The first postseason events in Michigan High School Athletic Association history for students at the junior high/middle school level were conducted in cross country this season at eight Regional sites this past weekend.  Five girls and one boy from Buckley middle-school participated with many of them setting "PR's" personal records on the Zone-7 course hosted by Gaylord High School at Michaywe Golf Course

The Junior High/Middle School Cross Country Regionals were approved by the MHSAA Representative Council during its Spring 2020 meeting, on recommendation of the MHSAA’s Junior High/Middle School Committee. Students from the nearly 650 MHSAA-member junior highs and middle schools participated, with the Regional meets not counting against the 10 events teams were allowed to compete in during the regular season.

“The MHSAA has, over the last decade, grown its investment in junior high and middle school athletics in hopes of providing memorable experiences earlier that will result in students wanting to continue playing sports longer instead of stopping before they even reach high school,” MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. “Adding a postseason element to cross country may be just the start of how we can provide more opportunities for our younger students to compete in ways that will keep them excited to return next season.”

Teams entered up to 20 participants in each race, dependent on the size of their school (as larger schools may enter more participants). The Regional races were two miles in length, with girls and boys teams assigned to sites based on their regional “Zone”.

Team championship trophies were awarded to the top-placing girls and boys teams at each Regional. Also, the top 20 individual finishers in each race received medals.

For results:  https://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/meet/198369/results