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On a cold, windy day at the cross country finals Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, many runners struggled to hit their time and pace targets. But it appeared that the weather had little effect on the Notre Dame Prep runners. It was a day of career bests or season best times for NDP as the boys team placed 14th and the girls were 22nd. The boys placing was a huge improvement from last year’s result when team placed 23rd.
“Leadership from our seniors was outstanding this year, especially as we entered the championship portion of our schedule,” coach TJ Kulick said after the race. “Back-to-back appearances in the state finals is hard to do, and a great accomplishment for Notre Dame Prep and these kids. As I look to next year, with many returning runners including two All-Staters, I think our program has a lot to look forward to."
Junior Nathan Mylenek and sophomore Brendan Fraser reached the podium at MIS, earning medals and All-State honors. Mylenek finished 7th overall, improving on last year’s 27th place finish, with a time of 16:00.7. Mylenek’s time is not only his career best, but also ranks as the 6th fastest time in school history.
Fraser finished 23rd overall, a huge improvement over his 115th place finish in the same race one year ago. Fraser’s time of 16:17.8 also was a career best, and the 14th fastest time in NDP history.
Also competing for the Irish were junior Drew Guest, senior Joshua Fullerton, senior Danny Rose, freshman Nico Fraser and senior Ryan Obear. Guest ran a career best time of 17:19.0, Fullerton ran a season best time of 17:39.2, Rose’s time of 17:40.2 is a career best, Fraser ran a career best 17:46.7, and Obear ran a season best 18:05.5.
Lauren McGrath capped off her senior season with an 88th place overall finish and a time of 20:07.3. McGrath’s time at the two-mile mark was the best of her career as she battled with the front of the field for most of the race.
Senior Hunter Williams, junior Ellie Wallace, senior Savannah Pfeffer, senior Erin Hergott, freshman Claire Seitzinger, and freshman Abby Rankin also raced for the Irish. Williams ran a career best time of 20:49.3, Wallace finished with a season best time of 20:58.9, Pfeffer’s time of 21:50.9 is a season best, Hergott ran 21:51.7, also a season best, Seitzinger ran 22:26.8, and Rankin finished in 22:58.2.
Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org.
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.