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The Lady Pioneers, as expected, ran away with the league championship at the BWAC Jamboree 3 at Goodells County Park. Cros-Lex, which finished with 38 points, has won two straight league titles and four in the last six years. All with 89 points, Richmond, Armada, and Algonac were tied for second for the meet.

The Lady Pioneers were favored to win the title and showed that in the first two Jamborees of the season.

"We set ourselves up to be (favorites). We had excellent meets when we needed it," said Lisa Shaw, C-L coach. "And, we have the depth. There are lots of kids (in the BWAC) running in 20s and 21s, but we have had a lot of kids coming on all season.

"Our kids all responded," she added. "We looked at them at the first half mile and they were all in position. They were ready."

Leading a group of five All-BWAC runners from the team was sophomore Leah O'Connor, the overall girls champion. She won Tuesday's race in 19:06. Close behind, in the top 14, were Erica Lerma (3rd, 19:39), Michaela Maze (9th, 20:20), Joz Worden (12th, 20:34), and Vanessa Stewart (13th, 20:45).

Thumb Area Meet

The Lady Pioneers kept up their winning ways on Saturday at the Thumb Area Championships at Caro, by easily garnering the girls team title with 55 points. Fenton was second with 109.

O'Connor was the individual champion in a time of 19:43.9. Lerma was fourth (20:12.7) and Worden was eighth (20:46).

Marlette's Chelsea Mata finished 11th.

Regionals

Cros-Lex has not finished behind another team since the end of August when it placed third, behind St. Clair and Marine City, at the Port Huron Invitational. The Lady Pioneers would like to continue their first place ways, at least, one more time. They compete in the Division 2 Regional at Goodells County Park this Saturday. Although the team was a State qualifier a year ago, they last won a Regional championship in 2002.

"Of course, we go into any Regional wanting to go to State," said Coach Shaw. "I look at our team, and we're tough, but there are others in the area, and more, that are tough."