Hornets Step Up, Follow Renberg's Lead To Jamboree Victory

No one was surprised that Saline senior Nick Renberg blew away the competition at Tuesday’s second SEC Jamboree of the season, held at Mill Pond Park. But with experienced runners Spencer Bishop and Grant Praschan out for a second consecutive race, even Saline coach Carl Spina wasn’t sure his team could win its second SEC jamboree of the season.

On Monday, two days after an ailing Saline team struggled at the Jackson Invitational and realizing he was going with virtually the same lineup, Spina thought his team might have to settle for a second or third place finish. But an inspiring talk by senior Kevin Allport put Spina and the team in a better frame of mind.

“I showed the kids the places and scores and then Kevin Allport called me out. He addressed the team and talked about how a race isn't a ‘math test’ and how we shouldn't be planning to finish third. He called on those guys to go after the Pioneer runners and to go for the win.”

That’s what they did. Renberg took first and the Hornets placed five runners in the top 12 as Saline edged Pioneer by seven points, winning 33-40. Bedford was third with 62 points. Huron (110), Skyline (131) and Monroe (174) also ran.

Renberg continued his run to Michigan International Speedway. He ran the Mill Pond Course for the first time in his career, finishing in 16:50.2, more than 35 seconds faster than the second place finisher, Pioneer’s Costa Willets.

“It was fun. It was a pretty hard course,” said Renberg, who is gunning for individual and team state championships. “Our goal is to win the state championship. We’ve got freshmen stepping up. If we can find our fifth man, we’re good.”

Freshman Logan Wetzel (17:26.69) was overtaken by Willets in the final 150 yards and settled for third place. Also scoring for Saline were Anthony Lamus (8th, 17:46.25), Andrew Kitto (9th, 17:49.95) and Dylan Jennings (12th, 18:03.91). Justin Henry didn’t figure into the scoring, but placed 13th in 18:05.23.

Spina said the team knew Renberg would win this race. He told the rest of his team to run at the back of the lead pack for two miles before cutting loose.

“Our kids are pretty familiar with those hills and when other kids hit them late in the race and fall apart, we pick up the pieces,” Spina said.

The result was an emotional victory.

“Coaches don't get many days when everything goes well. Today was one. I'll mark it in my calendar. When I told the varsity kids that they had won, they just erupted. Hugs, jumps, high-fives. They were so excited,” Spina said.

Spina said the younger and more inexperienced runners stepped up.

“They absolutely had to perform today, and they did. You like to see that out of a kid—to be in a tough spot and respond well. That says a lot about those boys. All season, I've been talking about ‘the rookies’ in the line-up and I guess I'll have to stop calling them that,” Spina said.

It wasn’t only the varsity runners who stepped up. Spina credited Allport for stepping up as a leader.

“The coaches talk a lot about ‘contributing.’ Each kid has to be able to contribute something to the team,” Spina said. “What Allport did, that's a pretty big contribution.”

With two jamborees to their name, the Hornets are the obvious frontrunners for the conference championship.

“We can relax and focus on the regional and state championships,” Spina said.

Saturday, the Hornets race at the Legends invite.