Harriers race to strong start at Olivet

By Maddie Toles
Sports Editor

The LCC cross country teams are off to a good start this season.  Both the men and women scored high on the leaderboards in their first invitational at Olivet College on Aug. 31^, where both teams ran a 5K.

From the women's team, sophomore Emma Distelrath secured third place with a time of 20:54.

Runners from the men's team swept the leaderboards, taking the first seven places. LCC Freshman Brian Moore won the race with a time of 15:57.

Distelrath and Moore secured the top spots, but their focus is on both teams' success as well.

"I'm really excited to see how the team does," Moore admitted. "The team is going to do really well. Our top seven are all within a minute of each other."

LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson said he is encouraged by this consistency in the men's team as well.

"One of the things we work on year-round is having them run with each other," Robinson said. "When you watch high school races you see teammates that are four or five yards apart. If they would make a commitment to run together, they would do better."

Both the men's and women's teams focused most of their recent energy on the Spartan Invitational, which took place Sept. 14. The invitational was a good chance to see how they stack up against more difficult competition and give them a chance to assess goals for future performances, Robinson said.

Robinson jokes each year that "this season's team is his favorite." However, he claims this group of runners will be his "most favorite." Robinson said he is encouraged by the strong work ethic that he has seen in his runners, stating that, "they aren't afraid to work hard."

Both teams are eagerly anticipating the Kirkland Community College Invitational on Friday, Sept. 21, where they hope to not only do well – but prepare themselves for the rigors of the upcoming meets.