Dexter Tops Pinckney for Elite-Meet Portage Crown
PORTAGE (10/7/06) -Bobby Aprill might change his name to Bobby October after leading Dexter to the Division 1 boys crown at the Portage Invitational, one of the nation's premiere high school cross country meets.

Aprill, a junior, scorched the turf with a 15:16, fastest time of anyone in this 18-race, 187-school mega-meet. His teammates weren't far behind, as the No. 2-ranked Midwest Dreadnaughts topped a loaded field on a brilliant, Indian-summer day.

Dexter, eyeing a fifth-straight Division 2 state title in November, joined several smaller-school powers moving up to challenge defending Division 1 state-champ and No. 5 Midwest Pinckney, state No. 2- and 3- ranked Division 1 Ann Arbor Pioneer and Rockford, plus Ohio powers Hilliard Darby and Cincinnati Sycamore, last year's Portage champ.

Joining the Dreadnaughts were No. 2- and 5-ranked Division 2 Fremont and Fenton, defending Division 3 state-champ and No. 1-ranked Williamston, and Division 2 St. Clair, whose junior star Addis Habtewold is among top prospects in the nation.

Addis Habtewold, St. Clair, no. 2144, leads the Division I race on the way to a 3rd place finish.
When the thunder of spikes cleared, it was Dexter, with 62 points, topping Pinckney (100) in the 38-school race. The Dreadnaughts had three runners finish in less than 16 minutes and five under 16:10. The Pirates' top five were in under 16:19.

Next came Hilliard Darby (221), Fremont (256), Fenton (258) and Pioneer (269). Fenton senior Joe Dimambro ran a 50-second PR 15:25 to finish individual runner-up. Habtewold (15:27) brought home third.

Dexter coach Jamie Dudash and Pinckney mentor Tom Carey were Hillsdale College teammates, the schools are 10 miles apart and their athletes run together sometimes during summers. But because they're in different divisions, the two powers rarely compete.

"Portage gave us an opportunity," said Dudash. "We have tremendous respect for Pinckney.

"We compete hard, but our guys are good friends," he said. In the Division 1 girls race, it was No. 6 Midwest Rockford, led by three in the top 10, beating formerly Midwest-ranked Okemos 92-110. Grand Haven sophomore Becca Addison edged Saline freshman Kate Leptich for the individual title, 18:14-18:16.

Michigan's top-ranked Division 2 girls champ, Grand Rapids Christian, bested 2003-04 state queens East Grand Rapids in their showdown, 135-180. Parma Western sophomore Meggan Freeland prevailed in the day's fastest girls time, 17:56.

Meggan Freeland, Parma Western, had the fastest girl's time of the day: 17:55.
The absence of Dexter, Fremont and Fenton from the Division 2 boys race opened the door for Forest Hills Eastern, in just its third season as a program, to top Three Rivers 128-156. FHE senior Nate Bjorle nipped Three Rivers junior Nathan Martin for first, 16:04-16:05.

Hillsdale, led by senior Adrienne Pastula's first-place PR 18:17, led her team past Jackson Lumen Christi in the Division 3 girls race, 72-97.

State No. 5 Erie Mason served notice to Williamston and other Division 3 boys teams, winning its race with 65 points. No. 2 Lumen Christi scored 155 for a distant second. Manistee senior Aaron Simoneau led all comers with a PR 15:45.

Maple City Glen Lake ace Marissa Treece ran unchallenged to win the Division 4 girls race in 17:59. North Pointe Christian, led by second- and fifth-place sisters Becca and Grace Campbell, topped Battle Creek St. Phillips for the team title, 61-92.

The ninth annual invitational, founded and directed by Portage coaches Bill Fries and Dan Wytko, also offered reserve, middle-school and open races, attracting future and several past stars.

"We expect our 10th anniversary to be special," Fries said. "But today we're celebrating the effort our sponsors and volunteers have put in, the great competition and perfect weather."

"This," said Wytko, "is what cross country is all about."

Complete results are available online at portageinvite.com. MR