The Wayland girls’ cross-country team finished fourth in the rugged O-K Gold Conference meet Tuesday afternoon at Riverside Park on the north end of Grand Rapids.
The Lady Wildcats scored 97 points, finishing behind three state-ranked squads, East Grand Rapids with 24, Grand Rapids Christian with 63 and Forest Hills Eastern with 84. The boys’ team was sixth with 176 points. East Grand Rapids won that race as well, with 30 points.
Wayland’s fastest two harriers all season long, sophomore Rylee Cronkright and senior Maggie Whitney, finished fourth and fifth individually in the race, respectively. Cronkright ran a career-best 19:34.97 in the 5,000-meter race and Whitney had a season best 19:44.15. Cronkright was named to the all-conference team and Whitney was an honorable mention selection.
Sophomore Margaret Coney of East Grand Rapids recorded a medalist time of 19:14.85 and the Pioneers captured the first three slots.
Sophomore foreign exchange student Mie Tornbjerg checked in 22nd in 20:44.13, freshman Naomi Oosterhouse placed 30th and junior Zoe Antel finished 34th.
The Wildcats girls ended up tied for fourth place in South Christian in the final O-K Gold Conference standings.
Senior Captain Ethan Killips paced the Wildcats boys by finishing 29th in 19:14.37. Fellow senior Gabe Attruia ran perhaps his best race ever, taking 31st in 19:18.92, sophomore Jacob Jelsema was 33rd in 19:34.87, freshman Andrew VanBaal was 41st and junior Jarod Geerligs 42nd.
South Christian’s Micah VanderKooi was league medalist in 16:17.03.
The Wildcats harriers will compete in the Allegan County meet Friday.
