Rababeh, Farrell run fastest at Speedway

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor 

White Lake Lakeland scored 125 points and won its first boys cross country championship since 1997. Sophomore Harrison Grzymkowski placed third to lead the team.

Riad Rababeh of Dearborn won the individual Div 1 title by running 15:24.8 for the fastest time of the day in all divisions at Michigan Speedway. Mitchell Day of Alpena was second in 15:40.8. Rockford’s Cole Johnson, one of the best runners in Michigan, suffered through a bad race and finished last (255th).

On the girls side, Maggie Farrell of Battle Creek Lakeview capped her season by winning the Div 1 title in 17:25.6. She beat Anne Forsyth of Ann Arbor Pioneer by 10 seconds. The rest of the pack was another 25 seconds back. Farrell won 13 of 14 meets so far this season, the only loss coming at Portage, where she was third.

Highland-Milford scored 149 points to win a competitive team battle. Ann Arbor Pioneer was second with 172 and Northville was third at 178.

Noah Jacobs led Corunna to the Div 2 title and ran 15:28.0 for the individual victory. Brendan Fraser of Notre Dame Prep was 12 seconds back.

Kayla Windemuller of Holland Christian won the Div 2 girls race in 18:06.4. Otsego put five in the top 19 and scored 48 points for a dominant team victory. Otsego’s 3-4-5 runners all ran faster than Highland-Milford’s.

Sophomore Yami Albrecht of Caro won the Div 3 boys race in 15:47.4, while Saugatuck took top honors with 61 points.

Traverse City St. Francis beat Lansing Catholic 77-88 atop the Div 3 girls standings. Sophomore Adelyn Ackley of Hart nosed out Olivia Theis of Lansing Catholic 17:40.6 to 17:41.3.

In Div 4, Ava Strenge of St. Philip Catholic Central ran 18:27.2 and won by 28 seconds. Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart put three in the top five on the way to 34 points and the team title.

Junior CarLee Stimpfel ran 16:02.7 to win the Div 4 boys race. Pewamo-Westphalia won the team championship with 131 points.