BROOKLYN – Whiteford’s remarkable run to the state cross country finals continues today when the Bobcat boy runners compete at Michigan International Speedway.

The Bobcats finished second in the Tri-County Conference, second at the pre-regional, then third at the regional to earn the trip to Brooklyn. At the regional, the Bobcats finished ahead of Hillsdale Academy in the final race standings, a team that the Bobcats trailed at the pre-regional.

“I am beyond words excited and thrilled for these boys.,” first-year Whiteford cross country coach Jay Yockey said. “They have risen to the occasion all season long and delivering the results needed to hit their goals. … With all the hoops they have jumped through with Covid, it’s nice to see their hard work that started in June pay off.”

Luke Murphy led the Bobcats runners with a seventh-place finish at the regional meet, held in Jackson:

The Division 4 state finals will be shown on the National Federation of High School Sports Network.

Whiteford’s boys have qualified for the state meet three other times in school history – 2009, 2014 and 2015. The 2014 Bobcats finished 16th as a team, the highest finish ever for a Whiteford boys cross country team:

The 2015 Bobcats came in 20th place:

The 2009 team – the first in school history to qualify as a team – was 26th: