The MHSAA Lower Peninsula Boys Cross Country Finals at Michigan International Speedway delivered a day of dramatic finishes and historic achievements. Ann Arbor Pioneer's Kamari Ronfeldt completed a stunning redemption arc to claim the Division 1 individual title, while Northville's team cemented its dynasty with a fourth consecutive championship. In Division 2, Whitehall's Bobby Jazwinski was spurred on by a family surprise to win his first state title, and Flint Powers Catholic ended a 26-year wait for a team championship.
Key Takeaways
- Ann Arbor Pioneer's Kamari Ronfeldt won the Division 1 individual title with a time of 14:50.6, a year after dropping out of the same race due to breathing issues.
- Northville's boys' team captured its fourth-straight Division 1 championship, a historic feat not seen in the state's largest classification since the 1920s.
- Whitehall junior Bobby Jazwinski won the Division 2 individual crown after a powerful final kick, finishing in 15:07.1.
- Flint Powers Catholic secured the Division 2 team title, its first since 1999, marking a remarkable turnaround from failing to qualify as a team last season.
Ronfeldt's Redemption A Comeback Victory in Division 1
For Kamari Ronfeldt, Saturday’s race was more than just a championship; it was a chance to rewrite last year’s painful memory. The Ann Arbor Pioneer junior was a top contender in 2024 before breathing problems forced him to drop out mid-race, a devastating end to a promising season.
This year, he left no doubt. Ronfeldt powered through the course, engaging in a fierce duel with Northville's Brandon Cloud before pulling away in the final stretch to win the Division 1 individual title. His time of 14:50.6 is the fifth-fastest ever recorded at the MIS course.
"I’m just so happy I was able to push through today," Ronfeldt said. "Last year I had a rough run. At two miles, I couldn’t breathe and dropped out. I took care of that, so I’m happy I won."
The issue was identified as cold-induced asthma, and Ronfeldt now uses an inhaler before races, a change that has clearly paid off. His victory caps a season where he also broke Pioneer's school record, running a state-best 14:47.9 earlier in the year.
A Historic Teammate Performance
Ronfeldt wasn't the only Pioneer runner making history. His senior teammate, Beckett Crooks, finished fourth with a time of 14:59.0. Their performance marks the first time two teammates from Pioneer have broken the 15-minute barrier in the same race at MIS.
"I’m only here right now because of him," Ronfeldt said, crediting Crooks for pushing him in practice every day. "Every day the practices are just amazing. I couldn’t be more thankful for him."
Northville Secures Historic Fourth Straight Team Title
While Ronfeldt claimed individual glory, the team championship belonged to Northville for the fourth year in a row. The Mustangs edged out Pioneer 125-134 in a tight contest, becoming the first boys' team to win four consecutive titles in the MHSAA's largest classification since Kalamazoo Central accomplished the feat from 1925-1928.
A Century of Dominance
Northville's four-peat is a rare achievement in Michigan high school sports. The last time a boys' cross country team in the top division won four straight titles was nearly 100 years ago.
Junior Brandon Cloud led the charge, finishing a close second to Ronfeldt with a personal-best time of 14:52.8. He was followed by a strong pack of teammates, including Ben Hartigan (8th), Ryan Stojov (10th), Ethan Hertza (61st), and Emmanuel Coates (103rd), whose collective performance secured the historic win.
"Even in middle school, people see the success the program has," Cloud explained. "It encourages people to get into cross country... They want to be part of a state championship, too."
A Family Surprise Fuels Jazwinski's Division 2 Win
In the Division 2 race, Whitehall junior Bobby Jazwinski found his motivation from an unexpected source. The day before the biggest race of his life, he was shocked to find his sister, Jessica, in the family kitchen. Jessica, a two-time state champion herself who now runs for North Carolina State, was supposed to be at college.
"She was making breakfast," Jazwinski said. "I was like, ‘What are you doing here?’" His father had secretly picked her up from the airport to surprise him.
"She’s such an inspiration to me," he said. "She just kept giving me hugs and said that I’ve got this and to remember how hard I worked. Every time I started hurting, I just remembered how hard I worked over the summer and I didn’t want this to go to waste."
The inspiration worked. Jazwinski executed his race plan perfectly, making a decisive move at the two-mile mark. He held off East Grand Rapids senior Jonah Workman in a thrilling finish, winning with a time of 15:07.1 to Workman's 15:12.1. The victory was especially sweet for Jazwinski, who had to sit out last season due to transfer rules after moving from Hart to Whitehall.
Flint Powers Catholic Ends 26 Year Championship Drought
The Division 2 team competition featured its own powerful storyline. Flint Powers Catholic won its first Finals championship since 1999, scoring 98 points to narrowly defeat East Grand Rapids (106). The victory marked an incredible turnaround for a program that failed to even qualify for the state finals as a team last year.
From Not Qualifying to Champions
In 2024, Flint Powers Catholic finished fourth at their Regional meet, sending only two individual qualifiers to the Finals. One year later, the entire team stood atop the podium as state champions, a testament to their dedication and improvement.
Lennox Naswell, one of those individual qualifiers from last year, led the team with a fifth-place finish (15:24.7). He was supported by Bryce Gross (11th), Tommy Beiter (30th), Caleb Carignan (48th), and Ryan Rathsburg (51st).
"From the first day of the season, we knew everything doesn’t come easy," Gross said. "We learned how to fight... nothing’s given, not a single spot comes easy."
The championship has deep roots in the program's history. Head coach Dave Wolbert was an assistant on the 1999 championship team, and current assistant coach Leo Foley was a runner on that same squad 26 years ago, bringing the team's journey full circle.
