(Chelsea Update would like to thank Pat Clarke for the information in this story. A thank you to the Chelsea Athletic Department for the schedule graphic and please note that the dates in the schedule are subject to change.)
Chelsea girls cross country coach Pat Clarke returns for his 48th year of coaching cross country in Chelsea by greeting a veteran and talented group of 29 runners.
“We lost our top two runners from last year’s team,” said Clarke when describing this year’s prospects. “We lost two fine senior runners due to graduation.”
He said, “One was all-state and one was all-region. Usually that is a tough chore to fill the following year. Last year’s team was Regional Champions and 8th in the state.”
He thinks the team could be as good or better this year than last year, but how much better is the question?
“Right now we are working hard to become better runners and we are bonding well as a team,” he said.
Leading the experienced group of returnees are senior captains; Natalie Gofton, Allison Hause, Allison Hughes, and Jacqueline Taylor.
Gofton is a four-year veteran runner who was All-League last year. Hause is the leading distance runner from the track team having recorded a 5:18 mile. She was also All-League in cross country last year. Hughes was All-League and All-Region last year and has recorded a 19:41 5K.
Finally, Taylor is a 4th year varsity runner with plenty of racing experience to give to the team.
“These veteran women should provide us with some excellent leadership on the team,” Clarke said.
Other seniors to be counted on are; Sydney Barnes, Caitlin Dusenbury, Katherine Eckland, Gretchen Kuras, Alayna Seaberg, and Emily Strzyzewski.
The junior class has a very talented group of veterans in Ella Ashe, Mallery Bee, Emily Chizek, Thea Higgins, Morgan Kurth, Lillian Maynard, Miranda Montoye, Kelsey Weinreich, and Kayla Sweeny.
Kurth is a former All-League runner who is coming off an injury year. Chizek is another outstanding track runner who should be a major contributor to this year’s team, the coach said.
Montoye is an All-State track runner who is going to be heard from before the season is over, Clarke said.
The sophomore class shows potential, too. They are: Natalie Davies, Haley Holm, Sarah Kennings, Andrea Kowalski, and Riley Thorburn. Kowalski is a returning All-Region and All-League runner from last year. Thorburn is an All-State track runner who has been running up front in the early season workouts.
Davies has put in a good summer of running and has also been running up front so far.
“This group of veteran sophomores will also lend a great amount of experience to the team,” the coach said.
This is a hard-working bunch, who will improve drastically as the season progresses and make serious contributions to the team before the season concludes,” Clarke said.
In addition, there is a good group of freshmen whose attitude is great, Clarke said.
The freshman are: Shawna Chester, Amanda Dosey, Kate Gaiser, Cedar Hughes, and Maya King.
Gaiser has been working hard and is running with the varsity runners in the early season.
This year the SEC White Division includes Adrian, Dexter, Lincoln, Tecumseh, Pinckney, Ypsilanti, and newcomer Jackson.
Pinckney will be a heavy favorite to win, the coach said. The Pirates were 11th in the state in Division 1 and return their entire squad. Always talented Dexter will again be very strong. They return 7 of their top 9 runners and they have an outstanding group of middle school runners coming up this year.
Adrian will field a solid team as well. They return one of the top runners in the state in Maggie Raab.
Tecumseh will field a strong team. They lost their top runner, but they return everyone else.
Lincoln is rebuilding this year, but they should field a competitive team. They return one all-league runner. Ypsilanti is again fielding a team. It will be good to have them back competing.
Jackson is new to the League this year. They have had a competitive team for a number of years and the coach expects they will be heard from as well.
This year, Clarke said, Chelsea will go to the regional at Lake Erie Metropark, and, there will be at least 5 of the top 30 teams in the state there.
The Chelsea girls are eager to prove themselves this season, Clarke said.
