GRAND RAPIDS, MI – LC State Men’s Cross Country, receiving votes in the national poll, raced in one of the NAIA’s top regular season meets on Saturday at the NAIA Great Lakes Challenge. Kobe Wessels earned a top 50 finish with his best race of the season and the Warriors were 17th as a team in the 8k.
“We take these trips for two basic reasons: one, to help make us better in preparation for what we hope will be a national championship appearance, and two, to strengthen or improve our position in the national polls to earn that opportunity,” head coach Mike Collins explained. “Today was a tough one in some ways for the men. I think we did some things that will help us when we get to nationals, but the results from today probably didn’t help us in securing a spot in the national field.”
Wessels ran a season-best time of 25:01.8 to finish 31st in the field of 204. Alexander Fry crossed the line 30 seconds later (25:31.8) in 63rd place. Freshman Sven Druijff ran a personal best to finish 88th overall with a time of 25:46.7.
“Kobe is starting to show the form we saw from him two years ago when he earned all-conference and All-American honors, which is very encouraging for the team,” Collins said. “Sven also had one of his best races of the year, and we’ll need him to continue that progress.”
Connor Alexander crossed the line 110th as the fourth Warrior runner (25:56.4) and fellow senior Tristin O’Brien rounded out the top five for LC State in 133rd (26:05.2).
Freshman Malachi Walsh ran the best time in his career at 26:45.1 to place 163rd. Clay Shumaker was 185th (27:12.1) and Ben Vernon finished 196th (27:42.6).
“Athletics play an important role in developing character in young people, and that’s a big reason why I coach,” Collins added. “When you fall short of your goals, it can expose your character, or help build it. Today, I saw a group of young men I’m very proud of. Even though they were disappointed, their heads were up, and they were already focused on what needs to be done to earn that trip to nationals. It won’t be easy, but it’s absolutely possible. We haven’t put together a full race yet this season, but when we do, we’ll be very good, and we’ll have one more opportunity to make that happen.”
