Portage Invitational

October 7, 2006

Varsity Highlights

True to prediction, Dexter and Pinckney were the big winners at Portage.  Although Dexter is a Division 2 school, they were allowed to compete at Division 1 level and compete they did, with an outstanding score of 62 points.  The two teams are currently ranked #2 and #5 in the latest Nike Team National rankings for the Midwest and they demonstrated why at the Portage Invitational.

Despite the long shadow of the above-mentioned neighboring teams, Pioneer had a good race, with five runners (from our A and B teams) posting PRs.  The Varsity “A” team placed sixth out of 37 teams, coming within a few points of both the fourth and fifth place teams.  Great job!

Sophomore Dan Culbertson took top honors for Pioneer, placing 35^th in 16:22.  Junior Charlie Cavell (16:25) dropped 12 seconds from his PR and placed 40^th.   In a real photo-finish, Seniors Mike Weisbuch (16:33.8) and Paul Versluis (16:33.9) finished 51^st and 52^nd, both setting new PRs.  Juniors Erik Levinsohn (17:03) and Eric Hubbard (17:05) came in at 92^nd and 94^th.  And, rounding out the Pioneer “A” team, Senior Austin Taylor also took 9 seconds off his PR with a time of 17:19.

The Pioneer “B” team took 29^th place with Junior David Cogswell posting a great race.  Coming in at 98^th place, David slashed 17 seconds off his PR with a time of 17:09. 

Varsity Team Results

Place                            Team                                        Points

1st                                Dexter                                      62

2nd                              Pinckney                                  100

3rd                               Hilliard Darby                           221

4th                               Fremont                                   256

5th                               Fenton                                      258

6th                               Pioneer “A”                              269

7th                               Monroe                                    294

8th                               Bedford                                    313

9th                               Saline                                       316

29th                             Pioneer “B”                              733

Pioneer Varsity “A” Runners

Place                            Name                                       Time

35th                             Dan Culbertson                        16:22

40 th                            Charlie Cavell                           16:25  (PR -12)

51st                              Mike Weisbuch                        16:34  (PR -18)

52nd                            Paul Versluis                             16:34  (PR -14)

92nd                            Erik Levinsohn                          17:03

94th                             Eric Hubbard                            17:05

116th                           Austin Taylor                            17:19  (PR -9)

Pioneer Varsity “B” Runners

Place                            Name                                       Time

98th                             David Cogswell                        17:09  (PR -17)

140th                           Mac McDonald-Wilkin             17:29

149th                           Jamie Fogel                              17:34

165th                           Taylor DeLuca                         17:44

181st                            Jonathan Henrichs                    17:54

200th                           Kinshuk Rajan                          18:10

246th                           Jon Voiles                                 19:27 

Junior Varsity highlights

The JVs faced a huge crowd of runners in their late afternoon race. (364 runners eventually crossed the finish line.)  Cheered on by a crowd of Pioneer parents and encouraged along the trails by Pioneer Varsity runners, four Pioneer JV runners placed in the Top 50 and earned a spot in the individual awards ceremony.  This race was timed electronically, a luxury not available at all JV races.

After a disappointing day at Jamboree #2 on Tuesday, Freshman Nick Kern stayed near the leaders most of the race, and really turned on the speed for the final kick, on his way to claim 3^rd place as the fastest freshman in the JV race, dropping 18 seconds for a new PR of 17:12.   Finish line officials must have thought they were seeing double a few moments later as Adam Kern claimed 15^th place as he dropped 24 seconds on his way to a new PR of 17:46.  Freshmen Nate Karr (18:03) placed 29^th and Andy Sanz-Guerrero (18:10) placed 43^rd; both ran strong races and enjoyed being honored at the awards ceremony.  Freshmen George Lucero and Nick Theros both set new PRs at this race, and exchange student Simon Thiel finished his second race for Pioneer with a new PR of 18:50, more than 6 minutes faster than his time at Jamboree #2 on Tuesday – wow!

Pioneer JV runners

Place                           Runner                                                Time

3^rd                                   Nick Kern                                            17:12   (PR -18)

15^th                              Adam Kern                                          17:46    (PR -24)

29^th                              Nate Karr                                            18:03

43^rd                              Andy Sanz-Guerrero                            18:10

55^th                              Hayden Spitzley                                    18:27

90^th                              Simon Thiel                                          18:48     (PR -6:10)

93^rd                              Neil Keicher                                         18:50

107^th                            Dylan North                                         18:57

144^th                            Aaron Trierweiller                                 19:25

177^th                            Sean Beck                                            19:48

192^nd                            David Wallington                                  19:59

206^th                            Kevin Chaperon                                   20:07

209^th                            Kosta Roumanis                                   20:08

244^th                            Jacob Whiten                                       20:39

260^th                            Ben Aukerman                                     20:55

297^th                            George Lucero                                     21:49    (PR -14)

305^th                            Nick Theros                                         22:02    (PR -1:17)