By John Vrancic
For the Newberry News
The Engadine Eagles got a chance to test themselves and held their own against several larger schools in the El Harger Memorial cross country meet in Munising on Tuesday, September 23.
Engadine’s boys, who scored 201 points, placed fifth among 20 schools at the Pictured Rocks Golf Club on a cloudy and seasonably cool afternoon.
“We’re happy to finish in the top five,” Eagles’ coach Randy Kerr said. “We got to run against some pretty good competition and that’s why we’re here.”
Sault Ste. Marie was the overall winner with 52 points. The Blue Devils were followed by Houghton 71, Gladstone 127, Rudyard 133, the Eagles, Negaunee 207, Crystal Falls Forest Park 238, Rock Mid Peninsula 257, Rapid River 261, Kingsford and Munising 262, Marinette, Wis. 265, Superior Central 277, Escanaba 284 and Stephenson 292.
Carney-Nadeau, Hancock, Gwinn, Ishpeming, and Menominee didn’t field complete teams.
Sault senior Shea Armstrong won the 3.1-mile race in 17:14.9. He was followed by Rudyard senior Steven Kirschner (17:38.4) and Ishpeming junior Kemper Gearhart (17:40.1).
Sophomore Nate Stielstra was Engadine’s pacesetter in 13th at 18:44.3.
“I didn’t put in as much work as I should during the summer,” he said. “Although, I’m happy with where I finished. I was two minutes faster than I was last year on this course.”
Eagles’ senior Duane Krenek finished 26th (19:15.2), followed by sophomores Eddie Franckowiak in 43rd (19:52.2) and Birch Bitely 45th (20:04.7), eighth-grader Oliver French 82nd (21:58.4) and freshman Chayse Briggs 97th (25:11.2).
“It’s good to get little bit of speedwork in,” Franckowiak said. “Getting under 20 minutes feels pretty good…I really like it when the weather is like this. I enjoy running in these conditions.”
The Houghton girls edged Sault 41-50 for the title. They were followed by Negaunee 70, Rudyard 134, Stephenson 143, Kingsford 149, Marinette 157, Rapid River 194. and Superior Central 224.
Esky, Gladstone, Hancock, Powers North Central, Ishpeming, Munising, Mid Pen, Engadine, Menominee, Big Bay de Noc, Forest Park. and Gwinn had no team scores.
Kingsford sophomore Maria Murvich was the individual winner in 20:25.4. She was followed by Negaunee junior Keira Waterman (20:45.8) and Houghton sophomore Sela Niska (20:45.9).
Engadine brought freshmen Bryleigh McLellen, who took 72nd (26:13.4), and Fern Stielstra, who was 84th (28:43.7).
The Eagles hosted the opening leg of the Eastern U.P. Conference Jamboree at the Hiawatha Sportsmans Club Monday. They’ll visit Rudyard for the second league meet on October 6.
