XC returns to action at Knight Invitational

Megan McCulloch and Ikenna Achard paced the Brits in Grand Rapids.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The Albion men's and women's cross country teams competed in the Knight Invitational on Saturday morning, their first 8K and 6K races of the season.

Megan McCulloch topped the women's team, finishing with a time of 23:05, just three seconds short of her first 6k race last fall. Overall, her time landed a 7th-place finish out of all 130 runners.

Fatima Cruz clocked in second with a time of 23:15, receiving 35th overall. Just behind her was Olivia DeGraaf, taking 38th with a time of 25:34.

Freshman Serena Arnold found herself ranking fourth for Albion, an improvement on last week's 5th-place team finish. She clocked a 27:22 in her first collegiate 6K.

Melanie Symons rounded out the team's 7th-place finish with a time of 30:37.

On the men's side, the Brits were led by Ikenna Achara, who finished with a time of 29:16 – missing his PR by one second. Houston Bowen Jr. was just five placings behind Achara, timing 29:41 and besting his record by 21 seconds.

Freshman Josiah Graddick was third for Albion finishing his first 8k in 30:03. Directly behind him, 15 seconds later was Connor Clark, logging a time of 30:18.

At 30:48, Matt Record crossed the finish line for the Britons, followed by Ruark Wicka with a time of 31:28. Jordan Loukotka was next for Albion, finishing in 34:23.

Other finishers were; Juan Lopez (34:30), Dallas Wilson (34:31), Noah Flint (36:57), Paul Sutton (37:27) and Chris Hernandez (37:31).

Both teams will be on hold, as their next race occurs on Oct.1 when they take to East Lansing for pre-nationals.

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Players Mentioned

Fatima Cruz: Sophomore

Olivia DeGraaf: Sophomore

Megan McCulloch: Senior

Serena Arnold: Freshman

Melanie Symons: Freshman

Ikenna Achara: Senior

Houston Bowen Jr.: Junior

Noah Flint: Senior

Chris Hernandez: Sophomore

Juan Lopez: Junior

Matt Record: Junior

Paul Sutton: Senior

Players Mentioned

Fatima Cruz
: Sophomore

Olivia DeGraaf
: Sophomore

Megan McCulloch
: Senior

Serena Arnold
: Freshman

Melanie Symons
: Freshman

Ikenna Achara
: Senior

Houston Bowen Jr.
: Junior

Noah Flint
: Senior

Chris Hernandez
: Sophomore

Juan Lopez
: Junior

Matt Record
: Junior

Paul Sutton
: Senior