CSU Cross Country travels to Green Bay
By Matthew Gadus
The Cross Country team will travel to Green Bay to compete at the Horizon League Championships on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The team’s goal is to run hard like they have done all year despite injuries. CSU Cross Country looks to move up in the Horizon League ranks. The coaches and captains anticipate CSU runners placing in the top 25 at the conference championship meet.
The last time the Vikings were in action they placed 7th at the six-kilometer Falcon Invite. Twelve teams ran the Oct. 18 event held at Forrest Creason Golf Course and hosted by Bowling Green State University.
Captains Audrey Piotrowski and Julie Piotrowski agreed that the weather and conditions were ideal for running. It was a cool and sunny day but not too hot and the ground was soft and yet not slippery.
According to Head Coach Joe Jaketic the team ran longer and harder than ever before in preparation for the Falcon Invite. He instructed the team to run the race like a 5k and just gut out the last 1000 meters.
The six-kilometer course was the longest course the team faced this season. All of their other races were run at the distance of five kilometers.
Colleen Conway, this season’s perennial top finisher for CSU placed 34th. She ran a 23.58. Following Conway closely, Brittany Elmlinger finished 40th with a run of 24:14. Rounding out of the scoring were freshman Andria Bazilevich, freshman Kelly Zaleski, and senior captain Audrey Piotrowski.
CSU totaled 204 points. The event was won by host BGSU with a total of 28 points.
“We all ran exceptional times,” said Conway. “It was a flat course and a great confidence booster.”
Elmlinger shared Conway’s sentiment about the Falcon Invite. “It was a solid race day, results-wise and conditions-wise.”