Osterberg Top Notch On, Off the Cross Country Course

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(October 30, 2022 9:00 AM) It is kind of shocking that Lumen Christi Catholic High School runner Madison Osterberg says running fits in wherever she can.

With a 4.29 grade point average – on a 4.0 scale – the LCCHS junior is setting her priorities and her standards high.

Oh, by way she is pretty good on the 5K course and track and field.

Osterberg finished second at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 cross country regional on Friday. She ran the 5K course at Ella Sharp Park in 18 minutes, 18 seconds, leading the Titans to a regional championship.

“I have such an amazing team … this is the best team I have ever been on,” Osterberg said of the 2022 Lumen Christi team. “We have a whole team of ladies who love one another.”

The Titans have some pretty good runners as three other runners finished in the top 14 at the regional. Macy Fazekas was seventh (19:57), Sydney Fazekas placed 13th (20:47), and Gabrielle Osterberg finished 14th (20:51) for the Titans.

Lumen Christi won the Interstate-8 Conference and a number of invitationals this season.

Osterberg would like to run under 18 minutes at the state meet. She is already a two-time all-state runner having placed 12th (18:52) last year and 16th as a freshman (19:34). 

She was satisfied at finishing second at the regional tournament, helping her team win the title. 

“When someone goes out that quickly and maintains that pace, it is hard to make up any ground,” Osterberg said. “Second was still a good finish and a chance to run a great pace.”

Osterberg has also been all-state in track and field for the Titans. She finished seventh in the 1,600-meter run in Division 3 last year (5:07), and was fourth in the 800-meter run (2:15) and third in the 1,600-meter run (5:22) as a freshman. Both years the Titans finished in the top 10 in the state in Division 3.

But the junior has her priorities when it comes to running and studying.

“School is actually more important than running,” Osterberg said. “I take as many AP classes as possible … I already have my schedule already made out for next year.

“Running fits in where I can.”

Osterberg has also learned on the track and road courses.

“Running teaches you that patience and hard work pays off,” Osterberg said. “You can train for years and years and finally get that goal.”