Cross country teams run into post-season

By Maddie Toles
Sports Editor

Both LCC cross country teams have finished their regular season and the first leg of MCCAA and NJCAA championships. The regional race was scheduled to take place on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Grand Woods Park in Lansing.

The last regular season meet was on Oct. 19 in the Eastern Michigan University Fall Classic. This took place in Dexter, where both teams ran a 5K.

This event featured the cross country teams' reserve squads, and gave the top runners a chance to rest for regionals. The meet featured runners from Michigan State University, University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. The competition was tough, according to LCC Head Coach Jim Robinson.

From the LCC men's team, freshman Thomas Kessman ended in 42nd place with a time of 17:10. In 43rd place, freshman Jack Everts came in with a time of 17:23.

From the women's team, freshman Fatuma Jillo secured the 59th spot with a time of 20:45. Also from the women's team, freshman Anna Vanhill finished 64th in 21:51.

Robinson said he feels satisfied with how both the women's and men's teams ran this season. He added that despite how they perform at regionals or nationals, he is proud of his runners' times.

"I'm pretty confident in how they will do," Robinson said about the upcoming meets. "I don't think there is anything they could do that would change my opinion of how hard they've practiced, worked together – they've been super supportive of each other."

With this in mind, both teams seem to be pretty confident on finishing the season strong. Robinson said he believes both teams will perform well in the NJCAA National Tournament in Garden City, Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 10.