Fruit Ridge Hayrides in Kent City was the setting for the 2025 Sparta Invitational. A two-loop course of rolling hills woven through wooded areas, corn fields, and orchards made for a beautiful setting for the race. Competing in the Gold Division, the Sailor teams raced well against a challenging group of competitors, despite a steady rain throughout the morning. The men’s varsity team finished in second place in the Gold Division with a score of 48 points. Senior Thad VanderLaan led the way for South Christian, finishing in 4th place with a personal-record time of 16:25.51. Junior Ben Verlin finished just behind, crossing the line in 5th place, a personal-record time as well. Freshman Hudson Kemper was 3rd across the line for the Sailors, finishing in 9th place, running a time of 17:02. Josiah Rozema (Jr.) was the 4th Sailor across the line in 10th place with a time of 17:07. Freshman Nate Zondervan the 5th finisher for SCHS, crossing the line in the 20th spot with a personal-record time of 18:04. The men’s junior varsity team finished in 7th place with 166 points. Junior Tyler Buck was 15th for the Sailor men, finishing with a season-record time of 19:15. Senior Jackson Sytsma was the next finisher for the JV team, finishing in 27th place with a time of 20:23 (SR). Freshman Dylan Thome took the 41st spot for the JV men, running a time of 21:09. Junior Trent Ponstein and senior Luke Herder crossed the line in 55th and 58th places with times of 22:05 (PR) and 22:29 (SR) to make up the JV score. The women’s varsity team finished in first place with a score of just 42 points, with the top 5 girls all running lifetime personal-records! The Lady Sailors were led by senior Chloe Rinzema who finished in 3rd place with a time 18:57. The next finisher for the ladies was sophomore Tiffany DeMaagd in the 4th spot, running a time of 19:02. Freshman Lily VanEyk was the 3rd Sailor to cross the line in the 7th position with a time of 19:31. Freshman Noelle Hulst crossed the finish line in the 12th spot, with a time of 20:09. Freshman Isabelle Oostema finished in 16th place, with a time of 20:29, to round out the top five. The women’s junior varsity team finished in 1st place as well with a perfect score of 15 points! Freshman Hailey Moorman led the JV team, finishing in first place with a personal-record time of 22:09. Sophomore Delaney Burgess finished in 2nd place with a time of 22:07, followed by senior Grace Kooyer in 3rd place with a time of 22:08. Senior Lili Zondervan and freshman Grace Klynstra finished in 4th and 5th places with times of 22:09 (SR) and 22:11. Full meet results can be found at this link: https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/254004/info. After a short break, the Sailors will next compete in the OK Gold Jamboree #2 on Wednesday, September 24, at Wayland High School.