After stumbling just a bi
t last week in the last jamboree, the Hopkins girls’ and boys’ cross-country team Wednesday afternoon took back what they had along — second place in the O-K Silver Conference.
And super sophomore Laura Velderman repeated as individual league champion. Two of her teammates, sophomores Jasmine Fisher and Emma Helder, also made the top 10.
The Hopkins girls accumulated 44 points, 15 behind champion Calvin Christian. The Viking guys scored 60 behind Calvin’s 24, eight ahead of Belding, which somehow the week before squeaked past them in a jamboree.
Velderman came out of almost nowhere a year ago to win top individual honors, but this year she’s had a target on her back, with a whole of competitors out to dethrone her. She ran the 5,000-meter course at Gainey Field in 20:04.41, about four and a half seconds faster than junior Kayce Rypma of the Squires, who came even closer a week ago.
Fisher established herself as a force to be reckoned with, moving into third place at 20:22.76, almost 19 seconds quicker than Calvin’s No. 2 runner.
Helder took 10th place in 21:10.55 and Viking senior Madison Snoeyink finished 11th in her last O-K Silver race. Sophomore Hannah Crouch finished the scoring in 23rd place.
Sophomore Dan Rausch paced the Viking boys, as he has all season long, by finishing fourth in 17:36.15. junior Ethan Nagel grabbed seventh in 17:57.74 and freshman sensation Todd Henley was 10th in 18:25.2. So just like the Lady Vikings, the boys took three of the top 10 places.
Freshman Zach Nutter rose to the occasion by taking 17th in 19:27.07 and senior Nick Belka completed the scoring in 31st at 20:32.59.
The Viking boys and girls will join Wayland and six other squads for the Allegan County meet Friday at the Martin Motor Speedway.
PHOTO: (From left) Emma Helder, Laura Velderman and Jasmine Fisher.