Bulldog Cross Country Teams Back In Action & Peform Well At Two Weekend Events

Big Rapids, Mich. - After a nearly three-week hiatus, the Ferris State University men's and women's cross country teams both returned to action by competing in two different events on Saturday (Oct. 25) in collegiate competition.

The Bulldog men's squad took part in the Pre-Region Meet hosted by the University of Southern Indiana on Saturday morning in Evansville (Ind.) and FSU came away with a fourth-place team finish.

Meanwhile, a second men's team along with the FSU women's squad both competed in the Chris Yanni Memorial Laker Invitational in Sault Ste. Marie and earned runner-up honors in the team competition.

First, on the men's side, the Bulldogs totaled 113 team points in finishing behind host champion Southern Indiana (33), Malone (36) and Hillsdale (80) at the regional preview event. A total of nine teams and more than 14 unattached athletes from other schools also competed in the race.

FSU sophomore Logan Hammer paced the Bulldogs by placing ninth overall in a time of 25:01.5 on the 8K course at Angel Mounds. Junior Lucas Copi came in 16th (25:18.9) with senior Andrew Harper placing 24th (25:40.1) as FSU had three student-athletes in the top 25 overall.

Next in line was sophomore Kyle Richardson in 34th place (26:13.8) followed by junior Douglas Hulbert in 38th place (26:20.9) for FSU.

LSSU hosted the first annual Chris Yanni Memorial Laker Invite at Tanglewood Marsh Golf Course in Sault Ste. Marie and the race featured four schools in both the men's and women's competitions.

The Bulldog women earned runner-up honors with 49 points behind winner Wayne State (15). Northwood took third place (88) and LSSU finished fourth (99).

For the FSU women's squad, sophomore Samantha Humphrey placed seventh overall (22:47.78) with junior Ashley Hamilton ninth (23:13.61) and junior Emily Haynes 11th (23:34.55). FSU sophomore Alyssa Cummings finished 12th (23:51.55) and freshman Racheal McDonald was 15th (24:14.05) as FSU had five runners place among the top 15 in the event.

The men's squad totaled 64 points in finishing behind Wayne State (17) and tied with LSSU (64) in the team standings. Northwood came in fourth overall (92).

Freshman Max Hodges led the Bulldogs in 10th place (27:21.38) with freshman Josh Verlac 12th (27:23.95) and freshman Joe Houle 15th (27:51.98). Two other freshmen, Connor Pilmore and Chase Benson, also were part of the pack, placing 16th and 17th, respectively.

Both Bulldog teams will be back in action on Nov. 8 as FSU takes part in the 2014 GLIAC Championships to be hosted by Tiffin University (Ohio). The NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Championships will then take place on Nov. 22 in Evansville.