“Sure, you’re good, but can you run with the big dogs?”

This modification of NASCAR could be used to describe the Portage Invitational, and Saturday Hopkins freshman cross-country runner Laura Velderman answered, “Yes.”

Velderman, who has burst on the scene this season with medalist honors at the Delton Invitational and an O-K Silver Conference jamboree, captured ninth place in the Division 3 girls’ race that included 40 schools.

This is no mean feat. The Portage Invitational is widely regarded as the “Pre-State Meet,” and Velderman’s 19:16 time for the 5,000-meter race broke the school record for freshmen. She shattered Megan Teft’s record of 19:33.2 set in 2013.

The Vikings as a team showed they are competitive, taking 11^th place with 393 points. Lansing Catholic won with 130, Shepherd was second with 155 and O-K Silver rival Grandville Calvin Christian was fourth with 190.

The Hopkins boys’ team wasn’t as successful, placing 27^th among the 43 teams with 721 points. Lansing Catholic also won that race with 138 points, Hanover-Horton had 147 and Calvin Christian was sixth with 233.

Senior Sarah Kettel of Capital Homeschool was the girls’ individual medalist at 17:26. There were four freshmen, Adelyn Ackley of Hart (17:49), Amber Gall of Shepherd (18:18), Lauren Cleary of Lansing Catholic (18:49) and Lainey Veenkant of Clare (18:58) who finished ahead of Velderman.

Interestingly, the second best performance for the Viking girls was turned in by another freshman, Jasmine Fisher, who finished 55^th in 20:34. Megan Heft was 102^nd with a time of 21:26, Madison Snoeyink 105^th in 21:28 and Taryn Kilbane 130^th in 21:59.

In all, there were 286 girls competing.

Sophomore Ethan Nagel led the Hopkins boys again, taking 75^th place in 17:38. Freshman Dan Rousch was 78^th in 17:40, James Wubben checked in at 18:46 for 175^th place, Michael Heppe at 19:23 in 213^th place and Nick Belka in 218^th at 19:26.

PHOTO: Laura Velderman (in blue Hopkins uniform) takes her place on the stand with her medal with other top runners at the Portage Invitational. (Photo supplied)