CUSTER – Depth has been an issue for the Mason County Eastern cross country teams this year, and it could keep the Cardinals from qualifying for the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 state finals as a team.

The top three teams in each division make it, and right now the Cardinals are ranked fifth, and would need to jump over Buckley and Leland.

“If everybody has a really good day, we could climb into three,” MCE head coach Ben Knizacky said. “We’ll see what happens.

“I know they’ll give it their best shot. The boys have gone to state, I don’t know, 10 or 12 years as a team.

“We’d hate to break that streak.”

The boys have won five out of the last six regional titles, edging Maple City-Glen Lake last year after using the sixth runner’s time to break the tie.

Glen Lak

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