BUCAHAN, MI (WTVB) – Eight cross country runners from the Branch County area have qualified for the MHSAA Finals.
Coldwater’s boys team was denied a third consecutive trip to the Finals by one point. The Cardinals finished fourth Saturday in the Regional competition with 158 points, one point behind third place Allegan with 157 points. Only the top three teams from the Regional move on to the State Finals next Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
Coldwater’s Shuaib Aljabaly remained undefeated for this season with his third consecutive Regional cross-country title. He will move on to MIS, along with Coldwater’s Kathy Potter.
Potter qualified to State for a second time in her career with her 9th place finish Saturday. The Coldwater girls team finished the Regional in 11th place.
At the girls Division Three Cross Country Regional held at Ella Sharp Park in Jackson, Quincy finished fifth while Bronson was 10th. Bronson’s Xochitl Garcia qualified for the state finals as she finished seventh. Quincy sent two onto MIS as Madelyn Allman was 11th while Harmony Harpster was 14th. Marionna Bigelow was 61st for Union City.
In the Boys Division Three Cross Country Regional, Bronson was fourth, Quincy was fifth and Union City was 13th. The Vikings missed the final team spot for MIS by 21 points. Quincy’s Nathan Nohr and Bronson’s Luis Ortiz punched their tickets for MIS. Nohr finished sixth while Ortiz finished 15th. Bobby Hurley was 51st for Union City.
Tekonsha’s boys finished seventh at the Division Four Regional hosted by Hudson but David Frederick qualified for the state finals again with a fourth place finish.
