Martin freshman cross country sensation Veyda Conley didn’t break 20 minutes again, but she did capture the runner-up slot in the Wayland Invitational Tuesday afternoon,
Conley, who has run the five-kilometer race in an amazing 19:42, this time was hampered by a much tougher course and horribly wet and cold conditions. She still managed to finish in 21:16.23 behind Hastings freshman Caroline Randall and more than a minute faster than the third-place finisher.
Unfortunately for Conley, her team sports only four runners, so the Clippers did not have an official team score. Wayland has precisely the same problem, their senior ace Elliot Antel took fifth in 22:46.41 and Martin junior Emily King captured 11th place.
Hamilton won the girls’ team competition with 27 points and Hastings was second.
Wayland came in third in the boys’ race, behind Hamilton and Hastings, with 63 points.
Junior Dylan Pallett checked in second individually with a time of 17:13.93 and Isaac Dyer was fourth in 17:42.84.
Sophomore Ethan Manning was 15th in 18:59.28. freshman Mason Fein was 22nd in 19:57.97 and Jude VanderWeide in 21:03.01. The Wildcats were without No. 3 runner, freshman Xander Stepek, who was taking part in the Michigan High School Band and Orchestra Association district festival.
Alex Morin led Martin with a 26th place finish in 20:50.10.