MICHIGAN STATE MEET

Natasza Dudek Shatters All-Time Michigan State Meet Record With 16:09.5

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

Ann Arbor Pioneer sophomore Natasza Dudek shattered the all-time state meet record at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula State Cross Country Finals, held under cool skies at Michigan International Speedway, when she ran 16:09.5.

That time was nearly 20 seconds faster than the previous best and it helped her team win its seventh state title, edging Romeo 96–103. Dudek, the younger sister of Zofia, the 2019 Division 1 champion and a Foot Locker national champion, bettered the mind-blowing time of another Ann Arbor Pioneer star, Rachel Forsyth, who ran 16:28.5.

Dudek's time is the fastest 5,000-meter performance in the country this fall.

Runner-up was Rachel Smith of Okemos ran 17:04.7. 

Ann Arbor Pioneer’s swept the Division 1 individual titles.

On the boys side, Pioneer’s Kamari Ronfeldt outkicked Northville’s Brandon Cloud to win in 14:50.6, the fifth-fastest time ever run at MIS.

Northville earned its fourth straight D1 team championship, 125–134 over Pioneer.

Emma Hoffman (Otsego) ran an impressive time of 16:50.1 to take the Division 2 girls title, while Holland Christian claimed the team championship with 116 points. 

Robert Jazwinski III (Whitehall) captured the boys title in 15:07, leading Flint Powers Catholic to the team win (98 pts).

Charlevoix’s Hunter Eaton surged late to win the boys race in 15:30.8, helping his team secure the team trophy with 131 points. Samantha Schroeder of Jackson Lumen Christi won the girls race in 18:07, and Lansing Catholic repeated as champion by 69 points.

In Division 4 girls action, Kaylie Livingston of Whitmore Lake defended her title in 18:30.7, guiding her team to a state three-peat.

In the boys race, Marek Butkiewicz of Kalamazoo Hackett Catholic ran 15:27.0 to earn his first state crown, with Holland Calvary Christian capturing its first team championship (110 pts).

Team Champions

Lower Peninsula - November 1

Division 1: Northview boys 125 points; Ann Arbor girls 96 points - RESULTS

Division 2: Flint Powers Catholic boys 98 points;Holland Christian girls 116 points - RESULTS

Division 3: Charlevoix boys 131 points; Lansing Catholic girls 69 points - RESULTS

Division 4: Holland Calvary Christian boys 110 points; Whitmore Lake girls 140 points - RESULTS

Upper Peninsula - October 18

Division 1: Marquette boys 34 points; Marquette girls 39 points - RESULTS

Division 2: Painesdale Jeffers boys 23 points; Rodyard girls 28 points - RESULTS 

Division 3: Crystal Fall Forest Park boys 58 points; L’Anse girls 51 points - RESULTS