The quality of runners who compete at the state high school cross-country finals continue to get better every year, it seems.
Despite turning in fine performances, Wayland’s Mason Fein and Abree VanDenBrink found themselves back of the pack Saturday at the meet near Brooklyn, Mich. The same was true for Jack Estelle and Kash Moored of Hopkins.
Abree VanDenBrink found out that breaking 20 minutes for a 5K was a major milestone in a runner’s career, but now so many girls are meeting that challenge.
VanDenBrink completed the course at Michigan International Speedway in a more than respectable 19:30.5, but she had to settle for 61st place.
Estelle turned in a decent 16:33.1 on the course, but found himself to be the 75th individual to cross the finish line. Moored, only a sophomore, was only 10 seconds behind him at 16:43.8, but in 100th place.
Mason Fein, a junior, finished in only one second more than 17 minutes and was 150th in the race.
