PUTZKE OF
NEW BUFFALO
TAKES D TITLE

Michael Putzke of New Buffalo
takes the D Title!!

-photo by John Carlson , RMDC -

PUTZKE AND NEW
BUFFALO WIN D

Jackson, Michigan
November 6th, 1999

By Dave McCauley
& Scott Collins - RMDC

The 1999 Lower Peninsula Cross Country State Finals started out with an exciting double win for the New Buffalo boy's team.

Coming across the finish line first for the class d race was New Buffalo's Michael Putzke. Putzke held off a stong charge by Buckley's David Harrand to take the individual title in a time of 16:48.9. Harrand's runner up time was 16:49.2. Mike Richmond of Bear Lake took third place in 17:02, Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian's Aaron Ritsema finished fourth at 17:06 and Nathan Egger of Lansing Christian rounded out the top 5 witha time of 17:13.8

Putzke, a junior, started to pull away at the mile and a half mark and despite the challenge from Harrand, he was able to stay relaxed enough to hold on for the victory. "I just let my shoulders loose and relax the third mile."

Putzke's teammates rose to the challenge also, by holding off and upsetting top ranked Bear Lake. New Buffalo ended up with 79 points, while Bear Lake finished with 87. Third place in the team competition went to Litchfield with 122 points, fourth was taken by Lawrence with 133 and fifth went to Buckley with a total of 181 points.