DE PERE, WI – The Bay College Cross Country Teams got their season underway on Saturday as the only two-year school invited to the Tom Barry Invitational hosted by St. Norbert College. The young Norse harriers showed potential as the majority of them got their first taste of college competition.
The Norse Women's team features just two returners, but were pace by a freshman in the first event. Lily Ross (FR, Houghton, MI) posted a time of 21:14.6 in her first collegiate competition, which was a 5K course. Alyssa Shirey (FR, Wakefield, MI) was close behind, logging a time of 21:34.0. Willow Kobriger (FR, Iron River, MI) received praise from her coach, crossing the finish line at 23:14.1.
"Willow's race today was a big milestone for her. She's been responding well in practice, and it showed with a PR over two minutes faster than her best from high school," said Norse Head Cross Country Coach Scott Carhoun.
Another newcomer, Emma Mitchell (FR, Rudyard, MI), was the next to finish for Bay, putting up a time of 25:16.3. Returner Kayla Farnes (SO, Escanaba, MI) was the first returner to record a finishing time this season, and she came in with a time of 27:33.2. Natalie Brogan (FR, L'Anse, MI) followed her with a time of 28:18.5, and had a similar pace of Natalie Spreitzer (SO, Escanaba, MI) who completed the race in 28:42.3. Joelle Jordan (FR, Bark River, MI), who has already made her mark in Norse Athletics as a softball player a season ago, logged a time of 30:08.0 in her first effort in a collegiate cross country competition.
The eight female runners for Bay sets an all-time school record for the Norse, with this being the most to participate in a women's cross country in school history.
The men's first event served as a tune up, as it is a shorter event then typical, with a course set at a 6K distance. Tanner Howes (SO, Gladstone, MI) returned to pace the Norse in the team opener, finishing the race in 22:28.1. Weston Knauf (FR, Wilson, MI) finished on his tail, logging a time of 22:33.3. Newcomer Lawrence Caron (FR, Cornell, MI) crossed the finish line with a time of 23:13.1.
Next to finish for Bay with a time of 23:35.6 was Ethan Lawrence (SO, Republic, MI). Oren Marcoe clocked in a time of 27:49.2 and was joined by teammate Jeremiah Castro (FR, Port St. Lucie, FL) who ran a very similar pace, finishing with a time of 27:50.0.
"We have a really young team this year and their first taste of collegiate competition happened to be against some of Wisconsin's best four-your programs," said Carhoun. "They were challenged today, but I'm really happy with their effort. Even though a few got out too quick and couldn't quite sustain it, that experience will pay off later in the season."
The Norse take a weekend off before returning to action. They compete again on September 13 when they will host their own event at 10:30 am.