Laura Velderman is the individual regional champion and the Hopkins cross-country team is going back to the Division 3 state meet next Saturday at Michigan International Speedway near Brooklyn.

Velderman, a freshman who also was O-K Silver Conference individual champion earlier this month, was clocked at about 19:13, two seconds slower than her previous best time. A solid reason for not eclipsing her best was the sloppy wet conditions of the course in Allendale. She edged Lauren Freeland of Kent City by a little more than three-tenths of a second.

In order to qualify for the state meet as a team, Hopkins had to finish among the top three of the 15 teams competing. The Vikings did so two years ago and three years ago.

The 2013 campaign was the best in school history, as the Vikings upended perennial power Calvin Christian for the O-K Silver title, they won the regional crown and finished fourth in the state meet. They were led by Rachael Weber, who ran an 18:55 at MIS and by a couple of freshmen, Megan Teft and Taryn Kilbane, who are on this year’s squad.

Hopkins won its first-ever regional championship in cross country in 2012 and was 21st in the state meet that year.

The Vikings scored 111 points. Calvin Christian was regional team champ with 53 points and Holland Black River had 98.

Rounding out Hopkins’ scoring were freshman Jasmine Fisher 22nd in 20:59 and junior Megan Teft was less than a second slower in 23rd. Junior Madison Snoeyink took 26th in 21:07.89 and junior Taryn Kilbane was 39th in 21:44.16.

It was a tough day for Viking sophomore Ethan Nagel. He finished 16th, just one spot away from qualifying for state, with 17:17.66.

The Hopkins boys finished 10th among the 15 teams with 275 points. Holland Black River won with 56 points. Freshman Dan Rausch was 52nd in 18:28.54; sophomore James Wubben 66th in 19:06.25; freshman Jake Pastoor 73rd in 19:36.73 and freshman Joe Ludlam 74th in 19:41.46.

PHOTOS: The Hopkins girls’ varsity cross-country team on the podium at regionals.

Laura Velderman

(Photos courtesy Renee Velderman)