Bay City Western captured the Division 1 regional championship in 2019. (Courtesy)
By Lee Thompson | lthomps2@mlive.com
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AUBURN, MI – The Bay City Western girls cross country team is going the distance once again this season.
The Warriors captured the Division 1 regional championship, punching their ticket to the Division 1 state finals, set for Saturday at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn. The squad finished fifth in the state a year ago and is heading back for more.
“This is a fun group to coach, with an incredible work ethic,” Western coach Mike Nesbitt said. “Last year we competed with the elite teams in the state and this year we stayed there.”
The Warriors also won Bay County and Saginaw Valley League championships this year and take a No. 9 state ranking into the season finale. Here is a Prep Profile look at the Western lineup.
Bay City-area cross country state qualifiers
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Jenna Picard makes the turn for Bay City Western. (With permission Kristy Stecker)
JENNA PICARD
Memorable sports moment:
Getting a fifth-place team finish at the state finals my junior year. This was the highest place any girls team at Bay City Western has ever gotten at the state meet.
Other extracurriculars:
Relay for Life, National Honors Society, working with animals
Future plans:
Attending college, running in college and studying pre-vet and veterinary science
Parents names: Andy and Kim Picard
FAVORITES
Team — Michigan State
Athlete — Karissa Picard. She is my sister and the best running buddy I can ask for.
Food – Pasta. You can’t go wrong with any type of pasta.
Class — Veterinary Science
Movie — McFarland USA
Non-sports hobby – Working with animals. I love animals and want to become a veterinarian.
Pet peeve — People chewing with their mouth open
Nickname – JP or Picardo. My teammates gave me this nickname.
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Karissa Picard closes in on the finish line for Bay City Western. (With permission Kristy Stecker)
KARISSA PICARD
Memorable sports moment:
Placing fifth as a team in the state finals my sophomore year
Other extracurriculars:
Relay for Life
Future plans:
I would like to continue running in college
Parents names: Andy and Kim Picard
FAVORITES
Food — Spaghetti
Class — AP Chem because the chemistry labs we do always interest me.
Non-sports hobby – Hunting white-tailed deer because I get to go with my dad at our cabin in Coleman.
Pet peeve — People chewing with their mouth open
Nickname – Picardi B because the team came up with it for me and my sister Jenna has the nickname Picardo A
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Cassidy Jankens leads the way for Bay City Western (With permission Kristy Stecker)
CASSIDY JANKENS
Memorable sports moment:
The moment after you cross the finish at a race, and your team is right there and everyone is high-fiving and talking about how the race went and you just reflect on yourself and realize you just did that. That’s why I love running, because we’re all just one big supportive family.
Other extracurriculars:
Track and field
Future plans:
I will probably be attending SVSU to study Sports Medicine and possibly running cross country and track for them.
Parents names:
Jamie Jankens and Chris Jankens
FAVORITES
Team — Detroit Tigers
Athlete — Shalane Flanagan because she made huge strides in the women’s movement when she won the New York City Marathon in 2017.
Food — Venison steak
Class — Sewing
TV/Online Show – The Rookie
Movie – McFarland USA. McFarland is my favorite movie because it’s so motivating and just gets me excited to race.
Singer — Ed Sheeran
Non-sports hobby – Camping, fishing, hunting, and kayaking. I love nature, that’s probably why I love cross country so much, because I can run through the wood and feel the wind in my hair every step I take. In my free time you’ll see me either in a hunting blind during fall or in a lake fishing or kayaking during the summer.
Pet peeve — Slow walkers
Nickname – Cass
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Marin Stevens heads for the finish line for Bay City Western. (With permission Kristy Stecker)
MARIN STEVENS
Memorable sports moment:
When I PR-ed by a minute at the Portage meet, because it showed me what I could really do.
Other extracurriculars:
Band, track and field, and church groups
Future plans:
I hope to go to SVSU to become a nurse
Parents names:
Jason and Kelly Stevens
FAVORITES
Athlete — Simone Biles
Food – Pancakes. I eat them every single day for breakfast.
Class — AP Bio
TV/Online Show — The Office U.S.
Movie — The Princess Bride
Singer — TobyMac
Non-sports hobby – Baking. You can’t go wrong with food.
Pet peeve — Cracking knuckles
Nickname – Marin S.S. It’s my name and my last two initials and the sophomores on my team call me that, because it sounds like a boat.
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AMBRIA NAGEL
Memorable sports moment:
Winning regionals last week
Other extracurriculars:
Dance team
Future plans:
Run in college
Parents names:
Brian and Lisa Nagel
FAVORITES
Food — Pizza
Class – History. I like learning about previous civilizations.
TV/Online Show — Once Upon a Time
Movie — Halloween Town
Non-sports hobby – Dance
Nickname – Amb
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Ashlyn Nagel is the pacesetter for Bay City Western. (With permission Kristy Stecker)
ASHLYN NAGEL
Memorable sports moment:
Winning the 4×800 at the MHSAA state finals last spring
Other extracurriculars:
NHS, Student Council, Relay for Life
Future plans:
Run in college and pursue a medical degree
Parents names:
Brian and Lisa Nagel
FAVORITES
Athlete — Shalane Flannagan
Food — Pasta (pre-meet meal)
Class — Chemistry and Biology
Movie — McFarland USA
Non-sports hobby – Dance
Nickname – Ash
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Erica Slocum dashes for the finish for Bay City Western. (With permission Kristy Stecker)
ERICA SLOCUM
Memorable sports moment:
Winning regionals and setting a PR.
Other extracurriculars:
Basketball
Future plans:
Athletics in college
Parents names:
Greg and Christy Slocum
FAVORITES
Team — U-M women’s basketball
Athlete — Elena Delle Donne
Food — Soup
Class — English
TV/Online Show — Once Upon a Time
Movie — Five Feet Apart
Non-sports hobby – Swimming
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MORE PREPS:
Regional champ Western headlines Bay City-area cross country state qualifiers
Top 2019 Michigan girls cross country times
Top 2019 Michigan boys cross country times
Vote for who will make biggest statement at girls cross country states
Vote for who will make biggest statement at boys cross country states
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