This year’s goals were met.
Next year’s goals are more ambitious.
That was the message after Clare’s boys’ cross country team finished eighth at the Division 3 state meet at Michigan International Speedway.
“We have a young team, so our only goal was to finish in the top 10 and it turned out to be a nice day for everybody,” said Pioneers coach Adam Burhans. “There weren’t really any surprises. We packed up well and that was our tactic from the beginning.”
Junior Ben Haupt has been leading that pack all season and he delivered again, placing 29th in a time of 16:35.2 to earn All-State honors for the first time in his career.
“He’s got that combination of talent and a strong work ethic,” said Burhans. “He knew he had to be in the top 35 and he knew the time he had to hit to make All-State and he got there in 29th.”
Sophomore Jimmy Teall was next for Clare, placing 60th in 17:05.2. Chase Field, the lone senior on the score sheet, was 93rd in 17:22.9 and he was followed by freshmen David Good, Aidan Boyd and Jayce Miller.
That’s the source of Burhans’ optimism for next year.
“We definitely have bigger goals next season,” he said. “We’ve got two of our top guys coming back and five very solid freshmen.”