Rolland-Warner CC course gets groomed

This parent smoothes out the ruts at Rolland-Warner

A few twisted ankles on the new Rolland-Warner Cross Country Course prompted Mike McClellan to take action.



He brought his Bobcat skidsteer to school Oct. 11 and spent the day working over the Cross Country course with a Harley power rake to get rid of all of the bumps and gullies along the 2-mile course that winds through the woods behind the school. He also sewed a little grass seed to prevent erosion and to help keep the course in shape in the future.

Math teacher Wyatt Stevens and science teacher Anne Prill coach the all-new cross country team. They explain that the power rake chewed up the top couple of inches to remove the ruts and bumps so that students weren't twisting their ankles any more. “We had multiple students down with injuries earlier in the season,” said Stevens.

“We really appreciate Mr. McClellan’s help. It’s made a huge difference in the course,” said Prill.

McClellan’s daughter Meghan is an 8th grader and a member of the R-W Cross Country team. Mike McClellan, the owner of M&M Construction in Attica, said he was happy to put in the volunteer effort to make things better for the 33-member team.


This is the first-ever season for Cross Country at the middle school, so many team members are setting new course records in almost every home meet. So far this year, the girls team has compiled an impressive 4-1 record. The boys stand at 1-4.

With the course improvements, the coaches say R-W hopes to be able to host invitational meets in the future, bringing in competitors from all over the Metro League.

Cutlines:
Mike McClellan (the guy near the left with the hat) gets a thumbs up for his efforts from the Rolland-Warner Cross Country team.
The all-new Cross Country team at Rolland Warner Middle School includes 33 runners in 7th and 8th grade.

Cheering for Jamie

Just over two weeks ago, the Lapeer East Cross Country coaches, along with several team members and parents gathered at the Lake Orion track on a hot Sunday afternoon.
They were there to do what they have been doing for the past four years – cheering on Jamie Caminiti.

Jamie was there to complete a 1.5-mile time trial, competing for a $10,000 scholarship through the Boomer Esiason Foundation. In spite of the fact that the event had to be moved at the last minute from East to Lake Orion, all of these people made the effort to be there for Jamie.

“We cannot begin to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude to everyone – coaches, team members and parents – for all of the support and encouragement that they have given to Jamie in her years at Lapeer East and for being a part of this special day for her,” noted Jamie’s parents, Joel and Sharon Caminiti.


Jamie won the scholarship by running the mile and a half in 9:32. The scholarship will go toward her studies at Cornerstone University, where she is a freshman this fall. The foundation annually awards this scholarship to two senior athletes across the nation with cystic fibrosis (one male, one female) with the best 1.5-mile time.

Lapeer East High School cross country runner commits to run for Oakland CC

Lapeer East High School cross country runner Stephanie Morris will commit to participate in the Oakland Community College Cross Country team next fall at a ceremony at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27 in the East Media Center.

East Cross Country coaches Duane Machesney and Noelle Grignani will be present along with Stephanie’s friends and family for the ceremony.

Lapeer East Cross Country team raises $4,525 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Wearing shirts with the logo ‘Running Because We Care’ the Lapeer East Cross Country Team ran three miles through the rain on Friday, August 28th, in support of a team member with cystic fibrosis. The 32-member team, along with Coaches Duane Machesney, Manny Schmidt and Noelle Grignani, raised $4,425 for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

The team would like to thank Hometown Pharmacy of Lapeer, All Star Promotions, T-N-T Fork Lift, Dr. Paul Lepor, Muir Brothers, Walmart and Mancino’s for the support they gave to this event, as well as the many, many family members and friends whose donations made the event such a great success.

Lapeer West junior, Victoria Peet, named to area's Top 10 cross country list

Lapeer West junior, Victoria Peet, makes Girls' Top 10 for are Cross Country stars.