Ferndale Runners Head To Michigan International Speedway

It’s been a while since the Ferndale High School varsity boys cross country team qualified as a team for the state finals.

“Not exactly sure (the last time we qualified), but state final team appearances have been really rare in Ferndale,” Eagles head coach Rick Piornack said. “It's been a long time coming.”

At the Metro Beach Division 2 regional last weekend, All-Region finishes by Leo Kopack and Mike Murray helped lock up that elusive state finals appearance.

Kopack finished in ninth place with a time of 17:17 in the 5000 Meter Run. Murray finished in 15th place running a 17:30 in the race.

The key for the Eagles was that all of their top five runners finished inside the top 30. 

It was a very competitive district with Detroit Country Day, Bloomfield Hills Lahser and Bloomfield Hills Andover all qualifying as teams. Top 30 finishes by Darrell Strong-Staple (23rd place – 18:18), John Akers (25th place – 18:22) and Josh Hughes (26th place – 18:30) helped Ferndale keep pace.

“I was happy with our positions at the four and five slots, we have a deep pack that extends beyond the varsity level that ran on Saturday,” Piornack said.

The seven athletes headed to the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn are:

• John Akers
• Devin Chartier
• Josh Hughes
• Leo Kopack
• Sean McQueeney              
• Mike Murray
• Darrell Strong-Staple       

Of the group, only Akers and Chartier are seniors. Hughes and Murray are sophomores and the rest are juniors.

Piornack believes Saturday will be the first of many state finals appearances for the underclassman on the team.

“The future is only looking brighter than the past,” he says. “We want to use this Saturday as a springboard for future years.  Having run in a state finals will allow our kids to make a larger impact in the next couple of years.”