MHSAA cross country regionals: Ava Schafer wins fourth straight title

DEWITT — Ava Schafer had her best performance of the season while finishing as a regional champion.The St. Johns senior had a season-best time of 17:22 while winning the Division 2 regional at DeWitt High School on Friday, Oct. 30.The regional title was the fourth straight for Schafer, who finished 27 seconds ahead of runner-up Clara Cook of DeWitt.DeWitt finished as the team runner-up behind Linden with 71 points, while Williamston was third with 96 points.Joining Cook as a top-10 finisher for DeWitt was Natalie Hayes, who was seventh. Williamston had a pair place in the top 10 with Annabel Buggia taking fourth and Ella Bahle finishing 10th.Division 1 at DeWittOkemos sophomore Rachel Smith had a dominant race while finishing as the champion at a regional. Smith had a time of 17:28.1 while finishing nearly 50 seconds ahead of runner-up Kodie Snyder from Dexter.Mason was the top area team finisher and ended fourth with 90 points. Brighton was the champion with a score of 68.Mason had Addison Farero finish ninth and Morgan Allen place 10th at the regional. The other area top-10 finisher was Grand Ledge’s Ava Montero, who was fourth.Division 3 at AlgonacLansing Catholic had its top five runners finish in the top 10 while capturing a regional title. The Cougars finished with 24 points, while Leslie was the runner-up with a score of 72.Josie Bishop led Lansing Catholic and was the champion with a time of 18:58.5. Anna Lansing Catholic also had Anna Drauer finish as the runner-up and Lindsey Ludwig take fourth. Annie Lloyd (seventh) and Grace Wonch (10th) also were in the top 10 for the Cougars.Abby Creisher was fifth and Margaret Guerra-Harrison placed sixth to lead Leslie to its runner-up finish.Division 3 at IthacaIthaca had five runners place in the top 15 while edging Pewamo-Westphalia for a regional title Oct. 31. Ithaca had 46 points while Pewamo-Westphalia had a score of 47.Ithaca was led by Lucy Shemes taking fourth. Khloe Lehnst was seventh and Makinna Foglesong was eighth for the Yellowjackets.P-W had three runners in the top five led by Alyssa Kramer finishing as the champion with a time of 19:02.2. Calista George was third and Katherine Schafer took five for the Pirates.Division 3 at NapoleonThree runners finished in the top five for Olivet on its way to a regional runner-up finish. The Eagles had a score of 80 points. Jackson Lumen Christi was the champion with 38 points.Tiya Feldpausch was the runner-up with a time of 18:07.8 to lead Olivet. Lily Britton was third and Madelynn Patterson was fourth for the Eagles.Division 4 at AllendaleFowler finished third at the regional with a score of 63 points. Clara Thelen placed eighth to lead the Eagles.BOYSDivision 3 at AlgonacLansing Catholic had four runners finish in the top 10 while winning a regional title with a score of 40 points on Saturday, Oct. 31. Leslie had 98 points and was third.Everett Beach was fourth to lead the finishers for Lansing Catholic. The other top 10 placers for the Cougars were Teo Krumm (sixth), James Tennes (seventh) and Grady Richey (ninth).Kenneth Mangles placed eighth to lead Leslie.Stockbridge’s William Gancer was the top area finisher and was the runner-up with a time of 15:49.7.Division 3 at BathPewamo Westphalia had all five of its top runners finish in the top 20 while winning a regional title with 58 points on Oct. 31. They finished 18 points ahead of runner-up Montrose. Ithaca finished third.John Kowatch was the runner-up with a time of 16:11 to lead P-W, while Wyatt Werner was sixth.Ithaca was led by Evan MacLaren placing third and Dutch Smith taking eighth. Bath standout Owen Poppema was the individual champion with a time of 15:42.6Division 2 at DeWittHaslett’s Liam DeWitt was the runner-up with a time of 15:54.2 to lead the area finshers. He was one of three runners to place the top 15 for Haslett, which was the team runner-up with 68 points.Parma Western was the team champion with 39 points and had three runners finish in the top five led by champion Logan Cristian.Haslett had Isaiah Cates place seventh and Sawyer Zeman finish 14th at the regional.Williamston’s Duncan Palmer finished third individually.Division 1 at DeWittGrand Ledge finished third at this regional with 96 points to lead the area teams. The Comets’ strong finish was boosted by having a pair of top-10 placers. Caelan Marsh was seventh and Rylen Richey finished 10th.Holt’s Rem Piper had the best area finish and was sixth. East Lansing’s Kilian Boulware-Lopez placed 12th.Division 4 at AllendalePortland St. Patrick’s Francis Austen was sixth at the regional with a time of 16:42 to lead the area runners.This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: MHSAA cross country regionals: Ava Schafer wins fourth straight title