Zach Darmofal
Both Mendon cross country teams claimed St. Joseph Valley League titles Tuesday at Centreville. The Hornets boys tallied 26 points to distance themselves from Centreville (53), Bronson (68) and White Pigeon (91). The girls finished with 20 points, topping Bronson (52), Centreville (81) and White Pigeon (88).
Senior Zach Darmofal won all four SJV races this year, including Tuesday’s finale. He clocked in at 17 minutes, 47.79 seconds to beat teammate and runner-up Joe Gales (17:56.50). Centreville freshman Brady Reynolds was fourth (18:11.49), Michael Campbell (Mendon) placed fifth in 18:13.61, Matthew Clementz (Centreville) was seventh in 18:52.87, Mendon freshman Jacob Hagenbuch turned in a time of 18:53.83 for eighth, Centreville senior Chase Alexander finished ninth in 18:54.47 and Mendon’s Austin Yunker rounded out the top 10 in 19:06.59.
Mary Leighton
Freshman Mary Leighton also seized all four SJV victories and won the girls’ race in 20:53.62. Fellow Hornets Jenna Gales (22:19.96) and Jenna Griffith (22:20.85) were second and third, respectively. Julia Sutter crossed the line fifth for Mendon in 23:26.98, White Pigeon’s Robyn Watson (23:32.44) was seventh, teammate Cheyenne Yoder (23:31.94) placed eighth, Mendon’s Lauren Samson was ninth in 23:52.16 and Marissa Mohney took 10th for Centreville in 23:55.51.