Three Hanover-Horton Runners Earn All-State Honors

Hanover-Horton High School runner Dean Reynolds finished fifth at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state cross country finals at Michigan International Speedway on Nov. 7.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

The Hanover-Horton High School varsity cross country team placed three runners in the top 30 at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 cross country finals last Saturday.

Dean Reynolds, Rogan Melling, and Logan Shepherd earned all-state honors for the Comets at Michigan International Speedway on a balmy, but windy Saturday.

Reynolds finished fifth in the 5K run with a time of 16 minutes, 20 seconds. It is the second consecutive year Reynolds has finished in the top 10 at the state meet for the Comets.

“It was nice that it was dry today, but it wasn’t that fast out there,” Reynolds said after the race. “It is my senior year, but not like a typical state meet.”

The finals featured two races in each division to limit the number of runners due to COVID-19 concerns. Spectators were also limited to the stands, teams had check-in and check-out times, and there were no tents near the start line.

“It was kind of surreal, but I was still able to focus out there,” Reynolds said. “I wish there were fans (on the course).”

Melling finished 13th overall in 16:29 for his first all-state medal.

“I think that I ran some consistent races down the stretch,” Melling said. “I am hoping to do some big things in the future.”

Melling is only a sophomore.

Senior Shepherd was running in his last race for H-H and finished 21st in 16:47.

“There was a lot less bumping on the course,” Shepherd said of the finals race with less runner. “It was tough not being able to court where you were in the race.”

Races were split between teams who finished third at regional events and individual qualifiers and teams who placed first or second at regional competitions two weeks ago.

The trio helped the Comets finish fifth overall with 205 points. St. Louis won the team competition with 103 points.

“We were ranked 10th heading into the finals, but we proved ourselves better than that,” Shepherd said.

Other runners for the Comets were Joey Reynolds who placed 124th (18:00), Andrew Jordon was 139th (18:14), Evan Shepherd finished 202nd (19:02), and Scotty Bolton placed 215th (19:19).