams Host Elks’ Invitational

The Sault Area High School and Middle School XC teams hosted their annual Elks’ Cross Country Invitational on Saturday. Drawing athletes from 18 different schools across both peninsulas, the invitational had a 5K race for Varsity Boys and Girls; Junior Varsity Boys and Girls, and a two mile race for the Middle School Boys and Girls. The Sault teams all placed in the top three in their respective races.

The Varsity Boys placed second overall with 62 team points. Sophomore Gabe Litzner (16:31.21) won the Boys race, and sophomore Shea Armstrong (17:03.36) placed fifth. Junior Evan Huyck (19:02.63), sophomore Ryan O’Connor (19:19.18), freshman Chase Aldridge (19:41.81), junior McKal Berry (20:28.74) and senior Devin Goetz (20:43.89) rounded out the successful squad.

Before the invitational, Head Coach Jim Martin reflected on the team’s efforts. “We’ve had such a great season so far for the boys. On the podium at Holly, third at Jackson and dominating the SAC. Gabe (Litzner) and Shea (Armstrong) are just unbelievable. They have both stepped it up so much from last year. Eli (Hills) and Evan (Huyck) are running very well. Ryan O’Connor also has stepped up his game along with frosh Chase Aldridge. 5 of the top 7 PR’d at Jackson. McKal Berry also PR’d at Jackson.”

The Varsity Girls also placed second overall with 69 points. Seniors Abby Walther (22:05.99) and Calla Armstrong (22:40.78) led the team and sophomore Elise Proulx (22:49.82) was not far behind. Sophomore Stephanie Jones (23:41.80), freshman Regan Sporte (23:58.35), senior Dayna Szabo (24:24.40) and freshman Leighton Nyboer (24:34.73) contributed to their team’s success.

“We just can’t seem to get the girls healthy. We’ve got 4 of our top 6 hurt and are trying to find that balance between healing conditioning. That being said, Abby Walther is having a career year and Elise Proulx is crushing it. Calla Armstrong is doing very well as is Regan Sporte. Everyone else is doing their best to fight through the injuries.”

The Junior Varsity Boys placed first with 34 points. Junior Isaac Brindley (20:11.31) won the race, and freshman Easton Hills (20:11.31) finished third. Sophomore Aiden Burtt (22:42.59); freshmen Arlin Alcorn (23:11.11) and Hayden Prestien (23:38.79), and juniors Camren McClenny (26:40.39) and Johnny Osborn (33:54.04) filled out the JV roster.

The Junior Varsity Girls came in second with 49 points. Freshman Addyson Labadie (25:08.38) took seventh and sophomore Eleanor Carey (25:41.73) was tenth. Seniors Noa Durand-Cabeza (27:27.10), Hailee O’Connor (27:44.49); sophomores Taylor Meilstrup (26:41.57) and Evelyn Weber (30:56.21), and freshmen Chloe Brow (28:47.15), Gianna Sayer (29:13.14), Savannah Proulx (37:40.10), and Thelma Osumili (37:42.34) rounded out the Girls squad.

The Sault Middle School Boys team won their two mile race with 42 points, and eighth grader Ian Southwell (12:05.40) crossed the finish line first. Seventh graders Drew Burtt (12:22.07) and Zachary Peterson (12:34.82) finished third and sixth respectively. Eighth graders Nolan Green (14:56.89) and AJ Guilmette (18:38.39); seventh graders David Hollister (14:55.31), Collin Bunker (15:15.18), and Chase Halvorsen (17:01.09), and sixth graders Mace Kavanaugh (14:14.27) and Jacob Proulx (16:28.11) all helped their team win the event.

The Middle School Girls came in third place with 62 points. Seventh grader Cora Goulet (13:15.62) finished third, and eighth grader Isabella McCord (13:20.91) was close behind in fifth place. Other runners that day include eighth graders Isabeau Woodard (16:06.30), Isabella Cicco (16:12.04), River Brey (18:33.02), and Nicole Perez (19:42.48); seventh graders Anna Klozatsky (15:19.32), Annalise Kasprzak (18:37.35), and Shelby Woolever (26:14.29) and sixth graders Khloey Suppa (14:41.13), Olivia Nyboer (18:12.63), Sophia Emerson (18:40.63) and Kruze Taylor (20:20.93).

The teams have a few days to recover before competing in the Barnyard Invitational on October 3.