By John Raffel
Jasmine Harper is having a good junior season for the Clare Pioneers cross country team. Her best time has been 18:33.5 at the Benzie Central Invitational. She later got a 19:58.24 in her home invitational. Another strong meet was at Chippewa Hills, where she clocked a 19:08. She had a 19:16.2 at the Bullock Creek Invitational.
Last season in the Division 3 state final, Harper was 10th in 19:04.3.
“She’s on pace to run faster than she ever has,” Clare coach Kyle McKown said. “We’re hoping the regional and state meet prove to be her best races yet. We’re hoping to chip away times. When the big races come, we’re hoping she’s able to get down there and hover around the 18-minute mark. She has to stay healthy and gear up for those big races. She’s a veteran and she races strong.”
Beal City Cross Country
Dave King coaches both Beal City cross country teams, and he is aiming for another huge season. The Aggies won both the boys’ and girls’ divisions at the state finals last year. Hannah and Madeline Steffke, plus Aerial Salter and Brenda Faber, are among the top returning girl runners. The girls are two-time defending champs.
“We lost four of our top seven varsity boys,” King said. “So that was significant. We have a freshman and a couple of new recruits. We’re not as strong as we were last year. We’re still developing. The freshman [Alex Taylor] ran a PR at the Michigan State Invitational to bring himself to 18:37. So he’s starting to help. We’re coming around. I’m hoping we can make a significant showing at regionals, get ourselves down to the state meet, and see what we can do.
“On the girls’ side, we lost three seniors, two of them all-staters last year in our top five. Emily Steffke is running as a redshirt at Michigan State and our other all-stater was Haley Neier. We have a new freshman this year, and we brought back our three other scorers.”
The Aggies also have a transfer from California, Kayla Bierschbach, who will be the No. 3 runner.
“Her dad held our school record in the mile for about 20 years,” King said. “Both teams are progressing well. We’re still in heavy training. I think both teams will be able to get to the state meet. That’s what we’re hoping for.”
Shepherd Cross Country
It’s a new year for the Shepherd girls’ cross country team, which was second in Division 3 last season behind Ithaca. The team lost two seniors, state placers Taylor Thrush and Abigail Moeggenberg. The top returning runner is junior Katelyn Hutchinson, who was No. 2 for the Bluejays in the state meet and 18th overall.
There was plenty of incentive to prepare for this season as defending state runner-up. “There’s great motivation going into the season, and we have something to work for and a goal in mind for the end of the season,” Hutchinson said.
Hutchinson had a time of 19:42.8 at the state meet but hopes to get back into the 18s. Her best time was 18:55 her freshman season.
“I’d like to see how much we can all improve,” she said. “Whatever we put into it, we’d like to show we work the hardest. Whatever the outcome is, that will be all right.”
A strong finish is Hutchinson’s goal.
Her twin sister, Kylie, was the sixth runner for Shepherd at the state meet. “She’s running really good this year,” Katelyn said. “She beat me at a meet in Benzie.”
“She’s been all-state as a freshman and sophomore, which has been great,” said coach Carey Hammel. “She’s an excellent track runner and was on the winning 3,200-meter relay for Division 3 state meet last two years in a row.
“She had probably her best summer of training she ever had,” Hammel said. “I think she’s feeling good and heading in the right direction. She has a very good finish. Kylie also had a good summer. I expect both of them to have a big breakout season next year.”
Mount Pleasant Cross Country
Sophomore Andrew Harrast has Mount Pleasant’s best cross country time so far this season, 16:54.36 recorded at the SVL jamboree on Sept. 15. Mac LaBelle has the second best time, 16:55.80 recorded at the Early Season Chippewa Hills Invitational.