Last Saturday at the Huron Meadows Metropark, the Novi Boy's Cross Country team faced the most important race of their season: Regionals.  Despite the cold wind and wet course, the boys went out strong.

The Wildcats led the pack of sixteen other teams at the slippery start of the race. For the first mile, all seven Novi runners stayed near the top. Fellow strong competitors Pinckney, Catholic Central, and Northville kept close by.

About halfway through the run, Novi’s Josh Lumley secured his position in the top ten with Aaron Croad and Luke Barnes close behind. TJ Butler and Mike Blaszczyk held off several runners as they led a pack of their own. 

Pinckney’s Mike Katsefaras was in first by several seconds throughout the race while Lumley and Croad steadily kept their positions in the top fifteen. In the final stretch of the race, Lumley passed one runner and Croad closed in on two more. Barnes, Butler, and Blaszczyk finished close together with Jake Carless near.

The team finished in fourth place in the region. Individually, Lumley placed eighth and Croad placed fourteenth, both qualifying to compete in the State Championships at Michigan International Speedway next Saturday. They are two of the 65 runners that have qualified to run in the State Championships for Novi Cross Country since 1996. Good luck Josh and Aaron, and congratulations on a great season Wildcats!