Cross country teams have high hopes

By Julie Newell
Editor in Chief

Fall sports have begun at LCC, including the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Last season ended on a high note after the women’s team won the Division II Cross Country National Championship.

“I’m very excited,” LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson said. “Our women are returning national champions, so our goal is to see if we can repeat as national champions.”

Robinson said the men’s team is determined to be champions this season after finishing fifth at the national championship last season.

“Our men were fifth last year and they had a chance to see what the championship-caliber team looks like, and they really made a commitment to be in the hunt to be champions this year,” Robinson said. “They put in the work; I think we’re where we need to be to be contenders for that.”

There are a total of 15 runners on the women’s team, including seven returning athletes and eight new ones.

The returning athletes include Haley Ellis (who placed fifth overall in the national championship meet), Haley Bell, Rylie Bjorkman, Morgan Hetherington, Gabrielle Metzger, Teagan Norman and Katelyn Slone.

The new athletes are Barbara DeGood, Olivia Johnson, Reva Lance, Kiera Smith, Jana Stiffler, Olivia Vanderway, Lexi Wheeler and Alyssa Williams.

“Both teams represent the best collection of distance running talent we’ve ever had in my time here, and probably ever,” Robinson said.

On the men’s team there are a total of 21 runners, which includes seven returning athletes and 14 new ones.

The returning athletes include Kobe Blanco, Jacob Dennis, Cole Moen, Erik Reiber, Shane Siterlet, Kalyb Vanwormer and Zach Wright.

The new athletes are Uriah Armendarez, Aaron Bowerman, Sam Bruinsma, Brenden Castillo, Reshaun Crawform, Sam Darjes-Watrall, Michael Dennis, Austin Drolett, Grayson Eckland, Liam Elder, Ezekial Hardy, Ashron Keiffer, Gabriel Phillips and Colin Snyder.

“This is by far, in terms of potential, the best men’s group I’ve had,” Robinson said.

According to Robinson, the biggest challenge the teams will face this season is focus.

“College athletes have a lot going on between studying and working and having a life outside of their commitment to cross country, but if you’re going to do well at cross country, you’ve got to stay focused,” Robinson said. “It’s also an endurance sport and you’ve got to sustain that over the course of the season.”

The Stars compete in their first meet at the Comet Open in Charlotte on Thursday, Sept. 1.