You could take a look at Brandywine cross country runner Michael Robbins and tell that it wasn’t an easy day to run Saturday at the Brandywine Cross Country Invitational.
Robbins was covered in mud after finishing fourth with a time of 18:38 in the boys’ race.
“In some spots the water was three inches deep,” said Robbins. “This is probably the worst that I can remember the swamps being.”
Robbins had a plan when it came to navigating around the tough conditions.
“Sometimes, if you run around the sides (the water) isn’t as deep because the edges are up more,” Robbins said.
Robbins wasn’t satisfied with his time.
“It was a little slow,” Robbins said. “I did OK.”
Brandywine’s Collin Mattiford placed fifth with a time of 18:47.
“You just got to give it everything you got and I did the best that I could,” said Mattiford. “It’s usually just that finish that gets me the most. You just have to push hard until the end. My time was better (12 seconds) than the last time (Monday against Edwardsburg) that I ran here. Any improvement is a good improvement.”
Mattiford agreed with Robbins that it wasn’t an easy day to run the Brandywine High School course.
“It was hard to run, especially with the swamp and all the rain,” Mattiford said. “It really made it muddy.”
Bronson won the boys race with 28 points. Constantine finished third with 60 and Brandywine totaled 70. Bronson’s Caleb McGuire won the boys race with a clocking of 17:43.
Good health has benefited the Brandywine boys cross country team. Robbins (back) and Ryan Probst (hip, 19th on Saturday with a time of 20:26) are getting into good shape going into the regionals.
“We’re getting everybody back so were where I thought we would be all season,” said Brandywine cross country coach Jim Murray.
In the girls’ race, Brandywine had only one girls participate. Allison Zacharski, who was wearing a black wrap on her left knee because of an injury, placed 17th with a time of 28:51.
“I got hurt (Oct. 15) and twisted my knee at Sturgis,” said Zacharski, who didn’t run last Monday against Edwardsburg. “It was colder today so it pretty much numbed the pain so I didn’t feel it. I feel good about finishing 17th.”
Zacharski was asked how it feels to be the lone girl competing for a school.
“It actually gives me an advantage,” Zacharski said. “This gives me a chance to run with the guys. Practice is a lot harder.”
Constantine won the girls race with 29 points. The Falcons were led by Amanda Giles, who finished third with a time of 24:16. Bronson’s Corissa Ross finished first after ending up with a time of 23:12.
“I think I did OK,” said Giles. “It wasn’t my best time. I got lost with the other Constantine girls. We took the wrong way and we had to turn around.”
Constantine had seven girls finish in the top 15.
“All the girls ran a good race,” said Constantine coach Tim McGlothlen. “Amanda ran a real nice race.”

Brandywine Cross Country Invitational
Boys’ results
Team scores
Bronson 28, Constantine 60, Brandywine 70, Marcellus 76, New Buffalo 114, Concord 163, River Valley 170

Top 15
1. Caleb McGuire (Bronson) 17:43; 2. Matt Cosby (Bronson) 18:03; 3. Hunter Machus (Bronson) 18:07; 4. Michael Robbins (Brandywine) 18:38; 5. Collin Mattiford (Brandywine) 18:47; 6. David Jones (Constantine) 18:49; 7. Wesley Disboro (Bronson) 19:18.6; 8. Shane Hill (New Buffalo) 19:18.9; 9. Isaac Hartley (Constantine) 19:47; 10. Nathan Swartz (Marcellus) 19:56; 11. Spencer Day (Marcellus) 20:02; 12. Hunter Cline (Constantine) 20:05; 13. Caleb Foura (Constantine) 20:10; 14. Cole Szeszulski (Marcellus) 20:13; 15. Lane Houtz (Bronson) 20:20

Girls’ results
Team scores
Constantine 29, Bronson 56, New Buffalo 73, Marcellus 91, River Valley 100, Brandywine 110, Concord 120

Top 15
1. Corissa Ross (Bronson) 23:12; 2. Mariah Roberts (Bronson) 23:58; 3. Amanda Giles (Constantine) 24:16; 4. Jordan Schrock (Constantine) 24:33; 5. Emily Schrock (Constantine) 24:35; 6. Elise Campbell (New Buffalo) 24:57; 7. Brittney Carpenter (Marcellus) 25:12; 8. Lorren Springer (Constantine) 25:39; 9. Kayla Fulks (Constantine) 25:45; 10. Kristia Krueger (Constantine) 26:00; 11. Samantha Shimp (Bronson) 26:34; 12. Brittney DeLauries (River Valley) 26:42; 13. Diana Fortini (New Buffalo) 27:31.4; 14. Veronica Reiff (Constantine) 27:31.9; 15. Malia Bradbury (New Buffalo) 28:01