(UPDATED) Boys Cross Country Soars as Top Division 1 School at Invite

The Hartland boys cross country team proved they are a force to reckon with Friday by finishing as the fastest Division 1 school and second overall at the Spartan Invitational in East Lansing.

Head coach Matt Gutteridge said the team is pleased with the high finish but remains focused on its goal of qualifying for the state finals.

"We're going to enjoy the success, but we're not going to stop here," he said. "We have bigger goals than this."

In recent years, the Hartland has watched as league rivals have raced to statewide success. But this season, the Eagles have already captured the Kensington Lakes Activities Association Invitational and nearly defeated Brighton on Tuesday, whom they bested in the invite.

Hartland's 180 points were only behind Division 3 school Grandville Calvin Christian's 171, Gutteridge said. (Lowest combined placings wins in cross country). Besides beating the Bulldogs, the Eagles also finished ahead of rivals Milford and Pinckney who finished tied for seventh, he said.

There were 131 schools at the invtiational held at Michigan State University's Forest Akers golf course. Saginaw Heritage's Evan Chiplock won the high school elite race in 15:18.

Senior Ian McGinn's 15:50 led the Eagles with 10th overall finish and ninth in team standings. But the key to the high finish was how the next four Hartland runners crossed the line under 16:30 and between 32nd and 53rd place in team scoring.

Gutteridge said the team is starting the year at the performance level close to how it finished last season. He said several runners either set or were near their fastest times and now the challenge will be to build on that in order to continue to improve and peak by the end of the season.

"These are just positive steps in the right direction," he said. "We've got a lot more work to do."

Boys varsity results: Ian McGinn (15:50 — ninth), Sean Pengelly (16:14 — 32nd), Alex Gietek (16:21 — 40th), Jareb Duggan (16:25 — 46th), Brendan Gavitt (16:29 — 53rd), Patrick Gavitt (17:23 — 141st) and Tige Pennala. (17:46 — 180th).

Girls make strides

Junior Avery Evenson finished second overall to lead Hartland to 18th place in a race where four girls set personal records giving head coach Mary Rinkus optimism about a strong late season run.

With a team largely comprised of lesser experienced runners, the Eagles competed in the non-elite green division. Dearborn Divine Child finished first with 129 points. Hartland had 466 points, one shy of 17th. There were 41 teams in the race.

"I felt we had a good day today," said head coach Mary Rinkus. "I'm really optimistic."

Evenson, a two-time state finalist, led Hartland with a 18:28 that was 45 seconds faster than her race Tuesday against Brighton. Only the 18:21 from Chippewa Hills runner Megan O'Neil was faster.

Other Hartland varsity finishers were: Natalie Halonen (20:10 — 52nd), Megan Skinner (21:12 — 128th), Tori Graves (21:20 — 135th), Anna Hense (21:34 — 149th), Taylor Pryde (21:40 — 159th) and Denise Grezeszak (21:47 — 166th).

Junior varsity also preformed well, Rinkus added, with six runners setting personal bests. Emily Braid's 21:27 was good enough for 11th.

Editor's note: This story was updated Saturday to add photos from the girls race.