Exceeding Expectations

11/5/2024

Packer team cracks top ten at State Meet

Packer Harriers Compete at Cross Country State Finals

Story by Michael Paige
Photos by Cari Taylor

The Fremont boys cross country team was ranked 12th or 19th in various rankings coming into the state finals held each year at Michigan International Speedway. The boys had some spectacular performances and finished 9th as a team with 308 points. Blake Taylor led the way, finishing out his high school career with a personal record time of 16:06. According to Fremont coach, Cliff Somers, “After a season of injury and illness senior Blake Tayor turned in one of the best personal performances I have seen in a while. He moved up the whole race, 59th at the mile, 49th at the 2, and finishing in 40th.”
Carter Sherman was the top runner all year for the Packers. He found himself in 108th at the second mile and fought hard to move up over twenty spots over the last mile and finished 84th with a time of 16:33. Cole Lowery ran a personal best time in his final race as a Packer, finishing 89th with a time of 16:35. Per Somers, “Cole’s steady performances all season were something we could count on each race and that continued today with his PR.”
The three top runners are seniors and will leave big shoes to fill heading into next year. Hoping to take the reigns as the top runners next year, Chase Lowery (132nd – 16:57PR), Mossen Green (144th – 17:07), Isaac Romero (180th – 17:31) and Andreas Krapp (234th – 18:24), also ran for the Pack.
Junior Linnea Paige represented Fremont on the girls side in her third trip to the state finals. According to Coach, “Linnea ran the best of her three state meet appearances today, and her best race of the season to place 52nd in 19:15. She hit the mile in 49th and moved up to 41st with a strong second mile. She slowed a little in the final mile but was still battling all the way to the finish line.”
It was great to see Fremont back in the mix with a boys team qualification and an outstanding finish. Overall, Coach Somers said, “It was a great day with a group of guys with not a lot of State Meet experience turning in a top 10 finish, and Linnea also having her best Finals Meet.”
A few of Fremont’s runners, including Paige, will be competing next Saturday at the Michigan Meet of Champions in Shepherd.