Wildcat Men's Cross Country
Finishes Second at State Finals
11/5/2006 by Scott Olson  Detroit Free Press coverage

The Novi Wildcat Men's Cross Country team took second place overall at State Finals at the MIS International Speedway in Brooklyn Michigan Saturday.

This was the 9th year in a row Novi placed in the top ten in the state for Division I Men's Cross Country. Novi now has more all-state runners at MIS than any other Division I school in Michigan.

Conference rival Pinckney took first place in the state for the second year in a row. Another conference rival, Milford, took fifth - showing just how tough the Kensington Valley Conference is for area harriers. Pinckney had five guys in the top ten in the state!

Novi's Mike Wheat was the first Wildcat across the line, 20th overall, with a time of 16.01. Novi's other top runners were Alex Prasad (16:10), Josh Lumley (16:16), Kenny MacDonough (16:24), Mike Beard (16:29), Scott Wagner (16:32) and Aaron Croad (16:41).

All seven Wildcats posted season and career bests, and this was the first time in six years that the Wildcats all came in under 17 minutes.

That raps up yet another great season for Novi Men's Cross Country. The team lost only one dual meet this year - to the state champs. In fact, Pinckney was the only team who managed to outrun the 'Cats this year. And with some fast juniors coming back next year - the Wildcats will once again be a force to be reckoned with.