Portland Raiders Close Regional Meet with State Qualifier Aaron Martinson; Boys and Girls Teams Celebrate Strong Seasons

What a morning for the Portland Raiders Cross Country teams! The boys and girls teams competed at the MHSAA Regional meet at Grand Rapids South Christian, taking on some of the toughest competition across all divisions. The Raiders gave it their all, capping off a season filled with personal records, tremendous improvement, and memorable accomplishments.

The boys got things started with a strong showing, as all six runners battled through a competitive field. Sophomore Aaron Martinson led the way for the Raiders, earning a 17th-place finish and qualifying for the MHSAA State Finals! Martinson crossed the finish line in 16:35, setting a new personal record by an impressive 22 seconds. His performance also moves him into fifth place all-time in the Portland Raiders record books. Aaron will represent Portland next Saturday at the Michigan International Speedway at the State Finals.

Junior Donnie Richmond was next across the line, finishing in 18:15 after battling through some difficult cramping during the race. Rounding out the Raiders were sophomore Aiden Espinoza at 19:44, sophomore James Feldpausch at 20:00, junior Noah Huffine at 23:26, and freshman Isaak Russo at 24:00.

Although the regional meet marked the end of the season for five of the six boys, it was a successful year filled with individual growth and accomplishments.

Richmond put together an outstanding season, earning All-Conference honors and recording a personal-best time of 16:21, which places him second all-time in Portland Raiders history.

Espinoza showed tremendous improvement throughout the season, dropping his time by 2 minutes and 31 seconds from the beginning of the year and recording a personal best of 19:11.

Feldpausch battled injuries throughout the season, limiting him to just three races. Despite those challenges, he continued to work hard and improved by 6 minutes and 32 seconds from the beginning of the season, finishing with his season-best performance at regionals.

Huffine also continued to make strides, improving by 2 minutes and 24 seconds from the start of the season and recording a season-best time of 22:19.

Freshman Russo showed tremendous determination throughout his first season. He improved by 7 minutes and 17 seconds from his first race and recorded a personal best of 19:54 last month. His hard work and progress throughout the season provide plenty of excitement for the years ahead.

Lady Raiders Finish Their Season with Pride

The Lady Raiders were up next, bringing their season to a close with the same determination and fight they displayed throughout the year. The regional meet also marked the end of the high school cross country careers for two seniors who have given so much to the Portland program.

Senior Paige Weber led the Lady Raiders, finishing 35th overall with a time of 20:53. Paige has been a staple of the program since joining the team as a sophomore. Throughout her career, she has put together multiple All-Conference seasons and continued to improve, finishing her senior year with an impressive 2-minute-and-46-second improvement from the beginning of the season.

Junior Georgia Stahl crossed the finish line in 23:12. From the beginning of the season to her personal-best time of 22:49 earlier this year, Georgia improved by nearly a minute, continuing to show her growth and dedication.

Sophomore Addison Cody finished the regional race in 24:33. Her personal-best time of 24:28 represented a tremendous 5-minute-and-43-second improvement from the beginning of the season.

Freshman Brylee Sherwood finished in 26:55 at regionals, with a season-best time of 26:30. She made great strides during her first season, improving by 4 minutes and 29 seconds from her opening race.

Senior Madelyn Collins, competing in her first season of cross country, crossed the line in 28:35, just one second off her personal best. She also improved by 1 minute and 25 seconds from the beginning of the season. Taking on a new sport as a senior and putting in the work throughout the year is something to be proud of.

Rounding out the Lady Raiders was four-year runner and senior Peyton Rockey, who gave everything she had day in and day out throughout her middle school and high school years. Peyton finished her career at regionals with a time of 31:05. She improved by 1 minute and 34 seconds this season alone and an overall improvement of 7 minutes and 43 seconds since her first season.

A Season Worth Celebrating

As the season comes to a close for the majority of the Raiders, there is plenty to celebrate. From All-Conference honors and school-record performances to personal records and incredible improvements, these athletes have represented Portland with determination, sportsmanship, and pride.

A special thank-you goes out to seniors Paige Weber, Madelyn Collins, and Peyton Rockey for everything they have contributed to the Portland Cross Country program. Your dedication, leadership, and commitment have helped make this season and the years leading up to it special. You will certainly be missed!

And the season isn't quite over yet! Congratulations to sophomore Aaron Martinson on qualifying for the MHSAA State Finals. The entire Portland community will be cheering you on as you represent the Raiders at Michigan International Speedway next Saturday!

Go Raiders!