TIGERS RACE AGAINST TOP COMPETITION AT NAIA GREAT LAKES CHALLENGE
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Olivet Nazarene University cross country teams took on some of the best teams in the NAIA at the Great Lakes Challenge in Grand Rapids, Mich. Both the Tiger men and women both competed in the fully-loaded Maroon races.
Women's Results
Catherine White pulled out a season-best in the Tiger's toughest race of the year, crossing the finish line at 18:41.10 to place 37th overall in the Maroon 5k. Jacey Schickel wasn't far behind, placing 57th in 19:11.50. The final three Tiger scorers came within 14 seconds of each other: Lauren Smith was 103rd at 19:53.00, Eleanor Fournier was 108th at 19:57.10, and Thaliya Martinez was 116th at 20:06.50.
ONU placed 14th in the Maroon race with 403 points. Taylor took the team crown with 46 points.
Catherine White – 18:41.10 – 37th
Jacey Schickel – 19:11.50 – 57th
Lauren Smith – 19:53.00 – 103rd
Eleanor Fournier – 19:57.10 – 108th
Thaliya Martinez – 20:06.50 – 116th
Elise Champlin – 20:09.60 – 119th
Heidi Heldt – 20:20.40 – 133rd
Amelia Murray – 20:22.90 136th
Kathryn Swanson – 21:06.90 – 172nd
Lindsey DiazDeLeon – 21:09.50 – 174th
Men's Results
Taylor Vallangeon cracked the top-10 in the toughest race of the season for ONU. The junior harrier ran a season-best 24:46.20 to place eighth overall at the Great Lakes Challenge. Enrique Romo was the second Tiger to cross the finish line, placing 61st with a 25:56.50. Not far behind was Austin Rush, almost eclipsing the 26-minute threshold for a 74th-place finish. Jordan Vanbarriger and Hayden Colclasure rounded out the scoring for the Tigers in 96th and 105th place, respectively.
The Tigers tabbed 328 points to take 12th overall in the Maroon race, a mere one point behind Aquinas in 11th. Indiana Wesleyan scored 88 points to take the team title.
Taylor Vallangeon – 24:46.20 – 8th
Enrique Romo – 25:56.50 – 61st
Austin Rush – 26:02.20 – 74th
Jordan Vanbarriger – 26:24.70 – 96th
Hayden Colclasure – 26:29.80 – 105th
Boston Brooks – 26:33.50 – 119th
Flynn Prather – 26:45.90 – 138th
Drew Gonzalez – 27:05.20 – 162nd
Peyton Hobson – 27:39.30 – 189th
WHAT'S NEXT?
The NAIA Great Lakes Challenge was the final regular-season meet for the ONU cross country teams. The Tigers will travel to Channahon, Ill. to take on their conference foes in the CCAC Championship meet on Nov. 5.
--ONU—
*Contact: Evan Wild, Sports Information Director, ewwild@olivet.edu