Thursday, November 04, 2004By Jeff Chaney
The Grand Rapids Press
SPARTA -- The Sparta boys and girls cross country teams are familiar with running the first week of November.
That's state finals week in the high school cross country season.
The boys team qualified for the seventh time in the past nine years with its third-place finish at the Division 2 regional at Carson City on Saturday.
The boys team scored 87 points, 34 points behind champion Fremont and just four points behind runner-up Forest Hills Northern.
The girls team has now made it to the state finals for five of the past six years thanks to its third place finish Saturday. The girls team scored 119 points, 49 points behind champion Forest Hills Northern and 19 points behind runner-up Spring Lake.
The two teams now run for team state titles Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The girls race is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m., while the boys race will begin at 2:30.
Sparta boys coach Ted Smith has high expectations for the state finals Saturday.
"We are shooting for a top eight finish at state, and I think that's realistic," Smith said. "Forest Hills Northern has been ranked high all year, and we were only four points behind them. Plus, two years ago we were eighth at state and this team wants to better that."
The boys team will need some more strong performances Saturday like it got at Carson City.
Junior Eric Stouten led the team by finishing in 11th with a time of 17 minutes, 12 seconds. He was followed by sophomore Adam Yost (16th, 17:26), junior Aidan Fairman (19th, 17:43), senior Zach Kurek (20th, 17:44) and sophomore Brad Dauber (21st, 17:44).
Sparta girls coach Adam Pfeffer is also looking for a strong run at the state finals.
"We want to be in the top 15," Pfeffer said. "I came to regionals and just wanted to get out, because I have the girls for one more week of practice. The state finals are so much fun, and I would like the girls to get into the top 15, that would be a good day."
The girls team was led in Carson City by sophomore Ashley Bowen, who was seventh with a time of 20:14. She was followed by teammates: sophomore Katie Yahrmarkt (19th, 21:12), sophomore Rebecca May (25th, 21:44), sophomore Chelsea Miller (28th, 22:02) and freshman Dana DeBoer (48th, 22:53).
"Everybody had a great finish (Saturday)," Pfeffer said. "That's what we'll need at the state finals.