Portland Harriers Close Out Cross-Country Season at MHSAA Regionals

The Portland Raider’s Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country teams gave it their all on Friday at the 2018 MHSAA Region 14 Cross-Country Regionals. Women’s Coach Mark Holdren whose team was significantly whittled down due to injuries said, “Today our six runners gave it their all and ran well! I am proud of them for competing against themselves and others today”. Despite their efforts, and a very fast field of runners, the Lady Raiders represented by two freshman, two sophomores and two juniors finished behind most of the other teams. Ari Babcock and Amber Cross finished 63rd and 64th respectively, with Elania Volk, Teaghan Lathers, Mya Collins and Olivia Morrow following.

The Portland Men’s team remained a bit healthier this season and placed 13th in overall team standings at the regional. They were led again by Sr. Blaine Rosier who closed out his Raider Cross-Country career with a time of 19 minutes and 33 seconds. He was followed by Carter Rosier, Andrew Seavey, Ben Wasmus, Iggy Arleth and Seniors Ben Stallard and Cullen Rapson, pictured above in a post-race pose. Men’s Coach Andrew Pulling said, “Today we were a small school in a very fast regional. Blaine Rosier did a nice job pushing himself and challenging the rest of the team”.

Following the meet, Coaches Holdren and Pulling, reflected on their optimism for next season, with several promising 8th grade runners moving up as Freshman to the Raider High School team, to join this year’s hard-working underclassmen. Coach Holdren stated that, “the hardest part of Cross-Country is running after the season ends. To run competitively runners, need to have a year-round plan and do it all year long”. Coach Pulling echoed Holdren by saying, “to be a good runner an athlete must make running a priority in their lives and be prepared physically and mentally at the beginning of the season so that they can spend the season focused on competing at their highest potential”.