Ferris State Cross Country Runs In Annual Michigan State Spartan Invitational

Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and women's cross country teams jumped back into action on Friday (Sept. 12) as the Bulldogs took part in the 2014 Auto-Owners Insurance Spartan Invitational hosted by Michigan State University in East Lansing.

The 29th annual non-scoring event at Forest Akers East Golf Course ranks as one of the largest and most-competitive meets of the season and included participants from a number of schools at all levels, including host Michigan State, Eastern Michigan, Wayne State, Ashland, Grand Valley Staet and others. It also included unattached entrants. 

A total of 30 college programs and more than 5,000 Michigan high school and middle school athletes competed.

Junior Lucas Copi led the Bulldogs on the men's side as he was timed in 25:32, which was good for 38th place overall in the 8K event. Senior Andrew Harper was next in line for the nationally 20th-ranked Bulldog men's squad with a 67th-place effort (25:59).

Sophomore Logan Hammer came in 71st overall (26:05) with sophomore Kyle Richardson placing 81st (26;16) and senior Spencer Gerber rounding out the Bulldog top-five in a time of 26:20 for 87th place. A total of 371 runners took part in the men's field.

On the women's side, junior Kristie LeSage led the charge by placing 59th overall with a clocking of 23:13 in the 6K race. Sophomore Samantha Humphrey came in 75th (23;31), junior Emily Haynes took 76th place (23:31) and junior Ashley Hamilton finished 88th (23:47). Sophomore Jeanne Wilson placed 113th (24:22) of 307 participants in the women's race.

Ferris State next returns to action on Saturday, Sept. 26, by running in the Augustana Invite in Rock Island, Ill.