Theis wins D2 with fastest time in state meet history (16:52.1)

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Olivia Theis' game plan for Saturday's state meet wasn't anything special. 

"My coach told me to just go out with the people I normally go out with," Theis said. "So I went out with my teammate and one other girl and we just kind of stayed together for the first mile, mile and a quarter, and he just told me at the mile and a half or so to kind of pull away if I could. That was the plan."

The plan for the nationally ranked distance runner from Lansing Catholic was executed perfectly as she ran away from the field to cross the finish line at Michigan International Speedway to claim the Division 2 cross country title in a new state-record time of 16 minutes, 52.1 seconds. 

"I actually had no idea what the record was and didn't see the clock, so I had no idea what time I was at either," Theis explained. "I didn't realize until afterward and people were coming up to me."

Theis, No. 6 in the latest DyeStat rankings, won the race by more than 40 seconds. In 2016, Theis had lost by less than a second. Runner-up Cecelia Stalzer of Mason ran 17:35.9. 

While the individual win was satisfying, the highlight of the day for Theis and her teammates was winning the team title. Lansing Catholic placed three runners in the top six, as junior Lauren Cleary was third (17:43.7) and sophomore Jaden Theis was sixth (18:18.7). 

"I'm so proud of our team," Theis said. "I know this has definitely been one of our goals and we knew this year was the year. And being a senior it feels great. I've wanted it since I was a freshman."

The previous Division 2 record was 17:20.4 set by Julia Bos of Grand Rapids Christian, while the all-class meet record of 16:54.8 in 2009 was set by Rochester's Megan Goethals, who later went on to win the Foot Locker national title. Later this month, Theis will look to make it make to San Diego and contend for a national title herself. 

"I'm really excited. It will be really fun," she said. "Foot Locker was a good experience last year so hopefully it will be again this year."

In the Division 2 boys race,  senior Shuaib Aljabaly of Coldwater won in 15:12.2, the fastest time of the day, while Chelsea claimed the team title.

The Division 4 race for girls featured Concord's Samantha Saenz taking home the title in 18:16.8, while Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart placed three in the top eight to win the title with 39 points.

The boys Division 4 race was won by CarLee Stimpfel of Cass City in 16:07.1, while the Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart made it a program sweep, winning the team title with 126 points. 

In Division 3 action, standout junior Adelyn Ackley of Hart defended her girls title in 17:49.4, leading her team to a state title. Last year she beat out Theis for the title. Hart placed three runners in the top seven.

Junior Yami Albrecht of Caro clocked 15:44.7 to win the boys Division 3 title. Hanover-Horton scored 122 points to edge out Caro (128).  

Rockford junior Ericka Vander Lende clocked an impressive time of  17:16.8 to win the individual crown, while Troy won the girls team title. Anne Forsyth of Ann Arbor Pioneer, fifth at the Foot Locker national finals in 2016, placed 16th. 

Nick Foster of Ann Arbor Pioneer guided his team to a 1A state title as he won in 15:16.1. 

RESULTS - LPD1 | LPD2 | LPD3 | LPD4 | UPD1 | UPD2 | UPD3

Team Champions

Boys Division 1 - Ann Arbor Pioneer 107

Girls Division 1 - Troy 127 points

Boys Division 2 - Chelsea 96 points

Girls Division 2  - Lansing Catholic 77 points

Boys Division 3 - Hanover-Horton 122 points

Girls Division 3 - Hart 55 points

Boys Division 4 -Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 126 points

Girls Division 4 -  Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart 39 points

Upper Peninsula (Oct. 21 at Munising)

Boys Division 1 - Houghton 39 points

Girls Division 1 - Marquette 47 points

Boys Division 2 - Wakefield-Marenisco/Bessemer 22 points

Girls Division 2 - St. Ignace 34 points

Boys Division 3 - Brimley 60 points (tiebreaker)

Girls Division 3 - Chassell 40 points