Portland Cross Country Teams Compete in Laingsburg Early Burg Invitational

Nineteen Mid-Michigan High Schools sent their Boys and or Girls Cross Country teams to Laingsburg to compete on Thursday. Fowlerville won the Boys Division with a total of 56 Points. Portland placed 10th in the Boys race out of 13 schools.

Senior Mitch Bjorne from Bath won the Boys 5K race with a time of 16 minutes 58 seconds. Portland Senior Blaine Rosier was close behind with a time of 18 minutes 32 seconds, his all-time best for the 5K. Other runners placing in the top five for Portland were Andrew Seavey (20:48); Carter Rosier (21:22); Cullen Rapson (21:55) and Andrew Pace (22:21). Ben Wasmus (22:59), Iggy Arleth (23:36), and Ben Stallard (27:26) also completed the course. Blaine Rosier reported that the race had "perfect running conditions". Boy's Cross Country Coach Andy Pulling said that it was "a feel good race" and that it "provided a really good measurement of where every runner is at". He was especially pleased with Blaine Rosier who "put a lot of Summer work into running and is in great shape which will allow to him to focus the rest of the season on improving his performance"

Coach Holdron's girls were led by Freshman Madison Luxmore who placed first among the Portland Girls with a time of 23:05 and 32nd out of 169 runners. "Maddie likes to push her mind to be tough on her body", Coach Holdren emphasized.

Lansing Christian Sophomore Madison Volz won the girls race with a time of 19:04. Ari Babcock (24:41), Amber Cross (25:43), Elaina Volk (26:39) and Destiny Foltz (33:04) all placed for Portland. Portland Girls placed 14th out of 15 teams. Battle Creek Harper Creek won the Girls Division. Also finishing for Portland were Mya Collins (33:23), Clara Noble (33:36), Alyssa Jack (33:46), Teaghan Lathers (33:56) Mary Timmer (34:13) and Olivia Morrow (36:04).

The photo at the top of this post is Coach Mark Holdren instructing his Girls Varsity Cross Country team before their race to “make sure their minds are tough on their bodies” while running in the “Laingsburg Invitational. Photo by Robert Lathers.

Awards ceremony Laingsburg. Photo courtesy of Coach Andy Pulling.

Blain Rosier 19th of 150. Photo courtesy of Coach Andy Pulling.

Boys 5K post start – Laingsburg. Photo courtesy of Coach Andy Pulling.

Boys 5K - Pre Start Laingsburg. Photo courtesy of Coach Andy Pulling.

Portland Freshman Madison Luxmore sprints to the finish at Thursday’s Laingsburg Invitational. Luxmore was 1st Portland runner to finish. She placed 32nd out of 169 participants in the Girls Division. Photo by Robert Lathers.

Portland Senior Blaine Rosier placed 19th out of 150 cross country runners at Laingsburg Invitational on Thursday with a personal best time of 18 Minutes 30 seconds. Photo by Robert Lathers.