Cross country gains speed
Men and women's teams improve times after last weekend's meet
Andrew Dodson
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Sports
Men and women's cross country teams found redemption last weekend at the Michigan Intercollegiate Championships.
After a disappointing finish previously at the Notre Dame Invitational, the Hillsdale men and women's team finished second and third respectively in a race featuring some of Michigan's finest cross country runners.
The men's team planned on running a 4-kilometer race at the championships but switched to the 8-km to establish themselves.
This week, senior and captain Tim Sayers led the Charger men with a time of 26:33, placing third. Sayers broke away from his teammates, finishing 28 seconds ahead of sophomore, Britton Deuel, who finished fifth.
"I went into the race relaxed both mentally and physically," Deuel said. "We all went out pretty fast and while it wasn't the most positive thing, it put us where we needed to be for a good amount of the race. It was a great race for most of the team."
Head coach Bill Lundberg said his team is heading in the right direction in preparation for the GLIAC meet in two weeks.
"We made a good choice with the guys running a longer race," said Lundberg. "This is our best 8-k race this year, and it's going to help us going into GLIACS in two weeks."
The Charger men finished ahead of perennial powerhouse, Grand Valley State University, however, the five-time, back-to-back conference champions did not run their top seven runners. The Charger men did run ahead of GLIAC foe Wayne State University.
On the women's side, the Charger ladies placed third out of twelve teams in the 4-km race.
Once again, freshman Erin Brunko led her team with a time of 15:27.
Sophomore Amy Luke, a middle distance runner on the track team in the winter and spring, took full advantage of the shorter race this weekend, running into a top five spot for the first time this season.
The Chargers will train at home for the next two weeks in preparation for their first of two big races, the GLIAC Championship. The men will be running an 8-km race while the women will be running a 6-km race. The Charger men look to improve on their fourth place finish from last season at the GLIAC race while the women look to improve upon their eighth place finish from the 2006 season.
The GLIAC race will be held during fall break in Erie, Penn.
After a disappointing finish previously at the Notre Dame Invitational, the Hillsdale men and women's team finished second and third respectively in a race featuring some of Michigan's finest cross country runners.
The men's team planned on running a 4-kilometer race at the championships but switched to the 8-km to establish themselves.
This week, senior and captain Tim Sayers led the Charger men with a time of 26:33, placing third. Sayers broke away from his teammates, finishing 28 seconds ahead of sophomore, Britton Deuel, who finished fifth.
"I went into the race relaxed both mentally and physically," Deuel said. "We all went out pretty fast and while it wasn't the most positive thing, it put us where we needed to be for a good amount of the race. It was a great race for most of the team."
Head coach Bill Lundberg said his team is heading in the right direction in preparation for the GLIAC meet in two weeks.
"We made a good choice with the guys running a longer race," said Lundberg. "This is our best 8-k race this year, and it's going to help us going into GLIACS in two weeks."
The Charger men finished ahead of perennial powerhouse, Grand Valley State University, however, the five-time, back-to-back conference champions did not run their top seven runners. The Charger men did run ahead of GLIAC foe Wayne State University.
On the women's side, the Charger ladies placed third out of twelve teams in the 4-km race.
Once again, freshman Erin Brunko led her team with a time of 15:27.
Sophomore Amy Luke, a middle distance runner on the track team in the winter and spring, took full advantage of the shorter race this weekend, running into a top five spot for the first time this season.
The Chargers will train at home for the next two weeks in preparation for their first of two big races, the GLIAC Championship. The men will be running an 8-km race while the women will be running a 6-km race. The Charger men look to improve on their fourth place finish from last season at the GLIAC race while the women look to improve upon their eighth place finish from the 2006 season.
The GLIAC race will be held during fall break in Erie, Penn.
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