The Eagles Girls Cross Country team delivered a phenomenal performance at the Division 2 State Finals at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) on Saturday, securing a well-deserved 3rd place finish. With ideal racing conditions - temperatures hovering in the upper 40s under a cloudy sky - the team excelled despite the high-stakes environment of a state meet. The girls maintained a cool, collected demeanor, embracing the opportunity before them and executing their race plans.

The Eagles established a dominant position right from the gun. At the one-mile mark, the team was firmly in 3rd place, with four runners positioned within the top 35 overall. This early effort set the tone for the rest of the race. Mile by mile, the girls battled tough competition, successfully maintaining their grip on 3rd place and creating a significant gap ahead of the 4th-place team.

Senior Lilah Poel once again paced the Eagles, capping off her exceptional career with another All-State performance, finishing 23rd overall with a time of 18:33. The team's depth shone through immediately after. Junior Zoe Hoekstra finished 36th (18:52), with senior Ellie Scholma close behind in 39th place (18:56). Junior Lucy Waalkes finished 46th (19:08), and sophomore Eva Lindstrom rounded out the scoring and finished 56th (19:24).

The Eagles' heart was evident throughout the roster. Senior Annika TerBeek ran a gritty race, pushing through sickness that has hampered her training for weeks to finish in 20:10 (124th). Sophomore Joy Van wyk showed tremendous determination; after struggling in the final few hundred meters, she picked herself up and fought through the finish line to complete her race in 20:38 (157th).

Eagles, what an amazing season! Your performance at MIS was a great capstone to months of dedication, teamwork, and faith. You gave it your all, honored God, and loved each other as teammates every step of the way. Well done!