By SCOTT NOVAK
Niles Daily Star

DOWAGIAC – It was no contest Thursday afternoon at the Dowagiac Middle School as St. Joseph swept the Rock-N-Run Cross Country Invitational.

The Bears scored 43 points to beat Bridgman in the boys’ race as the Bees finished with 58 points.

Edwardsburg placed fifth, Niles sixth, Buchanan 10th and Dowagiac 11th.

In the girls’ race, the Lady Bears scored 62 points to top arch rival Lakeshore, which had 85 points.

Buchanan finished third, Niles fifth, Edwardsburg ninth and Dowagiac 12th.

Parchment’s Stuart Crowell was the boys’ champion with an impressive time of 16:17 in the cold, wet and windy conditions.

Collin Ludwig of St. Joseph placed second with a 16:20.

Edwardsburg’s Josh Clark and Niles’ Mark Calhoun placed third and fourth with times of 16:23 and 16:25 respectively.

Niles’ Sam VandenHeede was eighth.

Dowagiac’s top finisher was Chris Gantt, who took 20th. Buchanan’s Rick Reith placed 13th.

Defending Wolverine Conference champion Morgan Stuut of Three Rivers ran away from Niles’ Madie Rodts in the closing stages of the race to win the girls’ title with a time of 19:20.

Rodts finished second with a 19:50.

Buchanan’s Torrie Eger placed fourth with a 20:08, while teammate Elizabeth Hein was seventh.

Niles’ Bridgett Carpenter eight and Anne Tyler 10th.

Edwardsburg’s top finisher was Taylor Kanaby, who was 26th.

Dowagiac’s Leana Allen placed 60th.

Rock-N-Run
At Dowagiac Middle School
Boys’ team scores
St. Joseph 43, Bridgman 58, Lakeshore 129, Parchment 138, Edwardsburg 145, Niles 145, Eau Claire 182, Three Rivers 183, Kalamazoo Christian 228, Buchanan 257, Dowagiac 303, Berrien Springs 321

Top 20
1. Stuart Crowell (P) 16:17; 2. Collin Ludwig (SJ) 16:20; 3. Josh Clark (E) 16:23; 4. Mark Calhoun (N) 16:25; 5. Sam Felton (SJ) 16:37; 6. Mark Haukereid (B) 16:37; 7. Cameron Magro (B) 16:46; 8. Sam Vandenheede (N) 16:51; 9. Conner Magro (B) 16:59; 10. Chris Pfahler (SJ) 17:00; 11. Zak Eggleston (E) 17:29; 12. David Burkard (SJ) 17:38; 13. Rick Reith (B) 17:40; 14. Joseph Beemer (SJ) 17:42; 15. Jarret Anderson (B) 17:42; 16. Ryan Leahy (SJ) 17:46; 17. Jake Range (L) 17:55; 18. Anthony Horvath (N) 17:57; 19. Paul Perrin (SJ) 18:01; 20. Chris Gantt (D) 18:03

Girls’ team scores
St. Joseph 62, Lakeshore 85, Buchanan 104, Berrien Springs 107, Niles 110, Three Rivers 152, Coloma 185, Kalamazoo Christian 199, Edwardsburg 236, Bridgman 266, Parchment 268, Dowagiac 349

Top 20
1. Morgan Stuut (TR) 19:20; 2. Madie Rodts (N) 19:50; 3. Rachel Bendewald (SJ) 19:59; 4. Torrie Eger (BU) 20:08; 5. Jessica Nave (BS) 20:24; 6. Sydney Shoemaker (L) 20:26; 7. Elizabeth Hein (BU) 20:51; 8. Bridgett Carpenter (N) 20:58; 9. Mandy Piedt (BS) 20:59; 10. Anne Tyler (N) 21:03; 11. Laura Nordquist (P) 21:04; 12. Ashley Moyer (SJ) 21:04; 13. Jennifer Dowsett (SJ) 21:06; 14. Kayla Matheny (L) 21:15; 15. Megan McNitt (SJ) 21:15; 16. Melanie Armstrong (L) 21:18; 17. Stephanie Reith (BU) 21:22; 18. Kelsey Lewis (BS) 21:25; 19. Kelsey Craig (SJ) 21:27; 20. Allyson Garstecki (SJ) 21:27