Despite only running five races last year for the Freeland girls cross country team, Breanne Lesnar made sure her presence was felt.
The first race she entered she won. She went on to finish in the top five in Division 3 state cross country finals and won the two-mile state championship in the spring. Lesnar is now running at Central Michigan University.
Now fast forward to this season.
Coach Dan Craig, who is in his 50th year coaching the girls team at Freeland, said he expects to have just enough on the team this season to win more than they will lose during the remainder of the year.
“We do have a pretty solid top five,” he said.
During the September 16 Spartan Invitational held on the campus of Michigan State University, Freeland finished 17th out of 40 schools. Freshman led the way, finishing the race in 21:42. Senior Andrea Finkbeiner finished in 22:15 and Nikkia Lopshrie in 22:22. Craig will also rely on another freshman this season in Rachel Noack.
“Basically this season we are gearing up for regionals and looking forward to another possible trip to state,” Craig said. “We are definitely above an average team, but we are still kind of young.”