(WITH PHOTOS, VIDEO) Hartland's Avery Evenson Races to Fifth Place to Lead Girls Team

Clocking a 17:57, Hartland junior Avery Evenson's fifth place finish continued her state elite level running during the finals for the third straight year.

"I am definitely happy," Evenson said in an article in the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus. "A top 5 finish is nice, it's better than last year. I wish I would have placed higher, though. Top 4 was my goal, but I was happy with it."

Last year, Evenson was 11th coming off an injury and a second-place finish her freshman year — all while also qualifying for the state finals in swimming, a feat she's accomplished again this season.

"I'm excited to see what she" does next year in cross country, said head coach Mary Rinkus.

Evenson's top-tier finish led the Eagles, who finished 23rd out of 28 teams ran in the Division 1 race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. Erin Finn of West Bloomfield won the race in 17:22 while Grosse Pointe South took the team title.

Despite the finish, Rinkus said the team ran well together, noting how the third through seventh fastest runner finishing all within 15 places of each other bodes well for the future.

"We were just happy to be here," said Rinkus after the team surprised many by with a third-place finish at regionals.

She also was happy to see both boys and girls teams compete in the finals for the first time ever .

Hartland's varsity finishers: Avery Evenson (third, fifth, 17:57), Natalie Halonen (107th, 144th, 20:03), Victoria Graves (132nd, 172nd, 20:27), Megan Skinner (136th, 178th, 20:34), Taylor Pryde (143rd, 185th, 20:40), Allison McGinn (146th, 188th, 20:42) and Emily Braid (147th, 189th, 20:45).

Note, the first placing is for the team competition that doesn't include individual qualifiers and the second is the overall finish that includes all runners.

See PDF with the article for complete race results.