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Rockets ready to fly

Justin St. Ours | Daily Press Ben Lenaker takes part in a cross country race Oct. 3, 2019.

RAPID RIVER — The cross country season is underway for the Rapid River Rockets.

Rapid River, with nine boys and six girls on its roster, got its first taste of competition in Wednesday’s Manistique Invitational at the Schoolcraft County Fairgrounds.

The boys have four seniors, including Ishmael Hernandez, Matt Snay and Max and Ben Lenaker.

“I think Ishmael will be a contender in the U.P. (Division 3) Finals,” said coach Zach Truitt. “Our goal for him is to get into the top five. Matt is probably as fast as last year. I think Max will be right up there for the (Skyline Central) conference and Ben is pretty quick this year.”

Joining them are juniors Jaiden McCarty, Jace Holmio, Nick Bruursema, Soren Gustafson and freshman Nate Moore.

“Jace’s form is better than last year and Nick has long legs and speed,” said Truitt. “From two to seven we’ll be a tight pack, which will be kind of fun. The guys will be pushing each other. We have a few kids who’ve been running 3-4 days a week through the summer.”

The girls are led by senior All-Upper Peninsula D-3 selection Taylor Van Oss.

“Taylor has been pushing herself,” said Truitt. “We’re hoping to see her in the top five at the Finals, and I think she has the determination and drive to do it.”

Van Oss is joined by senior Cecilia Pilon, juniors Maddie LaChance and Emily Goodacre and sophomore Lexi Van Oss.

“We had one more girl join the team last Wednesday,” said Truitt. “Lexi ran by herself all summer. She’s very positive. We look for her to have a nice season. Right now, it’s hard to tell where the kids stand because you don’t know where they’re at until you get a meet in.”

Rapid River, like all other schools, has been facing its challenges with Covid-19.

“It affects the whole aspect of practice,” said Truitt. “We’re checking everyone’s temperatures before each practice, trying to do what we can to keep everybody healthy.”

Among the other teams, Truitt points to the Rudyard boys and Chassell girls as the teams to beat in D-3.

“The Rudyard boys and Chassell girls will be tough in the Finals, and the Mid Pen girls have two real good runners,” he said.

This year’s U.P. Finals will be held at three different sites, different from the past when they were all held at one site.

“I think it’ll be kind of nice splitting them up,” said Truitt.

The schedule:

Sept. 9 — at Manistique; Sept. 24 — at Stephenson (Banat); Sept. 26 — Rapid River Invitational.

Oct. 8 — at Gladstone (Flat Rock); Oct. 12 — at Norway; Oct. 14 — Skyline Central Conference meet at Banat; Oct. 24 — U.P. D-3 Finals at Munising.

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