THREE-MENDOUS: Northville XC team completes ultra-rare feat

When it comes to high school athletics, the only endeavor more challenging than attaining greatness is sustaining greatness.

Last week — 48 hours after handily winning their third consecutive MHSAA Division 1 boys cross country championship — a group of Northville High School greatness-sustainers gathered outside the west entrance to the school to talk about how they managed to complete a cross country season in which they maintained their No. 1 ranking from the pre-season through the state meet at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich.

The Mustangs won the Kensington Lakes Activities Association conference meet and every invitational they competed in throughout the fall — a remarkable feat considering the upper-echelon status of the competition they faced over the past three months.

Winning by a wide margin

Northville dominated the state meet, out-distancing runner-up Saline by 70 points (99-169).

“Since we were ranked No. 1 in the pre-season, everyone has been gunning for us this year,” observed Northville senior Ethan Powell, whose seventh-place finish (15 minutes, 28.4 seconds) paced the state champions on Nov. 2. “It was just a matter of us staying consistent and giving 100% in every workout.”

Multiple All-State honorees

Led by Powell, four Mustangs earned All-State honors by finishing in the top 30 (among the close to 200 runners). Junior Ben Hartigan placed ninth (15:27.7), sophomore Brandon Cloud was 10th (15:29.0) and senior Nick Barretto was 19th (15:41.7).

Closing out the scorers for Northville was senior Ishaan Kundapur, who placed 63rd in 16:14.5.

Hartigan said one component that fueled the Mustangs’ amazing run was a team-wide camaraderie instilled in them by Head Coach Tim Dalton.

“Our coach likes to stress the point that we all have an important role on the team, no matter if we’re a top-five or top-seven runner or a non-varsity runner,” said Hartigan. “We all know we have a job to do and if we don’t do our job, this success isn’t going to be possible.”

No days off

Whether they’re training on a treadmill or galloping together through Northville Township’ Woods of Edenderry subdivision, the Mustangs know how to get locked in to maximize their efforts during competitions.

“In my opinion, running is so much more mental than physical,” Powell explained. “You can be incredibly physically fit, but if you’re not able to push yourself through the pain to reach another level, all that fitness goes to waste.

“You’re never going to find out how fast you can go if you don’t have mental toughness. Our coach always has us focus on finding things we struggle with and getting past them. Obviously, what we do isn’t easy, but it helps to know that, although it’s going to hurt at some point, we can push past it.”

Powell and Hartigan admitted there are days when their heart just isn’t into running several miles at practice.

“But you realize everybody on the team is in the same boat, so you might as well get out there and enjoy the experience with your friends,” Hartigan said.

Once the lead pack of runners started crossing the MIS finish line, the Mustangs had a strong inkling they were going to win the title.

“When you have four finishers in the top 30 like we did, you feel pretty confident you’re going to win,” Powell said.

Pre-race jitters only natural

Despite their elite stature in the world of Michigan high school cross country, the Northville runners still feel a few jitters before races.

“If you’re not at least a little nervous, something’s wrong,” Powell said. “Nervousness means you care about what is about to happen.”

With Hartigan, Cloud and top-seven teammates Ryan Stojov and Ethan Hertza returning in 2025, the Mustangs will have a strong opportunity to extend their state-title streak.

Next season, may “The Fourth” be with them.

Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.