LCC harriers set pace in opener

By Julie Newell

Sports/Photo Editor

LCC's cross country teams ran to victory in their first meet of the season at the Comet Open in Charlotte on Friday, Aug. 30.

Seven area colleges competed in the non-league meet.

"To have a really successful cross country team at the end of the year ... you have to have a good front runner and then you have to have your next four runners close to your front runner," LCC Coach Jim Robinson said.

Having that good front runner paid off in the first meet for both the men's and women's teams.

In the women's 5K run the Stars had six runners in the top 10 and three runners in the top five.

Sophomore runner Claudia Baryo came in first in the women's event with a time of 19:33. Next came Deziree Shaw in fourth place with a time of 20:48 and sophomore Fatuma Jillo in fifth place with a time of 21:16.

In the men's race, the Stars had five runners in the top 10 and three runners in the top five of the men's 5K run.

Sophomore runner Dillan Haviland came in first place with a time of 15:59. Sophomore Christopher Davis came in right behind Haviland in second place with a time of 16:14. Sophomore Jacob Ferguson came in fifth place with a time of 16:21.

"We have to keep getting better." Robinson said. "The key is to get the other runners closer (to the front runner)."

Robinson said he is optimistic about the rest of the season.

"I'm pretty positive with how we are going to do this year," Robinson said.

The Star's cross country teams were scheduled to run at the Auto Owners Spartan Invitational in East Lansing on Friday, Sept. 13. The next meet will be on Friday, Sept. 20 in Grand Rapids for the Knight-Raider Invitational.