Thompson Wants to Run as a Team at MIS

Concord High School runner Skylar Thompson won the Pittsford Early Bird Cross Country Invitational on Wednesday at Pittsford High School.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(August 26, 2020 8:52 PM) Concord High School cross country runner Skylar Thompson has finished inside the top 15 at the state meet the last three years.

She has earned all-state honors because of those finishes.

But her only goal in 2020 is to have a few more Yellow Jackets on the course at Michigan International Speedway the first Saturday in November.

The CHS senior got off to a good start by winning the Pittsford Early Bird Cross County Invitational on Wednesday in hot, muggy conditions.

Thompson finished the 5K course in 22 minutes, 35 seconds. She was one of only three runners to finish the course for Concord.

“It was hot out there … but hot for everyone,” Thompson said. “We have a few more seniors on the team this year and a few middle school students who have stepped up.

“I just want to have my team go to the state meet this year … I haven’t had that at the state meet.”

The senior has finished 14th twice at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 finals and was fifth a year ago. The top 30 earn all-state medals at the finals.

Thompson said Concord runners are motivated by coaches David Jordon and Mike Jurasek. The two longtime coaches have built successful programs that are solid year after year.

“Everyone on the team is super supportive and wants to do well,” Thompson said.

Nichelle Smith finished ninth in 34:20 and Natalie Sharp was 10th in 37:08 in the Pittsford event.

Pittsford runners Brooke Smith and Karrie Belcher finished behind Thompson in the girls’ event at PHS.

Concord dominated the boys’ event, taking three of the top five positions. Jonathan Mikovitz won the event in 18:15, Joe Bulko was second at 18:30, and Logan Barrett was third at 19:12 for the Yellow Jackets.

Mikovitz finished fourth in the state in Division 4 at the MHSAA state finals a year ago.

Chuckie king finished fifth (21:39) and Isaac Waldron was seventh (22:35) to round out the scoring for Concord at Pittsford.

Kody Smith of Pittsford finished fourth overall in 21:19.