Top regional finish in eyes of male harriers

By Brodee Gillam

Sports Editor

They Stars shined once again.

The men's cross country team participated in the Muskegon Invitational 8K at the University Park Golf Course in Muskegon on Friday, Oct. 14.

The Stars finished first and far ahead with a score of 47, while the second-place finisher, Siena Heights, ended the race with a 96.

Freshman Shawn Bell placed 14th overall out of 189 harriers and was the first Star to cross the finish line, with a time of 26:07.

LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson said Bell had a huge individual effort at the invitational.

"(He) really led the team," Robinson said. "For a freshmen, running low 26's, it was just an outstanding performance."

Sophomore Dylan Rocha started slow but came alive later in the race to end with a time of 26:22. Rocha ended the race at 19th overall and was the Stars second-place harrier.

Robinson said he was impressed by all of the harriers' times on such a rough course.

"It's not an easy course," Robinson said. "There are six hills … so the people who ran fast times, ran legitimate fast times."

Sophomore Carson Alexander rounded out the Stars top three, finishing 26th in 26:40.

Alexander said the team's finish is reliant on the way it performs, not the other teams.

"Nationals isn't going to be so much (dependent) on time," Alexander said. "It's going to be how mentally prepared everybody is, how aerobically prepared everybody is and how we race as a team."

Heading into the regional and national meets, Robinson said his sophomores' ability to lead has helped everyone step up.

The Stars were scheduled to run in the Eastern Michigan University Invitational on Friday, Oct 21.