Meet the Spartans: Stevenson girls cross country heads toward regionals

The Livonia Stevenson girls cross country team has a lot of new faces this fall.

"We've had a really successful year this year," head coach Angela Harris said. "We had a lot of newcomers come on this year, and we lost a lot of veterans, either to graduation or [they] just decided not to come back. So it's been really a rebuilding year for us. However, we had some great progress over the summer. Our newcomers have really stepped up this year."

Livonia Thrive visited Stevenson on Thursday, Oct. 22, and talked with ten runners about their personal records (PRs) and their favorite courses and races. The times below are the runners' own, as they gave them. Michigan high school cross country races are 5K.

The seniors

Carrington Fields-McCurdy, a senior captain, has a PR of 20:52. One of her favorite races is at Willow Metropark "because of the big hill." "I love hills and I just love the sport," she said. "It's so fun."

Julia, a senior, also picked Willow Metropark, home of the big hill known as "Big Bertha." Her PR is 21:45, and her goal is to break 21:30. "I've done cross since I was in 7th grade, so it's always just kind of been part of my life," she said, "and I'll definitely miss it."

Lauren, a senior captain, has a PR of 22:59. Her favorite race is Cass Benton. "I like the rolling hills, I like the gradual speed on it, and I like that I can get my PRs on that course," she said. About the season, she said, "It's been a tough season, but I think that the girls have done pretty well so far."

Brooke, a senior, has a PR of 26:26. Her favorite race was the city meet, "because it was also senior night."

Juniors and sophomores

Karina Mora, a junior, ran a season PR of 23:51. Her favorite course this season was the Jackson Invite. "It was ultimately a really flat course. It was a perfect day and everyone did really well there, so I was proud of everybody," she said. "I'm just really proud of how our team has been working this year."

Ayuka, a sophomore, has a PR of 23:47. She also chose Jackson: "It was a really fast course and it was really fun."

Olivia Haddad, a sophomore, has a PR of 24:38. Her favorite meet was divisionals, "because I PR'd."

Rebecca Lithgow, a sophomore, has a PR of 25 minutes. Her favorite race was the city meet, "because it felt the quickest."

Gracie, a sophomore, has a PR of 27 minutes. She picked the Lamplighter meet. "I liked all the different routes, and [it] made it interesting," she said.

The freshman

Ellie Gillan, a freshman, has a season PR of 26:00. Her favorite race is at Willow.

From the coaches

Harris pointed to several runners who have stepped up. "It's been great to have Lexi Jolly full time," she said. "Her and Julia have really stepped up, dropped some great times." She called Grace Sharp "a phenomenal newcomer," noting that Sharp is one of the team's top 800 runners in track. The team also picked up new runners from the 400/800 group and from volleyball. "They have really improved and [are] really loving the sport," Harris said.

Team bonding has been a focus. "One thing that we've really encouraged the girls this year, in addition to times and encouragement, is camaraderie," Harris said. "We've created a big sis, little sis program on our team that the team is loving."

Assistant coach Gibbons is in her first year with the Stevenson boys and girls cross country teams. "It's my first year, so it's been a fun season just getting to know the kids," she said. "I'm impressed by their work ethic, and I've been looking forward to regionals."

The Spartans still have meets ahead, including regionals. "We're really looking forward to the cooler weather," Harris said, "some great times that are still ahead of us, and really showing what it means to be a Spartan."