Hilliard Davidson's Girls Take Down Holland West Ottawa, Ann Arbor At MSU Spartan Invite
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A win over two nationally-ranked teams? That's always certain to make some noise.
And that's exactly what the Hilliard Davidson girls did on Saturday at the MSU Spartan Invitational on the Forest Akers East Golf Course, forming a 75-second spread en route to a 19:17 average and an 81 point outing, taking down No. 13 Ann Arbor Pioneer and No. 15 Holland West Ottawa.
While Ann Arbor Pioneer wasn't running at full strength -- they were without No. 1 Rachel Forsyth and No. 2 Emily Cooper -- Holland West Ottawa gave the Ohio squad all it could handle.
Both of the team's top runners, sophomore Helen Sachs and senior Arianne Olson, drew out the pack and went 1-2 in the overall race, clocking brilliant times of 17:15.76 and 17:49.94, respectively.
But depth was of issue. Hilliard Davidson was impressive behind senior Caitlyn Jones' fifth-place finish in 18:41.60, while the team's next three runners went 10-14-and-17, before its final member rounded out the scoring in 35th.
And in winning the elite invitational, the Hilliard Davidson girls perhaps made a statement coming home to Ohio, where they most likely will contend in Division I for a title in 2022.
East Grand Rapids was third in 154, while Brighton was fourth in 190 and Ann Arbor Pioneer was fifth in 200.
TEAM SCORES
PLACE TEAM POINTS SCORERS TIMES
1 Hil. Davidson 81 5+10+14+17+35 (52+66) 1:15 1-5 Split | 19:17 Avg
2 Holland West Ottawa 95 1+2+20+34+38 (94+106) 2:54 1-5 Split | 18:57 Avg
3 East Grand Rapids 154 3+26+27+28+70 (98+101) 2:24 1-5 Split | 19:47 Avg
4 Brighton 190 21+29+39+47+54 (58+64) 1:04 1-5 Split | 20:08 Avg
5 Ann Arbor Pioneer 200 13+37+43+48+59 (82+84) 1:32 1-5 Split | 20:11 Avg
Ackley Takes Boys Championship
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No surprises here.
Returning senior Connor Ackley, who opened his season with two wins and earned six more in 2021, won his best race to date on Saturday, clocking a winning time of 14:56.96. Perhaps more impressive, he racked up a 196 speed rating.
Withstanding a valiant effort from Grand Haven junior Seth Norder, who was second in 14:58.71, Ackley's precision down the stretch earned the win. Chelsea's Connell Alford was third in 15:06.75. Both Norder and Alford were over 190s, earning marks of 195 and 193.
Northville's boys, among Michigan's top teams, won the meet with 104 points behind a 16:22 average, while Ackley's Hilliard Davidson squad was second with 133 points.
TEAM SCORES
PLACE TEAM POINTS SCORERS TIMES
1 Northville 104 5+14+17+31+37 (46+51) 1:17 1-5 Split | 16:22 Avg
2 Hil. Davidson 133 1+10+30+44+48 (49+73) 2:10 1-5 Split | 16:24 Avg
3 Chelsea 153 3+19+26+42+63 (65+122) 2:14 1-5 Split | 16:30 Avg
4 Grand Haven 154 2+7+36+38+71 (75+86) 2:30 1-5 Split | 16:23 Avg
5 Brighton 163 11+12+27+53+60 (77+84) 1:07 1-5 Split | 16:43 Avg
The Scoop:
Page 1: Highlights from the increasingly elite Southern Showcase
Page 2: North Allegheny's girls shake off loss and follow with Boardman Invitational win
Page 3: Hilliard Davidson's girls make huge statement at MSU Spartan Invitational
Page 5: Olympic pedigree gets reps at St. Vrain Invitational
Page 6: Sanchez, Frankenberg earn individual wins at Lovejoy
Page 7: Cade Miracle, Ciara O'Shea Earn Trinity/Valkyrie Wins