Courtesy Photo Alpena High cross country runner Milo Dahleen inches closer to an opponent on Saturday in a meet at Northwood University.

ALPENA — The Alpena Wildcats cross country teams turned in strong performances on Saturday at Northwood University in Midland, competing against a deep field in the large school division. The Wildcat boys finished fifth out of 12 teams, while the girls placed ninth overall.

The highlight of the day came from standout runners who earned top-20 finishes and special recognition. Alexander Allen led the boys with an impressive fourth-place finish, while teammate Logan Szumila also earned a medal spot with his 14th-place performance. On the girls’ side, Izzy Szymanski secured a 19th-place finish, cementing herself among the meet’s best competitors.

On the boys’ side, sophomore Allen completed the 5K in 16:02, with sophomore Szumila not far behind with 16:46. Next up for the Wildcats was sophomore Brendan Werth with 17:36, followed by senior Braeden Mathis with 17:43. Junior Milo Dahleen crossed the line in 18:57, sophomore Hendrix McKay finished in 19:11, and junior Logan Ruczynski came in at 19:21. Junior Joel Kaiser finished in 19:59, followed by freshman Mason Kaiser in 20:17, and sophomore Matthew Kowalski in 20:48. Sophomore John Brege finished in 22:09, and freshman Otto Dahleen came in at 22:22. Sophomore Jude Krey finished in 22:54, and freshman Gabe Donakowski finished in 25:55.

For the girls, senior Szymanski finished with a time of 20:46, followed by junior Marion Renard with 22:41, freshman Gracelyn Heath with 22:46, junior Ava Karsten with 22:51, freshman Abigail Misiak with 23:20, sophomore Lila Scott with 23:37, sophomore Abby Ruczynski with 25:44, junior Clara Belle Orban with 25:55, freshman Madison Srebnik with 26:30, and junior Madelyn Coffman with 29:17.

The event’s 5K course proved to be a strong test for both teams, but many Wildcats rose to the challenge by running either career-best or season-best times. Those highlighted results reflected the hard work and steady progress made throughout the season, with personal milestones standing out alongside the team placements.

The boys’ fifth-place finish showcased the depth and consistency of Alpena’s squad, while the girls’ ninth-place effort showed grit against strong competition. With both Allen and Szumila breaking into the top tier, and Szymanski setting the pace for the girls, the Wildcats continue to prove themselves as contenders across northern Michigan.

The Wildcats will return to competition on Thursday when they travel to East Lansing for the Michigan State University Spartan Invitational.