AHS Cross Country competed at the Al Kayner Invitational on Saturday September 22. The race is a 2 mile event. This is a great point of the season to boost their confidence and help the team break through the “middle mile rut”. The goal is to run fast. The goal is to run through the 2 mile. The goal is to feel what they can do. Confidence is an unbelievable tool. 

The boys team had confidence. The finished first out of 22 teams with Saginaw Heritage being runner-up.  Most of the teams in our region were present. 

Josh Smith was the overall fastest time of the day earning him the Al Kayner Athlete of the Meet. He also set a new course record of 9:34. Earning runner up for Division 1 was Aden Smith with a 9:43. The rest of the varsity runners also earned medals for being in the Top 40 out of 159 runners. Clay Donajkowski, Jacob Kochanski, Sam Tuscher and Jimmy Decker are honing their race strategy and moving up the ranks quickly! The whole team effort is vital to reach our goals. 

The girls team ran great with many of the varsity runners finishing 30-45 seconds faster than last year. Again, their confidence will serve them well as a team. They came home won the 2nd place Division 1 trophy!

Maddy Boyd ran a phenomenal race finishing 3rd with a 11:13. This time would have broken the school record for the 3200 during track season! Learning from Maddy’s experienced racing is Freshman Madi Szymanski. She finished 6th overall with a time of 11:42. 

Rounding out the varsity runners are Kaylee Rondeau, Molly Dickenson, Alexis Reynolds, Katie Foust and Tiffany Foster. 

The JV teams ran separately. They also earned another 6 medals! Medaling for the JV races were Zachary Zaborney, Westen Domke, Isaac Kelly, Blake Macdonald, Grace Mitchell and Maggie Thayer. 

A total team effort continues to push the team to develop and grow 

The teams take a break from traveling and will compete again Tuesday October 2 at HOME! Come support your Wildcat runners and cheer them on to BNC success! I promise they will not disappoint!