The Hopkins boys’ and girls’ cross-country teams again took second in the second O-K Silver Conference jamboree of the season Wednesday at the South Christian athletic fields.
This time the Viking guys had to fight a little harder to hang on to the runner-up slot, as they finished just one team point ahead of Belding, 76 to 77. They were six points up on Belding in the first league competition earlier this month.
As usual, Grandville Calvin Christian ran away with first place with 27 points, featuring the first two individual places, both breaking the 17-minute barrier
But Hopkins sophomore Todd Henley and junior teammate Dan Rausch took third and fourth, respectively, and their performances were sorely needed. Henley crossed the finish line in 17:09.18 and Rausch in 17:19.37.
Sophomore Zach Nutter led the supporting cast by taking 18th in 18:53.05, junior Jake Pastoor was 26th in 19:34.12 and Joe Ludlam rounded the scoring in 45th place.
The Lady Vikings also wound up one point better than third-place Belding with 54 points to 55. Calvin Christian took all the marbles with just 24 points.
Jasmine Fisher was third individually with a time of 20:04.81, Laura Velderman sixth in 20:26.73, The continually recovering Emma Helder 16th in 21:24.58, and sophomores Gracie DeZeeuw in 18th and Alyssa Bielby 25th.
Calvin Christian’s Sheila Witvliet was the only female runner to break 20 minutes for the day.
