The team made our first ever trip to the often-hyped Lamplighter Invitational on Friday night. It was a late night - coaches returned to their homes around 1:30am. We were impressed with the results from the meet and happy we attended. We can safely say we will return to this meet. Athletes and families really enjoyed the event.
JV Race — 8:30 PM Race Start
The JV girls opened Saline’s first-ever trip to the Lamplighter Invitational with a confident and composed evening performance under the lights. Racing at 8:30 PM, the Hornets embraced the unique atmosphere and delivered a strong collective effort. They finished 4th overall with 102 points in a deep and competitive field.
Junior Kate Munson led the way with an outstanding race, winning the JV field in 19:10.5. Kate stayed relaxed through the early miles, and closed with authority (almost running over the lead golf cart) to secure the individual title. Her poise and execution set the tone for the rest of the team. She was the race champion!
Behind Kate, Saline’s lineup showed excellent discipline and teamwork. Multiple athletes moved up steadily after the first mile, demonstrating improved pacing and race strategy. Freshman Maddie Cummings opened her season with a strong 22:34 placing 12th overall. She was followed by fellow freshman Ella Myers in 23:12. Sophomore Isabella Calati, Junior, and to my knowledge, the only dual sport XC and softball athlete in the state, Catherine Kniffin rounded out the scoring 5. They were followed by freshmen Ellery Toth and Gia Rauscher. Ellery had a pretty nasty fall during the race and still finished amazingly well.
Across the roster, the Hornets produced strong results. Seraphina Newton (26:23) had a strong 13 second PR, a testament to the hard work she has put in all summer - running and lifting with her teammates.
This group brought energy, competitiveness, and maturity to the race — exactly what the coaches hoped to see heading into the season. Their performance set a strong foundation for the varsity race later that night.
Varsity Race — 11:05 PM
The varsity girls closed out Saline’s Lamplighter debut with a great team effort. Racing at 11:05 PM, the Hornets handled the late start with impressive focus and placed 2nd overall (178 points) in a field of 31 teams — finishing ahead of notable teams such as Brighton, Skyline, Romeo, Lakeland, Dexter, Novi, Howell, Marian, Mason, and Pinckney.
Junior Savannah Staton delivered a standout performance, finishing 3rd overall in 18:17.2 (SB). Savannah raced confidently from the gun, staying composed through the crowded early stages and pushing hard over the final mile to secure a top‑three finish. Her consistency continues to anchor the varsity lineup.
The strength of the varsity team came from a tight and competitive pack:
McKinley Jones — 19:29.9
Adelynn Turck — 19:39.2
Sophie Roth — 20:32.2
Their ability to move forward through the second half of the race played a major role in Saline’s runner‑up finish.
The back half of the varsity lineup continues to be strong:
Lauren Tomaszewski — 21:19.8
Caroline Cotner — 21:25.0
Ruby Giddings — 21:42.7
Payton Aagesen — 22:34.5
Mia Washington — 22:43.0
Anya Meyer — 22:56.8
The varsity group executed the race plan with maturity and grit. Their pack running continues to tighten, and the depth behind the top four is improving each week. Combined with the JV performance earlier in the evening, the meet showcased the strength and momentum of the entire program.
Saline’s first trip to Lamplighter was a clear success — competitive racing, fast times, and a meet environment that athletes and families loved. The Hornets will be back.
We're next in action on Friday at the Saline Invitational. The boys race at 8:30am and the girls at 9:00am. This will be our last home meet of the season.