Shepherd netted outstanding runs from its top six runners and posted an easy first-place finish Nov. 2 in the Division 2 cross country state finals at Michigan International Speedway.
The Bluejays had 120 points to earn their first cross country state title since 1994. Second-place Benzie Central had 186 points.
Kaylie Rhynard placed fifth overall in 18:55.5, while Katelyn Hutchinson was 10th in 19:12.8, Kylie Hutchinson 33rd in 20:15, Rachel Mathers 35th in 20:20.4, Taylor Thrush 37th in 20:21.6, Taylor Priest 39th in 20:27.3 and Sarah Bellinger 56th in 20:44.9.
“It is amazing; it is everything I could have imagined,” said Rhynard, a senior. “We worked so hard, and it’s awesome to see it pay off with this group of girls. It’s unbelievable.”
Rhynard was part of two Bluejay teams that placed ninth at state in previous years. The two Hutchinson girls and Mathers are freshmen.
“We were shooting for this before the season started,” Rhynard said. “In August, we were preparing to be the best team we could be. We did not come in thinking we were going to win it. We came in thinking we’d run our hearts out, and if we all run well, we should be able to win.”
The top two runners were all-staters, but others ran well enough to give Rhynard a strong notion even before seeing the final results that her team had won.
“Once we found out, it was the best feeling ever,” Rhynard said. “It was not my best [race]. The season didn’t go as individually well as I would have liked it to. What we’ve done as a team has made up for it. I have a strained muscle in my stomach and that started in the summer. I’m able to run pretty close to what I have in past years.”
“Anytime you’re in a state meet and you have a chance to do well, you’re a little bit nervous,” said coach Carey Hammel. “I was pretty confident. I knew the girls were ready. I knew they were going to run well, and it worked out.
“Kaylie Rhynard finishing in the top 10 was awesome. She finished all-state all four years. One of the biggest things was Kylie Hutchinson, our third girl today, ran an exceptional race. Taylor Thrush our fifth runner today, is normally one of our top three runners. But she was running with mono, so that was a really gutty performance. It wasn’t easy for her, but she really kept it up. Overall, all seven runners ran exceptionally well, and I couldn’t be prouder of them than I am.”
Clare finished ninth, Ithaca 10th, and Lansing Catholic 13th.