The Lake Orion boys cross country team repeated as regional champions over the weekend and are now headed to the state championships on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.
The Dragons beat Rochester Adams, 59-66, to claim the regional crown.
Coach Stan Ford said the outcome of the regional battle was not decided until Lake Orion’s and Rochester Adams? final runners had crossed the finish line.
The Dragons trailed Adams by 10 points after each school had four runners finish. Andrew Lorant was Lake Orion’s top runner finishing fifth overall, followed by Jacob Arenz, seventh; his brother, Matthew Arnez, eighth and Jack Evarts 18th.
Ford called fifth runner Jacob Ernatt the hero of the day. Ernatt placed 21st while the Adams? fifth runner was 38th, giving the Dragons their 59-66 victory.
Lake Orion’s junior varsity showed why the Dragon’s should contend next year, too.
The junior varsity placed five runners in the top 10 to score 27 points and easily claim the title.
Sophomore Drew Giem was the overall winner. Nolan Maupin was fourth, Andrew Nepjuk was sixth, Nicholas Wolf, seventh and Nathan Howard ninth.