FSU Cross Country To Support Bulldog Alum
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University men's and
women's cross country teams will help support one of their own in
an important cause later this month.
The Bulldog teams will hit the road and participate in a Benefit
5K Run/Walk on Aug. 28 in Scottville (Mich.) in honor of former
Bulldog women's cross country/track and field standout
Leanna (Wolf) Geers, who has been diagnosed with
cancer and is presently undergoing aggressive chemotherapy
treatment. The event will be held starting at 11 a.m. (ET) at
Riverside Park in Scottville with a spaghetti lunch to follow at
Mason County Central High School.
"This is an opportunity to support Leanna and her family in their
time of need," said FSU head coach Steve
Picucci. "I personally was able to compete with her
at Ferris during my career and I'm thankful our teams will be there
as well for this important event."
There will be no entry fee for either the race or the dinner,
however, donations will be accepted and all proceeds will go to
Leanna and her husband, Eric, to help offset the costs of
treatment. Every participant will also receive a wrist band
and water bottle.
"We know how much Leanna loved Ferris and running for the Bulldogs
while in college," said event organizer Stacy Wallach. "It
would be awesome to see those coming out to run wearing a Ferris
jersey or shirt as a way to help stand out and support Leanna."
The opportunity for the Ferris State cross country teams to
support this worthy cause was made possible by a generous donation
from General Mills
in Reed City, which will help provide transportation for the
Bulldog teams.
A former graduate of Mason County Central, Leanna was a two-time
All-American on the track during her Bulldog career as a member of
the school's record-setting distance medley relay team, which
captured NCAA Division II Indoor All-America laurels with
back-to-back eighth place national meet finishes in 2004 and 2005.
Individually, the Fountain, Mich., native placed third as a senior
at the 2006 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC)
Outdoor Championships in the 800 meters (2:13.63) while meeting the
NCAA-II National Provisional Qualification standard. She also took
third place in the 800 meters (2:13.61) at the 2005-06 GLIAC Indoor
Championships during her final season.
The former All-GLIAC honoree attained GLIAC All-Academic Team
recognition in women's cross country, indoor track and outdoor
track in her final season. She was a four-year Bulldog
letterwinner in both cross country and track from 2002-06 and
received United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches
Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic Team recognition in 2006.
Leanna and her husband recently welcomed the birth of their first
daughter, Ava, in February of 2010.
The Ferris State cross country teams will report for fall practice
the week leading up to the benefit run in preparation for their
season opening event at the Northwood Open on Friday, Sept. 3.