Rocks 'Tripp' up Northville
by the length of a shoelace

  Salem girls cross country coach Dave Gerlach has witnessed a countless number of thrilling dual meets in his 15 years as the Rocks' mentor.

  But none rocked the thrill-o-meter quite like Tuesday's encounter with KLAA Central Division rival Northville.

  On an uncommonly hot September day (the temperature reached 87) on an unforgivingly hilly course (Cass Benton), the Rocks nipped the Mustangs, 27-28, to seize first place in the Central.

  Based on comparable times Salem and Northville runners posted at Friday's MSU Spartan Invitational, Gerlach calculated the Mustangs as three-point favorites on paper heading into Tuesday.

  But on the trails, it was the Rocks who prevailed, thanks in large part to a dependable senior, an ultra-talented freshman and a difference-maker by the name of Adrianna Beltran, who stepped up big time when her team needed her.

  The meet was deadlocked after four runners from each team crossed the finish line. Senior Victoria Tripp and freshman Kayla Kavulich provided a potent one-two punch for the victors, turning in times of 20:23 and 20:26, respectively.

  The key performance, in the estimation of Gerlach, was Beltran, who placed sixth in 20:54, edging Northville's Gina McNamara by three seconds.

  "Adrianna is the one who won it for us because she was able to beat Northville's fourth runner," said Gerlach. "She had a look of determination in her eyes before the race.

  "Northville has a group of four girls who can fly and the key for us was to get somebody ahead of their fourth runner and Adrianna really stepped up and did that. She really came through in a pressure situation.

  "I was counting on Victoria and Kayla to finish one-two and they did a great job of coming through."

  Also scoring for Salem were Shannon Flynn, who placed eighth in 21:22 and Kara Booms, who took 10th in 21:31.

  A pack of five more Rocks followed Booms across the finish line: Autumn Burin (21:40), Amanda Beyer (21:51), Alejandra Beltran (22:04), Emily Bizon (22:12) and Madison Goodpasture (22:18).

  Northville's Nicole Mosteller, Rachel Coleman and Erin Zimmer placed third through fifth, respectively.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or info@plymouthcantonsports.com.

Salem's Victoria Tripp (second from right) and Kayla Kavulich (far right) make their move just before the one-mile mark Tuesday. (Ed Wright photo)