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November 5, 2004St. Francis, Bear Lake previalGladiators, Lakers claim regional titlesByRecord-Eagle sports editor BENZONIA -- St. Francis and Bear Lake put on encore performances Saturday in the Division 4 cross country regional. The two schools successfully defended regional titles in warm, windy conditions here. The Gladiators captured the girls race with 46 points. Glen Lake was second with 79 and Mason County Eastern third with 84. Bear Lake won the boys race with 50 points. Hesperia was second with 60 and Mason County Eastern third with 71. The top three teams qualify for next Saturday's state meet in Brooklyn. St. Francis is the defending state champion. "We did well today and we're hoping to do well at state," St. Francis senior Kelly Biedron said. "We have high expectations. Hopefully, things will work out and we'll be back-to-back state champions." Biedron led the Gladiators, placing fourth (20:30.9). She missed last year's regional with mononucleosis. "That was hard for me," she admitted. "I always took running for granted. When I got sick it was a huge change. I really appreciate every time I can run now." Biedron had plenty of company near the front of the pack. Kristine Perria took fifth (20:44), Jena Brown sixth (20:54), Krysta Zakrzewski 13th (21:26.9) and Laura Meeker 20th (22:27.1). "I'm proud of the girls for all the work they've put in," St. Francis coach Rick Woods said. "It's been a hard and long season for the girls. To win a second consecutive regional is a good way to gain some momentum heading into the state meet." Big Rapids Crossroads Academy, the No. 1 ranked team in Division 4, was moved out of this regional this year. "They're the team to beat (at the state meet), no doubt," Woods said. "But, if I recall, in my first year Maple City Glen Lake dominated the whole season and then Ann Arbor Greenhills pulled out the win (at the state meet). That's why you run the race. I'm not counting us out, but we'll need to run better next week in order to contend with Big Rapids." Glen Lake's Marissa Treece was the individual winner in 19:40.3. She finished 35 seconds ahead of Mason County Eastern's Chelsea Lehrbass (20:15.3). "I just tried to get out fast and set my pace from there," Treece said. "I don't liked to get boxed in. That's the way I like to run -- out front. If I get beat from there, I get beat." Treece's performance came as no surprise to Lakers coach Pete Edwards. "She has more bounce per ounce than any athlete I've ever seen, whether she's pole vaulting, playing basketball or running," he said. " She's just a ball of energy." Glen Lake's Cassidy Edwards was third overall (20:22.4). Jessica Huron came in 10th (21:21.7), Kayla Emeott 26th (23:06.2) and Kristina Griffard 45th (25:27.2). Suttons Bay, the Greater Northwest Conference champion, finished fifth. "I feel bad because Suttons Bay and Glen Lake have gone to the state meet together forever," Edwards said. "I'm bummed for them." Suttons Bay's Kelcie Douglas finished 12th (21:26.4) to qualify for the state meet for the fourth straight year. Josh Groenwald led the Bear Lake boys to victory. He was the individual winner in 16:51.6. In addition, Nick Swisher was fifth (17:34.2), Luke Allen eighth (17:44.5), Jordan Maxey 17th (18:07.3) and Ryan Brown 19th (18:09.3) for the Lakers. "The guys ran really well," Bear Lake coach Dal Townsend said. "I was impressed with Josh. He's been very consistent all year." Groenwald turned his atention to the state meet soon after crossing the finish line. "Regionals don't matter," he said. "It's all about states." Buckley's Takis Pifer was third (17:05.9) and Josh Edingfield ninth (17:39.6). St. Fracis' A.J. Ambrosius took seventh (17:41.4).
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