Sept. 18, 2021, GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Ten Grand Rapids Community College runners set personal best times, and both cross country teams finished in the top four in the Knight-Raider Invitational on Saturday.
The men's team finished in second place out of 10 teams, and the women's team was in fourth place out of eight in the event, which is co-hosted by GRCC and Calvin University.
The cross country teams are coming off a successful 2020 season, with both finishing in the top 10 nationally and three runners earning All-American honors. Men's team coach Garrett Lacy was pleased by the team’s progress this season, and said the runners can continue improving with a goal of matching last year’s successes.
"The team had a great day coming home with eight personal best times out of 14 runners that competed today," Lacy said. "We finished in second today behind a very good team from Aquinas College, and came away with victories over several four-year colleges and universities."
Freshman Coleman Clark was again the Raiders No. 1 runner from start to finish in a new personal best time of 26:18.9, and finished in fourth place overall. Clark was named MCCAA Runner of the Week after his performance on Sept. 4.
Clark was followed closely by redshirt freshman Brian Frazee in a time of 27:05, finishing in 17th place; redshirt freshman Joshua Kipkoech at 27:26 and 23rd place; redshirt freshman Andrew Periard, at 27:59 and 28th place; and freshman Jaydon Moleski at 28:03 and 31st place.
"We made significant improvements from our first race two weeks ago to today,” Lacy said. “If we learn to have a little bit more self-control in the early stages of the race, I think we can be even better than we were today. That will just come in time with more race experience from the freshmen, who are still trying to adjust from racing the high school 5K distance, to now the college 8K. I am excited with where we're at, but even more excited about where we are headed. I can't wait until our next competition next Friday at Kirtland to go up against the best teams in the MCCAA and see where we stack up," Lacy said.
The women’s team adjusted from running a 6K race in its first competition to a 5K on Saturday. The team scored 110, just one point more than third place Calvin University.
Freshman Kaylee Scott finished in 11th place overall with a time of 19:54 while 2020 All-American Audrey Meyering finished in 13th place, just seven seconds behind her. Both Raiders finished the highest among all community college runners.
Liz Meyering was fifth among all community college runners and 27th overall with a time of 21:02. Rose Meyer, 35th with a time of 21:18; and Allison Hoop, 37th with a time of 21:23; rounded out the Raider scorers.
Coach Sharon Becker said the races was “an amazing day for the women’s XC Raiders.”
“It really was an exciting race to see all of them excel and perform so well!” she said. “Our team is so blessed this year. We have returning sophomores who are amazing leaders. Each individual is committed to giving her best. When you know your teammates have that passion, even on your own bad days, you set your own problems aside because you know your teammates are working so hard next to you.”
Becker said Meyer and Scott beat their personal best 5K time by one minute. Alexzandria Webster ran a personal best. Audrey Meyering and Elizabeth Meyering both ran their second-fastest time ever. Hoop ran her fastest college 5K time.
The Raiders are next scheduled to compete in the Kirtland Firebird Invitational on Friday Sept. 24. Competition is slated to begin at 4 p.m. for the women and 4:45 for the men.