GRAND RAPIDS -- One point.
That's all that separated the haves from the have-nots in the boys portion of Saturday's Division 1 cross country regional at Grand Rapids Christian Reformed Recreation Center.
Traverse City Central and Traverse City West both placed three runners in the top 15, but the Trojans qualified for the state meet with 74 points, good enough for third place.
The Titans had 75 points and finished fourth -- and out of the finals.
"We knew it would be a competitive regional, and the top five teams were within 29 points of each other," said TC Central coach John Lober, whose team has advanced to the state meet 18 times in 19 years. "I'm just so happy for our kids. They ran great today."
Hudsonville won with 65 points, with Rockford only two points behind. East Kentwood placed fifth with 94.
West senior Geoff Burns (16:23) and junior Erik Wilson (16:25) finished 1-2, while senior Dan Riggins placed 15th (17:05). All three qualified as individuals for the state meet next Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Sophomore Mitch Snider was 26th (17:24), sophomore Matt Laylin 31st (personal best 17:39), sophomore Ray Innis 62nd (18:31) and junior Heath Bristol 66th (18:43).
"(Qualifying) will happen for us someday," said West coach Dan Zemper. "We knew it would be close; we just came out on the short end of the stick."
Pacing Central were senior Jacob Secor, fifth (16:37); junior Evan Dancer, 10th (16:59); junior Reese Karbowski, 13th (17:03); junior Alex Lance, 21st (17:14); senior Dustin Sabin, 25th (17:20); senior Aaron Trippe, 29th (17:35); and senior Mark Alanson, 38th (17:45).
The Traverse City Central girls also advanced with a second-place finish. The Trojans had 49 points, seven behind regional champion Grand Haven. Rockford was third (75).
TC West placed ninth (227).
Six Trojans finished among the top 21.
"The girls ran really well in what everyone has been calling the toughest regional in the state," said Central coach Lisa Taylor.
Leading the way were top-five finishers Taylor Mattarella, third (18:22); Julia Otwell, fourth (18:44); and Katie Perkins, fifth (18:49).
Courtney Firman was 17th (20:04), Emily Westerman 20th (20:09) and Charnele Lyons 21st (20:17).
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