Pioneer makes history with sweep at MHSAA State Cross Country Finals

Natasza Dudek shatters “unbreakable” record to lead girls to championship; Boys battle to silver medal finish, while Kamari Ronfeldt claims individual gold

Pioneer High School delivered a spectacular performance at the MHSAA Lower Peninsula Division 1 Cross Country Finals on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway, with the girls capturing the state championship and the boys finishing as runners-up in a historic day for the program.

Girls Dominate with Record-Breaking Performance

The Pioneer girls’ team claimed the Division 1 championship with 96 points, marking their fourth state title in the last seven seasons and first since winning three consecutive championships from 2019-2021.

Leading the charge was sophomore sensation Natasza Dudek, who obliterated what many considered an unbreakable record. Natasza completed the 5K course in 16 minutes, 9.5 seconds to shatter the previous MIS course record of 16:28.5 set by Pioneer alumna Rachel Forsyth in 2023. Rachel now runs for Michigan State University.

Natasza’s time is not only the fastest in MHSAA Finals history but also stands as the fastest time in the nation this season.

Natasza’s dominance was evident throughout the race, building a 16.5-second lead by the mile mark and extending it to more than 31 seconds by two miles.

Boys Battle to Silver Medal Finish, Ronfeldt Claims Individual Gold

The Pioneer boys’ team also delivered an incredible performance, finishing second to four-time defending champion Northville with a score of 134 points, just nine points behind the Mustangs’ 125.

But the individual crown belonged to Pioneer. Junior Kamari Ronfeldt captured the individual state championship, winning a thrilling sprint to the finish against Northville’s Brandon Cloud with a time of 14:50.6. Kamari’s victory was particularly meaningful after he was forced to drop out of last year’s race due to breathing issues despite being among the favorites.

The team’s times were:

1. Kamari Ronfeldt – 1st place – 14:50.60
2. Beckett Crooks – 4th place – 14:59.00
3. Thomas DeJesus – 37th place – 15:49.10
4. Theo Sacks Thomas – 56th place – 15:58.90
5. Colin Courage – 102nd place – 16:18.40

Kamari and Beckett are the first runners in Pioneer history to break 15 minutes. The previous school record of 15:03.1 was set by Nick Foster in 2018, according to MHSAA reports.

Depth Powers Team Victory

While Natasza’s individual time captured headlines, Pioneer’s championship was built on exceptional team depth. The Pioneers placed four runners under 18 minutes, a testament to the program’s strength from top to bottom.

Following Natasza across the finish line were:

• Sienna Klemmer, sophomore: 8th place (17:38.8)
• Hana Boggess, senior: 13th place (17:56.9)
• Keira Von Blon, freshman: 14th place (17:57.2)
• Lizzie Wernimont: 90th place (19:04.2)

Pioneer was one of only two programs to produce four All-State runners at the meet.

For more statistics from the state finals and cross country season, click here.