Interested in joining 2019 Clinton MS Cross Country this fall?  Please join our group page on Facebook at ‘Clinton Middle School Cross Country’ for up-to-date information or email jeff.delezenne@clinton.k12.mi.us if you have any questions.  If your child intends to run this fall, please complete the form by clicking HERE.

Clinton MS Cross Country will officially begin practice on August 26, 2019.  This is for any 6th-8th grade student at Clinton Community Schools.

Summer conditioning will resume on Monday, July 8, 2019.

Clinton Middle School Cross Country runner, Samantha Coots, participated in the AAU National Championships last weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Coots finished 83rd out of 208 runners in the 11-12 year old division.

Coots finished up a solid 2018 campaign by earning a medal in every middle school cross country race, set the middle school record with a 6:22 pace, and earned a top 25 finish in the 12 year old division in Louisville, Kentucky last month.

Seventeen Village Running Club (Clinton) members competed at the Youth National Championships in Louisville, Kentucky on November 17, 2018.  Each of the runners qualified in October. Village Running earned a team score in the 11-12 division and placed 20th (girls) and 29th (boys).  Samantha Coots placed 25th overall in her birth year race and was recognized in a ceremony. The team consisted of Coots, Allison Bowles, Caden Zbikowski, Caden Arntz, Cassie McNatt, Paige Shankland, Emma Shankland, Max Hampel, David Wegner, Gage Blackburn, Brodie Stipe, Lucas Goodman, Faith Blackburn, Sarah King, Libby White, RJ Handy, and Grant Goodman.

The 2018 Clinton Middle School Cross Country program has continued to improve since the program began in 2013.  The team set the school mark in medals with 116 and earned 11 trophies/plaques. The program earned 7, 16, 24, 36, 71, and 116 medals respectively over the past 6 seasons.  “I looked around at conditioning in August and thought something special is happening here” said Coach Delezenne.

Coach Delezenne said “we had runners log well over 100 miles this summer.  The returning runners were motivated to improve on last season.” Both teams were very competitive and thrived on the success of one another.  

The girls team was consistently led by Cassie McNatt, Samantha Coots, Allison Bowles, Faith Blackburn, Paige Shankland, Emma Shankland, and Sarah King.  Only McNatt departs to the high school team as most of the girls team will be eligible to return next year. “I’m confident the girls team will be strong in 2019 with all the potential returners” said Coach Delezenne. Addison Miller, Jana Hillegonds, Maya Freeman, RJ Handy, Mieah Rodriguez, Ava Roesler, and Libby White (manager) rounded out the girls team.  

The girls team was able to build on the 2017 season were it won 5 of its last 6 meets and it continued into the 2018 season.  “We ran a few big meets this year (MSU and Mega Meet) to find out where we stood. Outside of those, we finished 1st or 2nd in all but 1 race” said Coach Delezenne .  At one point, the girls earned a trophy in five straight meets. “Samantha Coots dropped a bunch of time this year and was a catalyst for our team. She is likely to be one of the best runners in the county next year if she isn’t already.”

The boys team came out of nowhere this year as many new runners joined the program.  14 of the 18 runners were new to the program. Caden Zbikowski, Lucas Goodman, Logan DeVitto, Max Hampel, Zack Gillies, Keegan Huston, and Caden Arntz bolstered the boys team.  “This group went out and won events by 50 points multiple times this year.” Caden Zbikowski bolstered a very talented boys team while many new faces ran fast times to set the bar extremely high.  Jerry Adams, Rourke Solomonson, Justin Celmber, Travis Faust, Bridger Freeman, Gage Blackburn, Nickolas DeVitto, Drew McNatt, Michael Ruhl, Brodie Stipe, and David Wegner rounded out the boys team.  

Runners earning one medal or more this season - Caden Arntz, Logan DeVitto, Zack Gillies, Keegan Huston, Caden Zbikowski, Lucas Goodman, Max Hampel, Brodie Stipe, Cassie McNatt, Faith Blackburn, Allison Bowles, Samantha Coots, Emma Shankland, Paige Shankland, Sarah King, Travis Faust, Nickolas DeVitto, David Wegner, Jana Hillegonds, Addison Miller, RJ Handy, Mieah Rodriguez, and Ava Roesler.

The record board changed quite a bit this year.  With the distances changing from race to race, pacing is used to determine times.  

School records set this year - Caden Zbikowski 5:54 and Samantha Coots 6:22.

8th grade records set this year - Caden Zbikowski 5:54 (1st), Logan DeVitto (3rd), & Cassie McNatt (1st).  

7th grade records set this year - Max Hampel 6:03 (1st), Lucas Goodman 6:14 (2nd), Samantha Coots 6:22 (1st), Allison Bowles 6:56 (3rd), Paige Shankland 6:58 (4th), & Faith Blackburn 7:07 (5th).

6th grade records set this year - David Wegner 6:57 (3rd), Brodie Stipe 7:07 (4th), & Sarah King 7:07 (5th).

The middle school program will graduate Jerry Adams, Caden Arntz, Logan DeVitto, Zack Gillies, Keegan Huston, Rourke Solomonson, Caden Zbikowski, and Cassie McNatt to the high school team.

Is your child interested in joining MSXC next season?  Email Coach Delezenne at jeff.delezenne@clinton.k12.mi.us for more information.  

