2009 Sparta Cross Country News
11/07 -- State Final at M.I.S. Girls: Seniors Katelyn Cnossen (20:07) and Andrea Kober (20:29) led the Spartans to a 16th place finish at the State Finals at Michigan International Speedway. Adding to the great team effort were Alesha Reed (21:31), Kelsey Thome (21:34), Rachel Thome (21:38), Alyson Ramirez (22:06) and Karley Cnossen (22:09). 10/31 -- Regional at Benzie Central Boys: The boys placed fourth in the Regional competition. Brandon George was the first Spartan across the finish line at 17:02. He was followed by A.J. Christafferson, Jake Gilman, Jake VerSluys, Adam Birkland, Jonathan Delodder and Nick Hosmer. Girls: The girls placed third and earned a spot at the State Finals next Saturday. Earning medals were Katelyn Cnossen with a sixth place finish in 20:03 and Andrea Kober in twelfth place at 20:20. They were followed by Kelsey Thome, Rachel Thome, Karley Cnossen, Alyson Ramirez and Alesha Reed. 10/21 -- OK Blue Conference Meet Boys: The boys placed 4th in the meet and finished the league competition in 3rd place overall. Both Sparta boys and girls were without many of their runners because of the flu outbreak. A.J. Christafferson led the team with his 11th place finish in a time of 17:10. He was followed by Jake VerSluys, Brandon George, Todd Carlisle, Brandon Schnabel, Nick Hosmer and James Rogers. Girls: The girls were also hit hard by the flu and placed 3rd in the meet and 3rd overall for the season. Katelyn Cnossen continued to lead her team with a season best 19:36 and 3rd place finish. Andrea Kober ran 20:10 and was 8th. They were followed by Kelsey Thome, Natalie Klenk, Casey Wright, Kaitlyn Balderas and Paige Urlaub. 10/10 -- Allegan Tiger Jamboree at Allegan Boys: The Spartans placed 2nd in the meet. In the race for team runners 1 through 3, Brandon George was 4th, Jake Gilman 10th and A.J. Christafferson was 15th. In the race for team runners 4 through 7, Adam Birkleland was 3rd, Jake VerSluys was 5th, Nick Hosmer was 6th and Jonathan Delodder was 7th. In the JV race, Brandon Schnabel placed 7th. Girls: Katelyn Cnossen led the team to a first place finish at the meet. In the race for team runners 1 through 3, Cnossen was 6th, Andrea Kober was 8th and Alesha Reed was 11th. In the race for runners 4 through 7, Sparta had the first 4 runners across the finish line -- Kelsey Thome, Karley Cnossen, Rachel Thome and Alyson Ramirez. Casey Wright placed 1st in the JV race with a time of 21:57. 10/07 -- Sparta vs. Belding and Cedar Springs at Riverside Park Boys: The boys had an excellent team effort in defeating both Belding and Cedar Springs. Jake Gilman led the Spartans with a personal best time of 16:59. He was followed by Brandon George, A.J. Christafferson, Jake VerSluys, Adam Birkeland, Colton Cnossen and Jonathan Delodder. Girls: The girls had many great performances, winning the dual with Belding but coming up short to Cedar Springs. Katelyn Cnossen ran a season best 19:44. Also placing in the top seven for the Spartans were Alesha Reed, Andrea Kober, Kelsey Thome, Rachel Thome, Karley Cnossen and Alyson Ramirez. 10/03 -- Bulldog Invitational at Otsego Boys: The boys placed 4th at the Bulldog Invitational led by Brandon George's 9th place finish and time of 16:59. George was followed by Jake Gilman (17:09), A.J. Christafferson (17:34), Adam Birkeland (17:55), Jake VerSluys (18:13), Jonathan Delodder (18:30) and Colton Cnossen (19:58). In the jv race, Nick Hosmer placed 7th with a time of 18:49 and Brandon Schnabel was 10th in 19:00. Girls: The girls placed 3rd behind Katelyn Cnossen's 10th place finish in 20:12. Following Cnossen were Rachel Thome (20:27), Andrea Kober (20:35), Kelsey Thome (20:45), Karley Cnossen (20:55), Alyson Ramirez (21:45) and Kaitlyn Balderas (22:00). Casey Wright placed first in the jv race with a time of 21:42. Also placing in the top ten were Natalie Klenk (22:12), Emily Frederick (22:48) and Claire Gill (22:54). 