SunAndNews_101224

http://www.sunandnews.com Saturday, October 12, 2024 19

Re-Elect

MARCY

WHITE

“We must be able to have open dialogue

while respecting differences that may

exist. In the end, the outcome we are all

striving for in everything we do is to

provide the highest quality education

system so that all students can achieve

their highest potential...”

Honest & Transparent

Education Focused

Servant Leader

Board of Education

Brett Bremer
Sports Editor
The Trojans hit the finish line in
Portage and now it is officially cham-
pionship season.
Thornapple Kellogg will host the
OK Gold Conference Championship
at Gun Lake Oct. 16. The Trojans will
be a part of the MHSAA Lower Pen-
insula Division 2 Regional hosted by
South Christian High School Oct. 26
and then the TK team will be in action
again at Charlton Park Oct. 28 for the
Barry County Invitational.
Those who qualify will compete
Nov. 2 in the MHSAA L.P. Division
2 Cross Country Finals at Michigan
International Speedway in Brooklyn.
There are those expecting more than
hoping to qualify from the TK teams,
and they showed off their quality at the
big meet in Portage Saturday.
In his first high school cross country
season TK senior Jacob Draaisma has
led the Trojan pack all fall. He placed
19th in a D2 boys’ field of 288 runners
in Portage Saturday. He hit the finish

Top TK runners medal at Portage Invite

line in 16 minutes 14.1 seconds, his

third fastest time of the season after

getting under the 16-minute for the

first time the previous Saturday in

Otsego.

TK boys’ coach Josh Reynolds

thought it was as great time for Draa-

isma on the dusty course in the warm

afternoon conditions Saturday in what

was the biggest race he has run in yet.

“Jacob got out really well during

the first mile, which is needed with

the level of talent in the front pack,”

coach Reynolds said. “He faced a little

adversity over the next half mile losing

a few spots but settled into his race

over the second half with a solid per-

formance ... Large races like this are

important as we learn to race against

some phenomenal student-athletes

and learn to balance our energy from

mile to mile. It can be tough when

everyone around you is talented, pre-

pared, and motivated to do their best.”

Trojan senior Ava Crews had the

top finish of any of the local runners

Thornapple Kellogg junior Noah
Donker (right) outruns Coldwater
freshman Parker Hetrick to the finish
line at the end of the Division 2 boys’
race Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Portage
Invitational. Photo by Brett Bremer

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