Allendale wins title, 32 Grand Rapids runners earn all-state at cross country finals

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – More than 2,000 runners wrapped up their high school cross country seasons Saturday at Michigan International Speedway for the 2024 state meet.

Cool and dry weather created ideal conditions, and 32 Grand Rapids area runners capitalized by claiming all-state honors, which are awarded to the top 30 finishers in each race.

Among the highlights were Jenison senior Seth Conner winning an individual title in Division 1 and the Allendale boys capturing a team championship in Division 2.

Conner, a Grand Valley State commit, ran a season-best time of 14:54.5, which was the 11th fastest finish in the 29-year history of the state finals at MIS.

Allendale earned its second state title in program history and first since 1999 thanks to all-state finishes from each of its top-five runners, led by sophomore Mason Hill, who placed ninth with a time of 15:24.0.

Grand Rapids-area teams dominated the Division 2 boys standings, with 2023 champ Forest Hills Eastern, East Grand Rapids and GR Christian finishing second, third and fourth behind Allendale.

Eastern senior Henry Dixon was the area's top individual finisher in Division 2 with a third-place time of 15:04.2, while EGR junior Jonah Workman led the Pioneers with a personal-best time of 15:17.1, which was good for fifth place. GR Christian senior Simon Triezenberg paced the Eagles with a time of 15:44.2, which put him at 24th in the Division 2 race.

On the girls side, Zeeland East had the top team finish among local schools, with the Chix placing second in Division 2 behind Goodrich. Freshman Adalyn Raab led the Chix with an 11th-place time of 18:23.2.

Holland Christian was third in Division 2, led by freshman Avery Enbger's personal-best time of 18:10.3, which was fourth individually.

GR Christian took fourth in Division 2, with junior Lilah Poel's 24th-place time of 18:42.4 pacing the Eagles.

In Division 1, West Ottawa placed third as a team thanks to all-state finishes from seniors Helen Sachs, who was second with a time of 17:01.7, and Emma Gunnett, who was 23rd with a personal-best time of 18:13.1.

Girls all-state finishersHelen Sachs, West Ottawa

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 2nd

Time: 17:01.07

Daisy Cox, Rockford

Year: Sophomore

Division: 1

Place: 7th

Time: 17:41.3

Emma Gunnett, West Ottawa

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 23rd

Time: 18:13.1

Avery Engbers, Holland Christian

Year: Freshman

Division: 2

Place: 4th

Time: 18:10.3

Adalyn Raab, Zeeland East

Year: Freshman

Division: 2

Place: 11th

Time: 18:23.2

Marie Gates, Unity Christian

Year: Junior

Division: 2

Place: 14th

Time: 18:24.5

Mia May, Sparta

Year: Sophomore

Division: 2

Place: 15th

Time: 18:26.2

Adeline Armstrong, East Grand Rapids

Year: Sophomore

Division: 2

Place: 17th

Time: 18:31.6

Lilah Poel, GR Christian

Year: Junior

Division: 2

Place: 24th

Time: 18:42.4

Ava Crews, Thornapple Kellogg

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 26th

Time: 18:44.5

Shelby Kuiper, GR Covenant Christian

Year: Sophomore

Division: 3

Place: 13th

Time: 18:39.0

Boys all-state finishersSeth Conner, Jenison

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 1st

Time: 14:54.5

Carter Livermore, Grandville

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 4th

Time: 15:14.5

Noah Schuette, Rockford

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 17th

Time: 15:38.5

Isaac Tanis, East Kentwood

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 22nd

Time: 15:40.7

Justin Johnson, East Kentwood

Year: Sophomore

Division: 1

Place: 24th

Time: 15:41.7

Kort Thompson, Caledonia

Year: Senior

Division: 1

Place: 29th

Time: 15:47.0

Henry Dixon, Forest Hills Eastern

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 3rd

Time: 15:04.2

Jonah Workman, East Grand Rapids

Year: Junior

Division: 2

Place: 5th

Time: 15:17.1

Jeb Hillary, GR Catholic Central

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 7th

Time: 15:22.4

Mason Hill, Allendale

Year: Sophomore

Division: 2

Place: 9th

Time: 15:24.0

Killian Whalen, Allendale

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 13th

Time: 15:28.8

Ronnie Silveira, Allendale

Year: Junior

Division: 2

Place: 15th

Time: 15:31.1

Abatu Dykstra, Hamilton

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 16th

Time: 15:35.6

Steven Zawacki, Forest Hills Eastern

Year: Sophomore

Division: 2

Place: 18th

Time: 15:39.2

Will Engbers, Holland Christian

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 23rd

Time: 15:43.2

Simon Triezenberg, GR Christian

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 24th

Time: 15:44.2

Ben Gross, Allendale

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 27th

Time: 15:47.1

Parker Tiethof, Allendale

Year: Senior

Division: 2

Place: 29th

Time: 15:48.3

Levi Kamps, Covenant Christian

Year: Senior

Division: 3

Place: 16th

Time: 15:56.9

Tyler Laansma, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian

Year: Senior

Division: 4

Place: 22nd

Time: 16:37.7

Lincoln Laansma, Wyoming Tri-unity Christian

Year: Freshman

Division: 4

Place: 27th

Time: 16:40.1