Grand Rapids Community College issued the following announcement on Oct. 17.
The Grand Rapids Community College cross country team finished first among community colleges Saturday in the first meet of the season also including four-year schools.
Josh Kipkoech was the fastest community college runner, and set a GRCC record. Audrey Meyering finished first among community college women with a personal best time – the third best in program history.
The nationally ranked Raiders rolled into host Muskegon Community College with high hopes of running aggressively and getting out fast against the highest-quality field of the season.
For the first time all season, the teams got to run a fast course with a near optimal racing temperature of 50 degrees. Despite hopes for dry and windless conditions, first the wind and then the rain picked up right before race time.
The men’s team kicked things off, facing a handful of NAIA and NCAA DIII teams, including Coach Matt Sicilia’s alma mater and national power Calvin University. NCAA DI Eastern Michigan University also sent a handful of runners who ran as non-scoring competitors.
The Raiders were without a top runner, as Wilson Ishimwe is recovering from a lower leg injury. Lance Jourdan, Gabe Sanchez, Noah Peterson, Ashton Brennan and Devin Simon looked to “carry the piano” -- the team’s motto -- in his place.
The men got off the line fast as they cruised effortlessly through the first mile. Kipkoech glided along in about seventh place behind the EMU runners and among two Calvin Knights. Jack Kehoe was running very strong in about 20th, while Jourdan, Sanchez, and then Peterson, Brennan and Simon ran together in the middle of the 115-runner field. Cesar Vargas Martinez looked great with Rafa Vega close behind and Joe Williams was out quicker than usual too.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Grand Rapids Community College
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