Not participating in a school sport during November and December?  Any 5th-8th grader can join the Polar Bear Club. It will begin Thursday, November 1.

Interested in joining the 2018 MS Polar Bear Club?  The club is open to any Clinton student in grades 5-8.  All current middle school students need a completed physical to participate.  The club will begin on Thursday, November 1 at the middle school library. Club meetings will take place on selected days and will run from 3:15-4:30.  Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided at the conclusion of each meeting. Email jeff.delezenne@clinton.k12.mi.us if you have any questions.

**This club is not to take priority over any corresponding MHSAA athletic season!

When:  Starts November 1, 2018 – Ends December 18, 2018

Where:  Clinton Middle School

Club Meeting:  3:15 – 4:30 at MS Library

Days Meeting:  Tentative Schedule Below

What to Expect?

1. Run approximately 2 miles per meeting.
2. The colder the better!!!
3. Dress warm – hat & gloves required!
4. Hot Chocolate/Cookies provided by parents after each session.
5. Warm up in library until ready to go – stretch, etc.
6. Bring a friend!

What do you need to do?

1. MS participants must have a completed physical on file before s/he can participate (dated after 4/15/18).  5th graders runners aren’t required to have a physical.
2. No prior running experience required!
3. Bring a good attitude.
4. Contact jeff.delezenne@clinton.k12.mi.us if you have any questions.
5. Optional - stop by Signature Sewing and submit order for Polar Bear T-Shirt.  Cost is $5.
6. Text @mspolarb to 81010 for reminders!

Tentative 2018 MS Polar Bear Schedule

November:

Thursday, November 1

Monday, November 5

Tuesday, November 6

Wednesday, November 7

Monday, November 12

Wednesday, November 14

Thursday, November 15

Monday, November 19

Tuesday, November 20

Monday, November 26

Wednesday, November 28

December:

Tuesday, December 4

Thursday, December 6

Tuesday, December 11

Thursday, December 13

Monday, December 17

Tuesday, December 18

The Clinton Middle School Polar Bear Club has concluded for the 2018 season.  The running club involved 48 students over 17 meetings (35 miles) during the months of November and December.  The program is designed to get students active in grades 5-8. A typical day consisted of warming up, stretching, destination jog/game, and cool down followed by hot chocolate and cookies to wrap up the session.  The club celebrated the conclusion of the season by watching The Grinch at the Clinton Theater.

Clinton MS Cross Country began the season with a one mile time trial to gauge where the runners are at.  "I was very pleased with their fight today.  They ran in tough conditions and the season looks very promising" said Coach Delezenne.

Caden Zbikowski won the boys race with a 5:58 mile while Max Hampel, Lucas Goodman, Logan DeVitto, and Caden Arntz rounded out the top 5.  

Samantha Coots won the girls race with a 6:36 mile while Cassie McNatt, Paige Shankland, Emma Shankland, and Allison Bowles rounded out the top 5.

The team has 10 total returning runners and 21 newcomers to the program this year!  "There definitely seems to be excitement around the program as we continue to get new runners filtering in" said Coach Delezenne.

The Clinton MS Cross Country team will open the season on Saturday, September 8 at Archbold Invitational beginning at 10:30 am.

Clinton Cross Country headed to Hudson Mills Metropark on Friday to cheer on the University of Michigan Cross Country teams in their season opener. We arrived at 9am and met with the UM head girls coach, Mike McGuire, and he gave tips about how he develops his team into championship caliber - both UM men's and women's team won the Big 10 last year. We got a chance to watch elite runners compete and run fast times!  The first male crossed the line at 15.12 while the girls first runner completed the 5K course in 17.37.

After the race, Claire Borchers and other members of the women’s team spoke to the entire program and gave some insight into what training is like at the collegiate level and we took a group photo. We then met with the UM head men's coach to discuss more aspects of championship training. We topped the morning off by going out for brunch - middle school went to A&W while high school went to Big Boy.

Overall, a truly inspirational day to watch and converse with elite athletes and coaches. Go Blue!!

The 2018 Clinton Middle School Cross Country team will field its largest team in school history with 30 runners.  Coach Delezenne said, “after a successful 2017 campaign, I fully expected that we would grow.” The Redskins will open their season at Archbold, Ohio on September 8, 2018.  “The kids have been working hard to get ready for their opener. This group has a pitbull mentality and wants to get better each day.”

The girls team brings back a wealth of talent from last season which included five invitational championships and runner-up at the County Championships.  The team will be led returning runners Cassie McNatt, Samantha Coots, Allison Bowles, Paige Shankland, Emma Shankland, and Faith Blackburn. Newcomers to the girls team include Mia Struck, Jana Hillegonds, Maya Freeman, RJ Handy, Sarah King, Mieah Rodriguez, and Ava Roesler.

The boys team looks to surprise this season as it brings back four returning runners and 13 newcomers.  Returning for 2018 includes Caden Zbikowski, Lucas Goodman, Bridger Freeman, and Justin Celmer. Newcomers to the boys team include Jerry Adams, Caden Arntz, Logan DeVitto, Zack Gillies, Keegan Huston, Travis Faust, Max Hampel, Gage Blackburn, Nikolas DeVitto, Drew McNatt, Michael Ruhl, Brodie Stipe, and David Wegner.  

If you are interested in joining the team, please email jeff.delezenne@clinton.k12.mi.us for more information.