REED CITY — Calvin Rohde has found his sport as a Reed City cross country freshman.
Rohde has been one of three runners performing this season for the Coyotes. He also ran last season for the eighth grade on the junior high level. He's running longer distances on the high school level, but indicated the transition wasn't a major obstacle.
“I've run 5K probably the first time since sixth grade,” he said. “This is the first year I've gotten really good at this distance.”
The key to that, Rohde has indicated, has been the ability to push through the third mile.
“I have a good finishing push,” he said.
Early in the season, a key race for Rohde was at McBain.
“All three of our boys were in the top 10 and ran a PR,” Rohde said. “I knew I had to go out fast.”
Rohde said in early September he wanted to get under 19 minutes. He accomplished that at the Lake City Invitational in 18:20.9 and got his best Oct. 4 in a Central State Activities Association Gold Jamboree at Newaygo in 18:27.2
“I'll have to push through that third mile and keep that pace where it should be,” he said.
Rohde indicated he'll run track in the spring.
“I like the different terrain in cross country rather than running around a track,” he said.
Reed City will be running in the Chippewa Hills Invitational on Oct. 22.
