"In the News"
Published October  31, 2003
http://www.freep.com/sports/preps/prun31_20031031.htm

CROSS-COUNTRY: Southfield Christian revved up for MIS

BY SCOTT TALLEY
FREE PRESS SPECIAL WRITER

Many high schools have larger enrollments than Southfield Christian, but few will be represented as well at Saturday's state cross-country finals.

The school on Lahser Road with about 300 high school students will send its boys and girls teams to the line after sweeping both team races at the Division 4 regional in Clarkston.

In registering the double regional victory, a first for the school, the Eagles captured five of the top seven boys places and six of the top 13 in the girls race.

"We've had a lot of success due to the fact that both the boys and girls worked really hard this summer and put in the mileage," said fifth-year coach Matt Yacoub, who had 23 runners this season.

Senior Luke Hutchins won the regional in 17:01.6. Trevor Calero, one of top freshmen in Division 4, was third in 18:10.7. Other top performers who'll run the state meet at Michigan International Speedway include senior Jeff Prather, juniors Jordan Dwelley, Doug Goodman and Tim Hoffman and freshman Alan Bussey.

"We're just a close-knit team and we're having a lot of fun," Hutchins said. "And now the school body is recognizing that we're doing well because we're in the paper and they hear the announcements after our meets."

The girls team lost three top runners from last season, but senior captain Elyse Hyde and her mates were up to the challenge. They defeated all non-Division 1 teams at the Oakland County championships, then won the regional. Sophomore Valerie Allen (20:29.4) and freshman Megan Carter (20:40.6) were the best Eagles in the regional, finishing 3-4.

Rounding out the top seven are juniors Megan Coats and Mindy Brown, and sophomores Tara Hutchins and Stephanie Kraftson.

"The process is much more important than the outcome, and the girls have worked really, really hard this year," said Hyde, a 4.0 student who's making her second trip to the state finals.

Prior to the regional at Clintonwood Park, Yacoub inspected the new course there. In similar fashion he has scouted some of the other top challengers in Division 4. They include Harbor Springs, Hudson, Bath and Vandercook Lake in the boys race, and Ann Arbor Greenhills and Traverse City St. Francis in the girls field.

"It's been a blessing to see the boys and girls remain healthy and be competitive," said Yacoub, a 1991 graduate of Southfield Christian. "At the beginning of the year we set a goal of finishing in the top five in the state for both teams, and that's still our goal."