St. Johns XC teams qualify for state meet
John Raffel
Sports Scene
St. Johns cross country coach Bob Sackrider has enjoyed plenty of talent on the boys and girls teams this season.
Both teams qualified for the state meet.
The boys qualified for the Division 2 state meet on Nov. 3 at the Michigan International Speedway by taking third in the Ovid-Elsie regional. The girls placed second.
For the girls, Taryn Chapko was third (18:22.6), Lauren Lasceski was ninth (19:19.7), Sarah Zehr 15th (20:20.3), Guadalupe Jimenz 16th (20:12.1) and Katelyn Voisinet 19th (20:21).
Chapko took first places at the three CAAC Red Jamborees. Her personal record was set on Oct. 5 in the Apples to Apples Invitational with an 18:11.2.
Chapko was an all-stater last season with an 18:34.2 for 11th place. Her time in 2016 at the finals was 19:06.5 but she took 10th.
Lasceski had her personal record at the regionals last week. Her best conference jamboree finish was second place. She was at the state finals as a freshman and sophomore but didn’t crack the top 100 either time.
For the boys at the regional meet, Jacob Dennis was fifth (16:35.10). Fernando Jimenez (16:56.6) 16th, Cody Rapelje 20th (17:09.5). Troy Cramer 22nd (18:12.9) and Griffin Armbrustmacher 23rd (17:16).
Dennis notched his personal record at the state meet. He’s a sophomore and will make his first trip to the state meet.
It was also a PR for Jimenez, a junior, who will make his second trip to the finals.