The Brandywine boys cross country team finished third at the Dowagiac Rotary Invitational Saturday.

Sturgis won the boys title with 7 points, while Plainwell was second with 37 and Brandywine third with 42. Dowagiac finished eighth with 95 points.

Grant Brown of Sturgis was the winner of the junior-senior race with a time of 16:38.

Brandywine’s Michael Robbins finished ninth and Collin Mattiford 12th with times of 17:50 and 18:56 respectively. Evan Zacharski was 30th with a time of 22:18.

The Bobcats also had two runners finish in the top 15 of the freshmen-sophomore race.

James Harrell was eighth in 19:33 and Zach Schmidt 13th in 20:15. Joshua Youngs was 29th in 24:33.

Dowagiac’s Ben Thompson was 22nd in the junior-senior race with a time of 22:12. Dean Klann was 24th (20:43) and Sean Thompson 29th (22:12).

In the freshmen-sophomore race, DeYonte Sullivan was 15th (20:46) for Dowagiac, Tony Kidman 30th (24:38) and Jacob Peters 34th (26:46).

“We were led by Ben Thompson with his 20:32, which was an improvement of almost two minutes from last year,” Lowe said. “We are improving as a boys team and look forward to getting better. This race was a strong step forward for our young boys team.”

Plainwell, led by individual champion Makenzie Evers ( 19:03), won the girls title with 14 points.

Delton-Kellogg was second and Sturgis third. Dowagiac was fifth with 68 points.

Rachel Bailey was the Chieftains’ top finisher as she 16th with a time of 24:03. Christine Preston was 19th (24:35), Holly Luth 20th (24:35), Sarah Long 27th (25:42), Paige Schaus 33rd (28:18), Jennifer Schaus 34th (28:31), Kendra Wilson 36th (29:59), Corinne Kasper 38th (31:18), Rebecca Luth 40th (31:49) and Brittany Smith 43rd (33:21).

In the freshmen-sophomore race, Katie Murphy finished 14th for Dowagiac with a time of 28:03. Heather Stolpe was 19th (36:20), Madeline White 20th (36:52) and Amy Schaus 21st (41:52).

“The girls with a fifth place finish improved over last year’s finish at the meet,” Dowagiac assistant coach Rob Lowe said. “We were led by first year runner Rachel Bailey. Her performance showed real inner strength as she gutted out her new personal best of 24:03.

“Christine Preston is continuing to improve as she is gaining some experience and we are excited to watch Holly Luth improve as the season moves forward.”

 

Dowagiac Rotary Invitational

Boys team scores

Sturgis 7, Painwell 37, Brandywine 42, Mendon 50, Delton-Kellogg 62, Parchment 72, Decatur 75, Dowagiac 95

Top 10

1. Grant Brown (S), 16:38; 2. Steven Griffth (S) 16:49; 3. Zach Hufstedler (M) 16:50; 4. Luke Boulter (P) 17:13; 5. Austin Sroczynski (S), 17:29; 6. Jarryd Calhoon (K) 17:35; 7. Zach Haas (K) 17:47; 8. Joe Gales (M) 17:57; 9. Michael Robbins (B), 17:59. 10. Michael Campbell (M), 18:06

Brandywine results

Freshmen-sophomore race

8. James Harrell 19:33, 13. Zach Schmidt 20:15, 29. Joshua Youngs 24:33

Junior-senior race

9. Michael Robbins 17:59, 12. Collin Mattiford 18:56, 30. Evan Zacharski 22:18

Dowagiac finishes

Freshmen-sophomore race

15. DeYonte Sullivan 20:46, 30. Tony Kidman 24:38, 34. Jacob Peters 26:46

Junior-senior race

22. Ben Thompson 22:12, 24. Dean Klann 20:43, 29. Sean Thompson 22:12

 

Girls team scores

Painwell 14, Delton-Kellogg 23, Sturgis 30, Parchment 33, Dowagiac 68, Decatur 70, Mendon 75, Brandywine  DNF

Top 10

1. Makenzie Evers (P) 19:03; 2. Peyton Boughton (S) 19:44; 3. Kate Thayer (P) 20:46; 4. Lauren Raiford (S) 21:27; 5. Christi Boze (K) 21:32.13; 6. May Gabi (D) 21:32.84; 7. Sarah Rendon (K) 21:40; 8. Cara Minto (P) 21:47; 9. Ortana Benincasa (P) 22:34; 10. Rachel Buck (P) 22:56

Dowagiac finishers

Freshmen-sophomore race

14. Katie Murphy 28:03, 19. Heather Stolpe 36:20, 20. Madeline White 36:52, 21. Amy Schaus 41:52

Junior-senior race

16. Rachel Bailey 24:03, 19. Christine Preston 24:35, Holly Luth 20. 24:35.81, 27. Sarah Long 25:42, 33. Paige Schaus 28:18, 34. Jennifer Schaus 28:31, 36. Kendra Wilson 29:59, 38. Corinne Kasper 31:18, 40. Rebecca Luth 31:49, 43. Brittany Smith 33:21