Xavier Solgot, a sophomore from Macomb L’Anse Creuse North, delivered an impressive performance at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 state finals on November 4, 2023. He finished in 11th place with a time of 15:18.00, marking a significant improvement from his freshman year when he did not place in the top 200. This result not only set a new school record but also established him as the highest state-meet finisher in the history of his school.
The state finals took place at the Michigan Speedway, where Northville secured the Division 1 state title with a total of 125 points, narrowly edging out Ann Arbor Pioneer, which finished with 134 points. Kalamazoo Central finished third with 176 points, followed by Brighton and Clarkston, which scored 202 and 211 points, respectively.
Romeo’s team also showcased significant improvement, finishing 14th overall with 337 points, a notable jump from their 24th place finish at the previous year’s state finals. Coach Mike Buslepp expressed pride in his team’s performance, highlighting their hard work throughout the season. “I think the boys were a little disappointed because they wanted to be top 10, but I was not disappointed with their performance,” he stated.
In individual results for Romeo, Owen Perry led the Bulldogs, finishing 73rd with a time of 16:06.70. Other key finishes included James Brickel in 90th (16:12.80), Rio Hrabovsky in 98th (16:17.40), and Luke Allen in 109th (16:20.40).
Macomb Dakota and Utica Eisenhower also represented the county at the state finals. Dakota placed 21st with 500 points, while Eisenhower, making its first appearance at the state finals in 15 years, finished 27th with 715 points. Dakota’s Andrew Scheloske was the top finisher for his team, placing 106th with a time of 16:19.50.
In the individual race, Kamari Ronfeldt of Pioneer claimed the state championship with a time of 14:50.60, one of four runners to finish under the 15-minute mark. Northville’s Brandon Cloud followed closely behind in second place with a time of 14:52.80.
Highlights from Division 2 and Division 3 Competitions
In the Division 2 state finals, held concurrently, Joshua Macri from Macomb Lutheran North finished 19th overall with a time of 15:53.70, which earned him All-State honors. His performance led the Mustangs to a 24th place finish in the team standings with 508 points.
The team title in Division 2 went to Flint Powers Catholic with 98 points, just ahead of East Grand Rapids, which scored 106 points. Macri’s teammates, including Xavier Roman and Elliot Alef, also competed but did not place in the top finishes.
In Division 3, Maxwell Durham was the sole representative from Macomb County, finishing 27th overall with a time of 16:15.50, which also earned him All-State recognition. The team title was claimed by Charlevoix, which scored 131 points to edge out Lansing Catholic by just seven points.
These high-stakes competitions showcased both individual talent and team spirit across the divisions, reflecting the dedication and hard work of athletes from Macomb County and beyond.
