By BUTCH HARMON
Led by senior Connor Mora, the Cedar Springs boys cross-country team captured the Division 2 regional title at Benzie Central High School and are headed to the state finals this weekend in Brooklyn at Michigan International Speedway.
Cedar Springs totaled 47 points to win the title followed by Gaylord (102) and Whitehall (125). Big Rapids finished in fourth place and just missed qualifying for the state meet by four points.
Mora was the individual champion as he turned in a time of 14:54.01. Sophomore Austin Sargent placed fourth in 15:50.31 followed by senior Justin Harthorn (8th, 16:16.21), Alex Bray (15th, 16:26.20), Cameron Umphrey (19th, 16:42.43), Ethan Menefee (21st, 16:49.67) and Justin Jones (22nd, 16:49.98).
Senior Clark Ruiz led the way for Big Rapids as he finished second overall in 15:16.51. Ben Shaffer placed sixth in 16:05.80 followed by Brent Heberling (14th, 16:25.68), Ethan Goodman (51st, 17:50.99) and Alex MacLean (56th, 18:05.73).