The Dexter boys’ cross country team entered Saturday’s race in Howell projected to land around 96 points which would have landed the Dreadnaughts in fifth place. Dexter had other plans, outrunning the 96 to finish with 82 points and an impressive second-place finish at the Highlander Invitational.
White Lake Lakeland ran away with the title, finishing first with 58 points.
Dexter had two runners in the top five and three in the top 12 to finish in second place in the nine-team event. Grosse Pointe South was third (86), Kalamazoo Central took fourth (95), Jackson ran fifth (123) and Bedford was sixth (158).
“The boys ran well and came away with a second place trophy in our first big race of the year,” said Dexter Coach Nathan Lamb. “Five of our seven runners set season records or personal records and we are definitely trending in the right direction. We’re excited to be starting championship season with the SEC meet this weekend.”
Dexter hosts the SEC meet at Hudson Mills on Saturday.
Conor Kolka led the Dreads with a second-place overall finish and new PR breaking 16 minutes for the first time. The senior clocked in a 15:57. Grosse Pointe North’s Preston Navarre took first in 15:47.
Dexter senior Nathan Gariepy was fifth in 16:31 and senior Sam Melvin ran 12th in 17:04.
Other top Dexter finishers included Josh Lamb (31st, 17:40), Owen Ackerman (32nd 17:41), Zachary Sawin (34th, 17:45) and Adam Hauser (37th, 17:50).
