Spring Break
Cross Country takes third at meet; set for regionals
Patrick Timmis
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: Sports
The Hillsdale College cross country teams are finishing strong. Both the men and women placed third in the GLIAC Championship meet on Saturday. The Grand Valley State University teams placed first in both meets, while Saginaw Valley State University took second in the men's meet, and Ferris State University took second in the women's meet.
This is the first time in four years the women have finished higher than seventh at the Championships.
"Overall we had a great day," assistant coach Sarah Hinkley said. "We had about seven girls with their best times ever. I was just really proud. They stepped up a lot."
Sophomore Erin Brunko and junior Ashley Quick led the way for the women, running together the whole way and finishing ninth and 10th, respectively. Both were awarded second-team all-conference honors. Sophomore Melissa TenKate, who was out with pneumonia for the last meet, is back and finished 21st. Junior Francesca Frasier and senior Erin Cvengros finished 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
"I think she is going to surprise a lot of people at regionals," Hinkley said of TenKate.
Freshman Gena Burch was also a pleasant surprise, finishing 25th overall.
Senior Britton Deuel stepped up in a big way for the men, finishing 11th overall and snagging second-team all-conference honors. Senior Timothy Howse finished 15th and senior Cameron Blaauw finished 23rd.
The next meet is the Midwest Regional competition, and it is win or go home from here on out. The Midwest regional is made up of two conferences, the GLIAC and the Great Lakes Valley Conference. To advance to nationals, the teams have to place in the top three in their respective meets, a task they are viewing as very feasible.
The women are currently ranked fourth in the Midwest region and 19th nationally. The men are ranked seventh in the Midwest regional.
"I think there's going to be a fight for second and third between us, Ferris State and Southern Indiana" senior Erin Cvengros said.
The NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional is Nov. 7. The meet will take place at Kenosha, Wis., a course that both teams had success on at the Pre-regional meet earlier this season.
"The course at Kenosha is difficult, but I think our guys are ready for it," Howse said. "We're ready to face the challenge. We're looking forward to it."
This is the first time in four years the women have finished higher than seventh at the Championships.
"Overall we had a great day," assistant coach Sarah Hinkley said. "We had about seven girls with their best times ever. I was just really proud. They stepped up a lot."
Sophomore Erin Brunko and junior Ashley Quick led the way for the women, running together the whole way and finishing ninth and 10th, respectively. Both were awarded second-team all-conference honors. Sophomore Melissa TenKate, who was out with pneumonia for the last meet, is back and finished 21st. Junior Francesca Frasier and senior Erin Cvengros finished 22nd and 23rd, respectively.
"I think she is going to surprise a lot of people at regionals," Hinkley said of TenKate.
Freshman Gena Burch was also a pleasant surprise, finishing 25th overall.
Senior Britton Deuel stepped up in a big way for the men, finishing 11th overall and snagging second-team all-conference honors. Senior Timothy Howse finished 15th and senior Cameron Blaauw finished 23rd.
The next meet is the Midwest Regional competition, and it is win or go home from here on out. The Midwest regional is made up of two conferences, the GLIAC and the Great Lakes Valley Conference. To advance to nationals, the teams have to place in the top three in their respective meets, a task they are viewing as very feasible.
The women are currently ranked fourth in the Midwest region and 19th nationally. The men are ranked seventh in the Midwest regional.
"I think there's going to be a fight for second and third between us, Ferris State and Southern Indiana" senior Erin Cvengros said.
The NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional is Nov. 7. The meet will take place at Kenosha, Wis., a course that both teams had success on at the Pre-regional meet earlier this season.
"The course at Kenosha is difficult, but I think our guys are ready for it," Howse said. "We're ready to face the challenge. We're looking forward to it."
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