Kaylee Kreft smashes Fairbanks? course record in Newberry

Freshman sensation Kaylee Kreft continues to vanquish the competition since stepping up to the varsity team this year. The youngest of the three Kreft sisters running for the Hurons broke the course record in Newberry Saturday that was set by Rogers City runner Lauren Fairbanks. Kreft?s time of 19:24 shaved 34 seconds off Fairbanks? 2002 record. Coach Rob Kortman reported the weather was beautiful with a light breeze giving the girls the incentive to pour it on. Kortman said last year?s most improved runner, Sarah Bruning is starting to hit her stride and continues to improve this year by placing seventh (23:08). Chelsea Kreft turned in an outstanding performance running her best time of the year (22:40) and earning her 10th place. Jessica Hempel was next across the finish line for the Huron girls placing 33rd (26:48) and Katy Fryske continues to improve, adding strength to the girls? team taking 36th (27:01).

ROUNDING OUT the girls? squad was first year runner Ashley Basel who fought off a cold and ran with determination placing 40th (31:28). The girls? team was third overall with 87 points. The Hurons finished second in the small school division just behind Rapid River. Kortman explained that the Fox & Hounds is a chase race with the slower runners getting a head start at 30-second intervals for the girls. The gap is 20 seconds for the boys. Kortman said this gives the slower runners a chance to place and run at the front of the pack. ?I was very happy with the way the boys and girls ran at Newberry all of them showed improved times over the SAC meet Tuesday,? the coach said.

Derek McLennan led the boys? team with an eighth place finish (17:55). Mike Mierzwinski showed continued progress by improving his time in every race taking 10th (18:50) and earning his varsity letter. Zak McLennan was the next Huron to cross the finish line running his best time of the year (19:28) and taking a 14th place. Placing 23rd was Andy Tulgestke who also ran his best time of the year (20:44).

THE COACH noted that Tharin Wilk continues to improve and learn with every race with a 25th place (20:41). In 29th place was Travis Lafferty, another first year runner who is getting better every race (24:17). There were five schools in the boys? race. Overall, the Huron boys took third with 80 points. As in the case o f the girls? tea

m, the boys grabbed second in the small school division behind Rapid River. The middle school boys took eighth overall out of nine schools but they only had three boys suited up and running in the race. Placing fifth was Corey Hentkowski (13:01), 29th was John Belusar (14:40), and placing 75th was Ben Eagleson (20:09). The middle school girls took seventh overall out of nine schools present, the girls also had only three girls running. In the small school division the girls took third. Placing third was Leilani Kortman (14:26), Michelle Belusar 28th (16:25), and Jami Horn was right behind her in 29th place (16:28).

Kortman noted that those missing from the Mud Run results were Michelle Belusar 31st (17:40), Jami Horn 43rd (18:37), Sierra Centala 54th (19:41), John Belusar 16th (16:38) and Alan Sanger 59th (20:01).