09/23 -- Sparta vs. Coopersville and Comstock Park at Cedar Springs Boys: The boys won the double dual, defeating Coopersville 15-46 and Comstock Park 18-43. A.J. Christafferson placed first with a time of 17:25. He was followed by teammates Jake Gilman, Brandon George, Jake VerSluys, Adam Birkeland, Colton Cnossen and Jonathan Delodder. Girls: The girls won the meet over Coopersville 20-39 and defeated Comstock Park 17-44. Katelyn Cnossen ran a time of 20:34 to lead the Spartans, and was followed by Andrea Kober, Alesha Reed, Kelsey Thome, Rachel Thome, Alyson Ramirez and Casey Wright. 09/19 -- Sparta Invitational Boys: The boys placed 4th in the meet with A.J. Christafferson leading the way with a 13th place finish in 17:11. He was followed by Jake Gilman, Adam Birkeland, Jake VerSluys, Colton Cnossen, Jonathan Delodder and Eddie Mazurkiewicz. Girls: The girls placed 2nd behind Cedar Springs. Katelyn Cnossen led the Spartans in 9th place at 19:52, followed by Andrea Kober, Alesha Reed, Kelsey Thome, Rachel Thome, Kaitlyn Balderas and Natalie Klenk. 09/12 -- Hornet Run at Central Montcalm (Grade level races, no team scores) Boys: In the race for 12th grade boys, Eddie Mazurkiewicz was Sparta's first runner with 19:41 and 17th place. Jake Gilman won the 11th grade race with a time of 17:38, A.J. Christafferson was third in 17:58 and Jake VerSluys was sixth in 18:42. Brandon George placed second in the 10th grade race in 17:52 and Adam Birkeland was fifth in 18:35. Jonathan Delodder was eighth in the 9th grade race in 19:19. Girls: Katelyn Cnossen was third in the 12th grade race in 21:20 and Andrea Kober was fifth in 21:44. Kaitlyn Balderas placed eighth with 22:22 for 11th grade girls and Natalie Klenk was tenth in 22:36. Kelsey Thome was fourth for 10th grade girls with a time of 21:26. The freshmen girls showed strength in the 9th grade race with the following places and times: 3 - Rachel Thome 21:45; 4 - Alesha Reed 22:04; 7 - Alyson Ramirez 22:23; 8 - Karley Cnossen 22:25; and 9 - Casey Wright 22:29. 09/09 -- Sparta vs. Forest Hills Northern, West Catholic and GR Central at Lightning Bend Park in Belding Boys: In a triple dual OK Blue meet, the Spartans defeated GR Central and lost to Forest Hills Northern and West Catholic. Jake Gilman led the Spartans with a time of 17:18. Completing the top seven runners were A.J. Christafferson, Jake VerSluys, Brandon George, Colton Cnossen, Adam Birkeland and Eddie Mazurkiewicz. Girls: Katelyn Cnossen ran a time of 20:29 to lead the girls to wins over Grand Rapids Central and Forest Hills Northern. The girls lost the contest to West Catholic. Kelsey Thome, Allison Scheidel, Andrea Kober, Alesha Reed, Kaitlyn Balderas and Natalie Klenk completed Sparta's top seven runners. 09/02 -- Kent City Coed Invitational at Long Lake Park The Spartans placed 2nd at the 7-team meet. Girls ran 5K and then boys ran 5K. The first five female-male partners per school scored. Placing in the top 15 female-male duos were:2. Kelsey Thome and A.J.
Christafferson 08/27 -- Kenowa Hills Invitational at Gracewil Golf Course Boys: The team finished in 3rd place, with Brandon George placing 6th. George's time of 16:52 earned him the 9th spot on the Millennium Milestones record board. Completing Sparta's top 7 runners for the meet were Jake Gilman, A.J. Christafferson, Jake VerSluys, Colton Cnossen, Adam Birkeland and James Rogers. Girls: Katelyn Cnossen led the girls to a 2nd place finish. Finishing behind Cnossen were Allison Scheidel, Kelsey Thome, Andrea Kober, Alesha Reed, Kaitlyn Balderas and Natalie Klenk. 8/25 -- Orchard View Invitational at Muskegon Boys: The boys opened their 2009 season with a 3rd place showing at the Orchard View Invitational. Brandon George led the way for the Spartans with a time of 17:23. In addition to George, others earning medals were A.J. Christafferson, Jake Gilman, Colton Cnossen and Jake VerSluys. Girls: The girls also placed 3rd at Orchard View. Katelyn Cnossen was the top Spartan runner. Other medal winners were Allison Scheidel, Andrea Kober, Alesha Reed, Chelsea Andrews, Kelsey Thome and Kaitlyn Balderas. |