Lowell returned to the course where their season started as Portage Central played host to the MHSAA Region 3 meet held at Portage West MS.  It was the same course where the Arrows punched their ticket as a team for the state meet in 2022, so magic has been known to occur there.  On paper Lowell was showing as the twelve-place team and Claire O Boyle as the 24^th fastest runner and 10^th individual place.  The team strategy was simple as the girls were asked to lengthen their stride when the wind was at their back and drive the arms and knees when running into the wind.  O Boyle had an added instruction to go out right behind the lead group and battle to stay there. 

Claire’s chances seemed slim as her time in August on the same course was 22:16, her PR was 20:04, generally you need to be in the 19’s to qualify for the state meet, and you must finish in the top 15 or be one of the top 7 runners that aren’t part of the first three teams.  Claire ran her fastest opening mile of the year and “planted” herself around 10^th place and pretty much hung out there for the entire race as she negative split the third mile to close the deal finishing in 11^th place with a PR time of 19:56. What is really amazing is that out of the 88 runners in the girls race, only 8 ran PR’s.  As a team Lowell battled hard and finished in 10^th place w/ 212 pts.   OK White foe FHC won the meet with 57 points, followed by Kalamazoo Central and Portage Central.  The top three teams earn the right to race next week at MIS. 

Following O Boyle were Evie Deur (29^th place ) running 20:42, Audrey Latchaw (42^nd place ) running 21:22, Brooklyn Jackson (59^th place) running 22:22, Olivia Lothian (71^st place) running 22:55, Veronica Tapia (83^rd place ) running 24:19, and Jadyn Young (84^th place) running 24:34.

The state meet is Saturday November 4^th at Michigan International Speedway.