RunMichigan.com! - '98 LP H.S. State Meet Race Stories

WHITEHALL TOP TEAM

KRZYMINSKI TOP RUNNER

Brooklyn, MI

By Dave McCauley & Scott Collins - RunMichigan.com!

In what was truly a cross country team battle, Whitehall, lead by seniors Lisa Fishel and Michelle Rice, held off by only ten points a strong challenge from West Branch - Ogemaw Heights 85-95. Fishel and Rice finished in 12th and 13th places respectively, with W.B.- O.H.'s top runner, sophomore Abigail Nelkie finishing one spot back in 14th. The remaining seven runners for Whitehall were Jillian Duff, Stefanie DeLong, Katrina Alvesteffer, Ginger Russell and Eva Spiece. Whitehall's top 5 were only 1 minute and 6 seconds apart, lead by Fishel who finished in 18:42. Third place overall went to a fine Corunna squad, paced by individual champion Jamie Krzyminski. Last year's team champion Fremont finished 4th, and Monroe Jefferson took 5th.

The Class B girls individual finish was probably one of the most exciting on the day. The overall title came down to a difference between first and second of only seven tenths of a second. Corunna Junior Jamie Krzyminski, in only her first year of cross country shocked the field with her first place finish and overall winning time of 17:54, one of the fastest times on the day. Second overall went to Madison Heights Bishop Foley's Nicole Breger, just a sophomore, in a time of 17:55.0. For the Corunna Junior, this victory was a great surprise. "I'm kind of in shock right now. This whole season was just so great. To come here and win this race like I did is really exciting." Though the possiblity was there for Krzyminski to do well here today, she still had to do well on the day. "You have to come in here and prove it. You know there are so many girls who are just going to run awesome here." Kryzminski probably also ran one of the smarter races on this day. With most everyone else blazing out to fast first mile splits, she decided to run a little more cautious and wait for her chance to move up. This was evident by her 5:44 first mile time compared to runner-up Breger's tiem of 5:38 and even fourth place finisher Sarah Pepera of Ortonville Brandon, who lead the field through the mile mark at 5:37.4. Kryzminski settle back into the race, coming through the two mile mark at 11:31 on her way to the championship.

Individual "B" Champion
Jamie Kryzminski of Corunna

VIDEO CLIP
Click on link below.

The close Class B Girls Finish (245k)